Live Music: Larkham and Hall feat. Charlie Rose – Crooked Baby Hands EP launch party

There’s something indefinable about Sarah Larkham and Elliot Hall’s music. It’s retro, emotional, poetic, badass, beautiful and bluesy all at once. Even a touch of Latin flair finds its way in occasionally. There’s also a rock thread that weaves its way very quietly through everything, in the way that it does in Tom Waits’ music or Nick Cave’s.

But there’s an undeniable beauty in the romance of the tug-at-the-heartstrings melodies, in the honest, heart-on-your-sleeve lyrics. These two are a long-established musical duo who fit perhaps better into the category of ‘artist’ than any specific genre. They are joined by ridiculously talented Charlie Rose on fiddle and piano, who adds fluidity and flair to their music like rosin to a bow.

Their EP – ‘Crooked Baby Hands’ – produced by Matt Sampson, is a long-awaited treat of five very different tracks representing their musical bouquet. The Latin-American rhythms of ‘Riverplate Blues’, Amy Winehouse-inspired offbeat chops of ‘Boy with a Fish’, folk-rock ballad ‘All Your Dreams’, heartbreaking romance of ‘Finishing Line’ and the 10-minute psychedelic blues-rock duet ‘Pray for my Wicked Soul’

EP launch party is upstairs at The Hen and Chicken (comedy box) on North Street, Southville, Bristol BS3. Doors open 6 pm. Tickets £10 plus fees in advance, £14 on the door to include free digital download.

CDs, T-shirts and lyrics books available on the night.