Birmingham’s pretty packed out 1500 capacity 02 Institute is the last night of a five-date UK tour that also takes in Manchester, Glasgow, Bristol and London’s famed Eventim Apollo. Then on to a 19-date European trek.
Megan is 36 and Rebecca Lovell 34. The girls have been singing together since they were knee high to a grasshopper at the family home in the Deep South, and they fit together musically so naturally.
Raised in a musical family, Rebecca and Megan were part of teenage The Lovell Sisters bluegrass trio. After that, Rebecca and Megan went out as a duo in 2010 as Larkin Poe.
Larkin Poe have released eight studio albums and one live album, plus a bunch of EPs, and they pop up on a slew of collaborations and soundtrack records. Their debut album “Kin” came out in 2014. Four years later, “Venom & Faith” topped the Billboard Blues chart and won them a Grammy nomination.
A Grammy win arrived for their 2022 album “Blood Harmony” – “Best Contemporary Blues Album”.
Their set tonight offers up 17 songs, including the single-song encore. They explode into life with the bombastic opener, “Nowhere Fast.” It is a big fat treat. The vocals, the guitar, the whole sound is more-ish ear candy.
Their latest album [released in January 2025] “Bloom’s” track listing is a good chunk of the gig tonight, and there is a bit of a horticultural theme on stage: A floral backdrop and some plants situated around the stage.
The set is split into electric and acoustic sections and flows smoothly with a good balance. “Bad Spell” is a ballsy rocker from “Blood Harmony”, contrasted to their bluegrass roots section, and my personal favourite moment, “You Are The River”.
This is when the siblings are joined front of stage by their three band members – drummer Ben Satterlee, bassist Tarka Layman and keyboardist Lucas Pettee – on tambourine, upright bass and mandolin respectively – and sweet as honey harmony vocals all around the single vintage radio microphone. Magical. “Devil Music” closes the bluegrass section “Mockingbird” is another song which features beautiful harmonies.
There are times throughout the set when the sisters glance over each at other with reciprocal beaming smiles and that kind of almost telepathic thing many siblings have with each other; [it is not just twins who have it], where they seem to know what the other is thinking. There are moments when they face each other eye to eye and those glorious harmonies are other worldly – they often can be with sibling vocal blending – it’s a chemistry thing.
Slide-playing sister Megan is on fire. Ry Cooder, Bonnie Raitt, Duane Allman, Derek Trucks, Elmore James, Lowell George; you can add Megan Lovell to that illustrious hall of fame of slide guitar players. Yes, she really is that good. Or as my notes from the night put it: “Megan’s slide licks are smoking hot!” [I didn’t actually use the word smoking, but you get the picture!!]
Setlist
Nowhere Fast
Mockingbird
Easy Love Pt. 1
Summertime Sunset
Bluephoria
If God Is A Woman
Deep Stays Down
You Are The River
Little Bit
Mad as a Hatter
Devil Music
War Pigs (Black Sabbath cover)
Bad Spell
Pearls
Wanted Woman – AC/DC
Bolt Cutters & The Family Name
Encore:
Bloom Again
Rebecca has a gorgeous and powerful lead voice and she sure can play that guitar [electric and acoustic]. Married to southern blues rock star Tyler Bryant, singer and guitarist in Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown [who co-produced the “Bloom” album with the sisters].
Rebecca became a mummy less than three months ago. Congrats both. Third song tonight, “Easy Love Pt. 1” is a love song about her relationship with husband Tyler.
In the home city of Ozzy and Black Sabbath, Larkin Poe’s triumphant cover of “War Pigs” is further proof if it were needed, that second-guessing what the Lovell sisters will do next is futile, and their sound is their sound no matter what song they have a crack at. It’s no copycat or parody either. The Brummie crowd showing their appreciation, very loudly.
Penultimate song of the set, “Bolt Cutters & The Family Name” is another rocker and goes down well, before the last song, the encore track “Bloom Again”.
No witty one liners, puns or cute play on words based on their name from me to close this review. I’ll just say this: Larkin Poe are in their own lane and at the top of their game, and this show was faultlessly brilliant.
It is the second time I have seen them – The first time was at an arena country festival in London a good few years ago now – and roll on the third time asap…
Photos by Jason Sheldon
Words by Emma Ledwell
