Performances don’t get much more intimate when less than 50 people are in the front space of a record shop and the artist is playing unamplified, less than five feet away.
In the autumn of 2025, I wrote “More People Really Should Know About: Leah Blevins” and concluded: “Recently, it was announced that Blevins has been signed by Dan Auerbach at his Easy Eye Sound, so it may well be that more people do indeed know about Leah Blevins”. The first fruits of that collaboration came at the end of March with the excellent All Dressed Up album, and now with the label support, Blevins is in the UK supporting the Black Crowes as well as playing slots at the State Fayre festival in Chelmsford and British Summer Time in London’s Hyde Park.
Within the schedule she managed to fit in a late album launch date at Rough Trade’s shop in Denmark Street, London, for so long the hub of the UK’s music industry. Given we were in the middle of a Red Weather Alert with shade temperatures hitting 35C and lots of public transport cancellations and delays, it was impressive that so many made the journey to see her.
Blevins took the ‘stage’ just after 19:30, accompanied by her touring guitar player, Brian (I didn’t catch his last name). No amplification, just two musicians in the room. Blevins referenced the new album and said they would be playing songs from that but also her first record. This was a promise she made good on, launching into the title track of her full-length debut First Time Feeling. Blevins moved with the melody as she sang, and Brian’s guitar parts both framed the vocal and embellished the melody in the breaks.
Leave It Up To Me is the first song from the new record, followed closely by the title track. Introducing Be Careful Throwing Stones, Blevins tells us it is a tribute, perhaps more homage, to 1970s soft rock/ R&B light; name-checking Stevie Nicks. The song certainly has a soulful feel to it, both in the vocal and the guitar chords.
After that, she switches mood with her introduction to Leave Your Baggage At The Door; a sentiment with which most would empathise. You can see the video of the performance at the foot of this review. Hailing from Kentucky, coal plays a big part in Blevins’ view of the world. In this instance, Diggin’ In The Coal, the title of the next song, is a metaphor for finding hidden gems. She finishes the set with the moving Lonely with some nice guitar and harmonies from Brian. The assembled audience erupts in applause and continues doing so until she returns (aka doesn’t go off) for a soulful early single, God Help Me.
It has been a great way to spend half an hour in the company of an act finally getting the commercial recognition to go with her country-soul artistry. Sadly, the label hadn’t managed to get the CDs and vinyl to the store for the event, so the wait continues. I have no doubt Leah Blevins will be back soon and, when she does, will be greeted with open arms.
