Who are the Lewes Music Group? They are best described as a music collective based in Lewes, East Sussex. In fact, they are a not-for-profit Community Interest Company.
Why spend an evening in Laurel Canyon? Laurel Canyon is nestled in the Hollywood Hills above Los Angeles. In the late 1960s, it was home to an enclave of musicians, artists, and counterculture figures who produced a concentrated burst of musical genius that shaped the course of popular music and still resonates today.
The Lewes Music Group wanted to pay tribute to the artists who made the music, particularly Carole King. However, they opened the show with a version of The Doors’ ‘Riders on a Storm,’ demonstrating they were serious. Ethan Holliman’s keyboards and Matt Willis’s (not that one!) guitar and vocals were outstanding. The Cavern Live Lounge audience knew they were in safe hands.
Dan Lauro introduced the group, mentioning that this was the furthest north they had performed. The next song was a cover of The Byrds’ version of ‘Mr. Tambourine Man,’ one of the most iconic songs to emanate from the Canyon. Guitar and vocals were beautifully handled by Han Nelson, who was about to have quite a night.
Matt Willis took lead vocals on America’s ‘Ventura Highway,’ followed by James Taylor’s ‘Carolina in My Mind.’ By now, the audience was singing along to every word. Next was Jackson Browne’s ‘Running on Empty,’ on which Willis played lap steel guitar.
What had already been an impressive set was about to go up a level as singing duties were handed over to Han Nelson, who, Dan Lauro informed the audience, was Canadian so it was only right she should sing songs by her compatriots Neil Young and Joni Mitchell. Young’s ‘Heart of Gold’ was warmly received, followed by a cover of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young’s ‘Woodstock.’ Brilliant! But what came next was the first half’s ‘wow moment’: Han Nelson sang Joni Mitchell’s ‘The Circle Game’ as wistfully as the Lady of the Canyon herself. The audience was spellbound, and this reviewer suddenly found he had dust in his eye. Nelson finished her mini- Mitchell set with a rousing version of ‘Big Yellow Taxi.’
The first half concluded with Buffalo Springfield’s ‘For What It’s Worth,’ Yusuf Islam’s (formerly Cat Stevens) ‘Wild World,’ and Eagles’ ‘Take It Easy.’
The Lewes Group proved themselves to be incredibly talented musicians. A spectacularly shirted Aaron Carpenter’s drumming anchored the group, and Alice Grace added backing vocals and piano. Her chance to take the lead was about to happen as she performed Carole King’s ‘Tapestry.’ Released in 1971, ‘Tapestry’ is simply one of the most influential and best-selling albums of all time. It blends deeply personal songs with warm, simple production, often centered on piano and voice. King’s honest and unadorned vocal style gives the album an intimate, confessional tone, almost as if she’s singing directly to you in a living room. Alice Grace was about to sing directly to a small yet intimate audience at the Cavern Club.
Sitting at her keyboard, Grace sang the album’s opening track, ‘I Feel the Earth Move,’ and the audience sang every word with her. She continued through the album, often sharing little anecdotes about the songs. Her ‘wow moment’ came with ‘You’ve Got a Friend.’ Although she didn’t need to, she invited the audience to sing along, and they did. You could see her reaction; she was visibly blown away. Four songs later, she performed the album’s closing track, ‘(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,’ earning a well-deserved standing ovation. The audience wanted more, so Willis joined her on stage for a rendition of The Drifters’ ‘Up on the Roof,’ written by Carole King and her then-husband Gerry Goffin. The rest of the group returned to the stage to back Grace, belting out Carly Simon’s ‘You’re So Vain.’
Most of the audience was in their fifties or older so these songs had soundtracked their lives. Yet, they were being performed by musicians young enough to be their grandchildren, which says all you need to know: these songs have transcended time, place, and generations.
This was the last show of The Lewes Group’s tour, but they will return to the Cavern next April to perform Joni Mitchell’s ‘Blue.’
Reviewer – Adrian Cork
On – 22.06.2025
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