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24 - 26 August 2012
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THE PAPER SHADES
The Centre Stage, Bournemouth
February 13

   Formed in 2009 The Paper Shades are at last fulfilling their ambition to write and perform their own music. Long time friends Sarah Dollar (vocals/acoustic guitar) and Jon Rixon (vocals/acoustic guitar) have been supplemented recently by the addition of Matt Paul (double bass) and their delicate guitar work, haunting vocal melodies and folk tinged heartfelt songs have earned them an enviable reputation on the Dorset folk circuit.

Headlining to a rather sparsely populated Centre Stage, they performed a varied mix of both covers and tracks from their debut EP released in July 2010. First up came Crooked Still’s Lay Down and Dirty and then a couple from their EP, the melodic Play Both Sides and Too Many Roads which featured some really great harmonies. Mumford & Sons’ Timshel was followed by the self penned Follow Me and the beautiful Low Winter Sun which had Jon taking the lead. Another of their own songs, Open Ground led into the lovely Lacewing which had Sarah showing her virtuosity on the mandolin.

The set had simply flown by and the group completely reorganised themselves for the last number Blue Ridge Mountains, a favourite from Seattle based folk outfit Fleet Foxes. This had to be seen to be believed as Sarah played the glockenspiel, drum and tambourine at the same time whilst Matt switched to the mandolin and then changed to the double bass mid song. Although attempting the song with some apprehension, this was a terrific finale and well worth the wait. An encore was inevitable although the trio again had to reorganise for Distant Sun, a hit for Australasian group Crowded House.


The evening got underway with a short set of traditional folk songs from sound man Andy Stone with more traditional folk from James Marsh before Salisbury based blues man Dan Sowerby livened things up with some great bottle neck slide.

John Roffey