Having just announced that she will be releasing an eagerly anticipated new album on Friday 23rd May coinciding with an Album Launch Show at London's iconic The 100 Club the same night, followed by a full new album UK tour straight after, diminutive Bluestress, Chantel McGregor, is still currently on the road on her Winter Tour, so once again it was a no brainer to catch this loveable Yorkshire lass on Sunday at The Beaverwood in Chislehurst,

Indeed an unexpected bonus on yet another miserable evening weather-wise was the support duo, Amelia Street, featuring the very likeable and talented paring of David Clark and Lee Ellis on melodic acoustic guitars and vocal harmonies, playing both original songs and a majority of covers. Delightfully taking us back in time with 'Feeling Groovy', 'Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head', 'Gentle On My Mind', 'Cecilia', 'It Must Be Love', 'Norwegian Wood', 'Star Man', 'A'int No Pleasing You' and 'Mrs. Robinson', this eclectic mix of toe-tappin' classics, also included a sumptuous slice of their latest four-track EP, 'Haven't Got a Clue', sandwiched in between, as well as a good line in South London banter. Right up our manor guys!

Was it really just over twelve years ago now, and love at first sight at The 100 Club, when Chantel performed a spellbinding acoustic cover of Metallica's 'Nothing Else Matters'. Subsequently the rest is history as Chantel would not only go on to win both our 2014 Best Blues Rock and 2015 Best Unplugged WRC Awards, but also headline our 2015 BluesRockfest in Gravesend on Independence Day. Suffice to say tonight was part one of our annual half-yearly pilgrimage to see this wonderful guitarist and songwriter, with the aforementioned album launch party still to come.

Arriving on stage in a trademark pink flowery flowing frock, backed up by her familiar and trusted Power trio of Colin Sutton on bass and Thom Gardner on drums, it was time for Chantel to very aptly 'Take The Power' to her Beaverwood faithful with this opening salvo, a track that not only reinforces McGregor's heavier sound, more mature song writing and catchy riffs and melodies, but was also coincidentally her opener on the 2015 'Lose Control' album. Next up was another from that very same last studio album, and the classic Heavy Rock, strong guitar riff and catchy chorus of 'Killing Time', with the smiling McGregor very much now in the groove, to the extent that before introducing 'Eternal Dream', the normally bare footed Chantel pointed out her "dead lovely" bamboo socks to the amused gathering, as well as plugging her forthcoming album launch.

Cue this mystical classic, inspired by one of her favourite artists, Jeff Buckley, and yet another from 'Lose Control', with both a breathtaking McGregor vocal plus a guitar solo outro to match. "Quite possibly her best song ever" my partner in crime next to me whispered in my recently microsuctioned left ear. Who could disagree? Given the first three numbers of the evening, I suppose it was inevitable that the very same blistering title track would follow, and while on my way to the bar, I espied Chantel's dear Mum sitting behind her merchandise stand, happily singing along and "losing control", despite her long journey down to Kent today, as well as a return home eta of 4am tomorrow morning!

Thankfully in return for their exploits, The Beaverwood was deservedly packed tonight despite the iffy weather, which was extremely appropriate given this week is Independent Venue Week, a seven-day celebration of small music venues around the UK and a nod to the people that own, run and work in them, week in, week out.

"Shall we do 'Fabulous'?" teased Chantel, before launching into the opener from her debut album, 'Like No Other', with its harder, rockier feel. After joking about her "wild" New Year celebrations, the trio continued playing the same 2011 album, with both bassist Sutton and drummer Gardner delightfully very much to the fore on the punchy, hook grooves of 'Caught Out', although not to be outdone, McGregor once again shone with yet another exemplary solo. "All about having a good time", indeed we saw Chantel debut the electrically awesome 'Crazy Little Voodoo' just under two years ago at Putney's The Half Moon, and it's no doubt a cert for the new album, albeit, as it turned out, this was the only taster tonight of what awaits us in May.

It was then back to much more familiar territory with 'Lose Control's 'Walk On Land', another wonderful example of Chantel's soft side, contrasted by the way in which she killed/nailed the guitar solo on it. Thom and Colin then briefly left the stage, before McGregor's wonderful acoustic rendition of 'Lose Control's haunting 'Anaesthetize', that ironically, as well as very sadly, saw a guy pass out right near us at the front of the stage. Fair play to The Beaverwood staff, the audience and Chantel herself for admirably dealing with the situation, and for making him comfortable.

With thankfully normal service now resumed, and inspired by her love of the old TV vampire show 'True Blood', 'I’m No Good For You’ once again allowed Chantel's guitar playing and vocals to bite on this well-constructed song, taken from 'Like No Other'. Returning for the final time to 'Lose Control', the soulful Rhythm and Blues of 'Burn Your Anger', had Sutton and McGregor facing off for a very apt mid-stage riff, while Chantel's hilarious "beaver" faux pas, introducing 'Freefalling', thankfully saw things move swiftly on, cue this pure Old School Hard Rockin' penultimate set song from 'Like No Other'.

'Bury'd Alive's tour de force, 'April', was the very welcome encore, and despite a busted guitar string, McGregor still went into instrumental overdrive, making amazing use of the large number of pedals set out on her pedal board, just waiting for her bamboo socked twinkle toes to engage them. No 'Daydream', tonight, nor in fact any covers, but in essence yet another outstanding Chantel McGregor "Greatest Hits' masterclass. Indeed, there's still time to catch Chantel's current tour before the her big album launch in May. Ten years in the making but we will be there. Can't wait.

AJ

Photos: John Bull