Review: Holly sparkles in album launch at Blues Bar

Holly Rose Webber, Album Launch Party, Blues Bar, Harrogate

Some things in life are worth waiting for and the long awaited debut concert from Holly Rose Webber was one of those nights.

Holly Rose not only gave her debut performance but also chose the night to launch her first album titled Sparkle & Fade.

The Blues Bar as a venue has seen many brilliant nights of music but this night went to a new level.

Being both filmed and recorded, the extra lighting added to the already electric atmosphere, as the bar filled to bursting point with Holly’s fans.

Eventually the time had come and Holly Rose strode onto her stage, dressed to kill and looking every bit like she owned the stage.

The band, made up of the cream of Yorkshire’s musicians, Dan Mizen (drums), Frank Mizen (pedal steel), Pete Oliver (bass), Rob Reynolds (guitar and vocals) and Phil Dean (lead guitar) struck up and from the opening chords all the weeks of rehearsal nerves melted away and a new singer was born.

The sound of Holly Rose’s music is solid country rock and with influences such as Presley, Fleetwood Mac, Eagles and Aerosmith its easy to hear and feel that sound coming through her songs, especially in the beautiful yet haunting title track from her album Sparkle & Fade, which features superb backing vocals from Rob Reynolds.

Singing a mixture of her own perfectly crafted songs such as Angel Eyes and the beautiful Love Ain’t Enough, check out the video on YouTube, and the stunning Let Love Go, the strength of her lyrics and the power and emotion of her voice held the bar enthralled throughout the show.

Rockier numbers Shame on You, written by her father Roy Webber from legendary Harrogate band Wally, and the excellent song Turn The Page has the audience foot stamping along.

There are only two covers in the entire show, a unique and original version of the Elvis hit song Suspicious Minds and to close the evening an outstanding rendition of Say You Love Me by Fleetwood Mac.

All too soon the show ends, the applause is deafening and well deserved.

There is a sense that everyone has witnessed something special tonight. Possibly the birth of a new star.

If that turns out to be so then long may Holly Rose sparkle and may she never fade.