Great Northern Hotel, Newcastle
Saturday August 25, 2012:
An effortlessly chic Gin Wigmore, accompanied by a five-piece band of equally sharply dressed men, exploded onto the stage at Newcastle’s Great Northern, as part of her Gravel and Wine tour. Opening with ‘Hey Ho’, from her debut album, Holy Smoke, Wigmore’s performance was essentially a ‘best-of’, with a balance of tracks from both of her albums. There were no surprises; no new or unheard material – just an evening which was jam-packed full of familiar tunes that the crowd could sing along to. Chatting with the enthused crowd between songs (even if it was mostly about New Zealand’s Bledisloe Cup win), Wigmore created a fun and intimate vibe that felt more like a private party than a tour gig. An overwhelming feature of Gin Wigmore is her vast range of material. From the pleading ‘If Only’, to the purring ‘Kill of the Night’, and the effervescent ‘Under My Skin’, her performance was an emotional rollercoaster ride. The only thing more diverse than her songs is her fan base, which on the night ranged from the barely legal to over-60s. That is the beauty of Wigmore, she offers something for everyone, while maintaining a distinct vocal sound. Buy her music, or better still, get along to one of her concerts and discover one of New Zealand’s best kept secrets.
Reviewer / Photographer: Kristin Wright
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