When lists of Liverpol’s finest songwriters are compiled, one name that barely seems to be mentioned is Kathryn Williams.

Perhaps it’s the fact that she rarely plays her home town (this is her first gig in Merseyside for eight years) or the fact that after moving away from the city, it was Newcastle where she settled and began making a name for herself.

Indeed it was a historical thoroughfare in her adopted home, Dog Leap Stairs which gave it’s name to Kathryn’s still astonishing sounding 1999 debut, an album of which Uncut magazine said: “In 30 years’ time they’ll be cooing over Dog Leap Stairs with the reverence currently afforded to Nick Drake’s albums – simply magical music”.

Soon after Kathryn was nominated for a Mercury Music Prize for her follow up, Little Black Numbers which led to a brief flirtation with the mainstream through a major label deal and the lovely covers album Relations in 2004.

Now safely ensconced back on an indie, Kathryn recently formed The Crayonettes, a project designed specifically to make music for children, which rather charmingly used her own kids as an in-house focus group.

Drawing on an eclectic range of influences which include Nina Simone, Nick Drake, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Simon And Garfunkel and the Velvet Underground, along with classical and Cuban music, her own inimitable style has endeared her to a very loyal and discerning following.

This is a priceless opportunity to see one of UK folk’s most special talents made all the more enticing by the fact it takes place in the plush surrounds of Hope University’s Capstone Theatre, a venue which is fast becoming one of Liverpool’s most interesting destinations.

Kathryn Williams
Capstone Theatre
Saturday March 19

Jamie Bowman