Alex Roberts at The Green House, BH1
By Susan Stockwell
I don’t know how used Alex Roberts is to playing to an audience which is completely spell bound, but I’m certainly not used to being part of such an audience. I’m struggling not to sound like one of the X-Factor judges feting one the musicians s/he is mentoring here. Very hard to find words to convey the warmth, power and sensitivity coming through in his music. Never mind the diaphragm, which incidentally he seemed to have in perfect working order, he was singing right from the guts.Think, “shiver me timbers”, “fire in the belly”, “heartfelt” and “warming the cockles of your heart”. In singing about how life affects us all from his own perspective he also bravely showed us his soft underbelly. Furthermore, he had his heart on his sleeve. I learnt recently that the heart is not just something for showing love but also the place where past memories are stored. Needless to say I didn’t learn this from an anatomist but someone dealing in the past, emotions and courage. Alex showed his heart to us through his music leaving us feeling privileged to have such a clear window into his past and how he is feeling in the here and now.
Ok, I’m going to say the word that I’ve been avoiding, Folk. This is the easiest fit for describing his music. However, it did seem timeless and placeless, coming as it did from inside him rather than being tied into any extreme genre. I suspect that this is what made it so easy to connect to.
The occasion was a gathering of the Transition Town groups across Bournemouth and Poole. The venue was The Green House Hotel just behind the Eastcliffe in BH1. Very Green, quite a smart Cornwall feel to it with very hospitable staff (ie they are pleased to see you) and far more relaxing atmosphere than any hotel I’ve been to in the immediate area over the last twenty years of living here. I certainly don’t anticipate the owners appearing in the local press grumbling abour their guests and Trip Advisor.
Alex Roberts’ portal googles very well for local dates coming up, and his review on BBC Dorset Music is very useful for explaining the sort of folkness of his sound.
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