Hangover Hill Presents “Live & Unheard” at Lighthouse Poole
Tonight at the Lighthouse in Poole is the final Live & Unheard event of the Summer season, where they take a short break until September. This one is a bit different as Dorset adopted son Archie Ray has been given the reigns to do his own takeover. The gig also acts as a fond farewell as Archie is moving after three years, back to his original home of Cornwall. His legacy in this area is going to be long lasting; he has played countless open mic nights, solo, duo, trio and full band gigs. He has made friends wherever he goes and it will be strange popping in to Chaplin’s and not seeing his smiling face. This evening’s artists have all been hand-picked by Archie and have a connection in some way with Cornwall. Our host with the most, Lord Si Genaro of Dorsetshire gets things underway with a barefoot introduction as only he could deliver.
The first act is Mia Nicolls; not to be confused with our local Dorset artist Nia Nicholls, Archie first met her at an open mic night in Cornwall and was immediately taken with her performance. This 23-year-old singer-songwriter opens with her single “Hummingbird”, accompanied by an electric guitar. Her warm euphonic vocals equally fulfils on lower levels and when pushed to higher. “The Alps” is a tune that has a atmospheric quality and the audience gift Mia their attentive silence. “Deja Vu” is a story about her Ex and feeling that you are stuck in a cycle, it’s a lyrically personal song and the vocals are delivered passionately.
Up next we have a tune called “Humanity”, a track that is about the people that she meets in her job as a waitress in a Café, a great number with some great lyrical observations. Mia seemed a little nervous and forgot to bring her setlist to the stage, which makes her seem a little unorganised as she appears to want to finish early and says that she does not have any other songs to play. After a quick think we are treated to a second version of her single “Hummingbird” before much to our surprise she leaves the stage early. The crowd clearly enjoyed her talents and gave her a positive response as she left the stage.
Next up we have the Boundless Brothers who are from Penzance in Cornwall and the duo have made the near 200 mile trip just to perform for us tonight. They comprise of two actual brothers Sam Wilson on Vocals/Acoustic Guitar and Seb Wilson on Double Bass/Vocals. Opening with “Dance With The Devil”, beautifully backed with the deep rich sound that only a double bass can give, the boys sublime harmonies and instrumental talents are a joy to hear. This studio theatre’s wonderful acoustics as I have said many times before really enhances the duo’s sound.
With further original compositions including “Bridges Broken” and the bands recent single “Call My Name”, we are taken further into their creativity. The bespoke acoustic guitar work is certainly something to behold. The final number is a song called “Monster” and a tune written as a comforter to the other after having nightmares. A fine set of great original songs from these two Kernownian guys who really impress this usually hard to please Dorset audience.
Back in February 2024 Archie Ray and his band set the benchmark high with their first set at Live & Unheard and tonight the place is packed on all three sides. Full of friends and fans that Archie and his band have made in their time in this county, this evening’s swansong features a full band with long term collaborators Victor on bass and Keanu on Guitar, along with Callum on Fiddle and Tom on drums. Archie is clearly excited for his moment in the spotlight and he clearly flourishes with an audience surrounded by his hand-picked band members. With an armful of ridiculously catchy songs with memorable melodies & choruses, these guys have all they need to make this a night to remember. Nothing is left to chance as the band are clearly all well rehearsed.
If Archie is the fishermen and the bait is his songs and the audience are the fish, he’s going to have a net full tonight. With the emotive “Cry On Me”, “Time at the Bar” with Keanu’s amazingly effortless guitar solo and the beautifully brilliant “Memory Go Round”, we are all blown away within the first 15 minutes. A solo section further astounds us as we get a lovely moment where the acoustic guitar amplification fails and Archie improvises incandescently while delivering the new single “Cups Of Tea”. He also shows us he’s no one trick pony with some impressive urbanised vocals and lyrical content only this man could deliver. I get thinking if someone like Ed Sheeran could headline Wembley Stadium than why can’t someone like Archie with the bags of talent he has do the same. Lighthouse lighting technician Sam conintues to astound us and tonight he has a new laser device the surrounds Archie with some wonderful effects.
Archie does not have to sell himself to me after the first few times I have seen him perform, I was hooked with his cheeky smile from beneath his flat cap and his enchanting performances. He has more than upped his game and risen to the occasion, it’s a double edged sword moment as he is leaving the area and we cannot just pop over to Chaplins or The Bear Cave to see him perform. The band’s momentum is kept high and no one dare take their eyes off the stage at the fear of missing a moment. “Get Happy”, “Dearly Departed”, the lambently “Lost Inside The Rain” are all second half highlights, before Archie harpoons everyone with the final killer blow. “End Of The Line” is a skyscraper of a tune that had me up in the middle of the night before now with the chorus going around in my head. The audience don’t need any encouragement in joining in along with the band for this the finale to a fantastic evening. What a amazing performance and one that will go down in history and if Archie somehow hits the big time as I expect him to, there will be people who were here tonight bragging about this gig.
Set Lists
Archie Ray
A Million
Cry On Me
Time at The Bar
Silver Linings
Memory Go Round
Cups Of Tea
The Moth and The Butterfly
Get Happy
Believe in Me
Disappointed
Don’t Worry About Me
Notifications
Take It On
Dearly Departed
Lost Inside The Rain
End Of The Line
Boundless Brothers
Dance With The Devil
Only Love
Bridges Broken
I’m On Fire
Domino
Call My Name
Monster
Mia Nicholls
Hummingbird
The Alps
Deja Vu
Humanity
No More
Hummingbird
Videos
Links
https://www.facebook.com/archieraymusic
https://www.facebook.com/boundlessbrothers
https://www.facebook.com/MiaNichollsMusic
Live & Unheard is taking a short hiatus until it returns on Thursday 25th September with Dorset’s legendary progressive band Galahad, along with the award winning Indie/Rock/Psychedelic band Traffic Cone Wizard and confessional walking noise complaint Lucymuses. (Be Warned This Will Sell Out in Advance!!) Tickets are available now and can be purchased here.
Article & Media by David Chinery
Photography & Transport by Lynn Burt
