The Kazimier, Liverpool was the setting for The Sundowners album launch and homecoming gig. Label mates and Liverpool bands made up the support for the evening with sets from Skeleton Key’s Marvin Powell and She Drew The Gun as well as Liverpool band Sankofa.

Marvin Powell kicked things off with his soulful vocals complemented by a backdrop of folky guitars and double bass. Marvin was showcasing tracks from his debut album to be released on Skeleton Key Records later this year. His set included the tender and quirky opener ‘Bees and Honey’ and the beautifully crafted storyteller ‘Enigma Girl’

The captivating She Drew The Gun soon followed,  fronted by the phenomenal Louisa Roach with additional guitar from Jack Turner. Louisa wowed with her varying tones and beautiful changes of pace throughout her set which included debut release ‘If You Could See’ which was premiered on Gigslutz in January.

Liverpool band Sankofa filled the main support slot and tilted the pace further in The Sundowners’ direction with a pulsy and vibrant set. Opener ‘Wolf In Sheep Skin’ built the pace and tone with strong ’60s inspired Blues/Rock. Their set also included single ‘Slow Killer City’ which will be released on vinyl on Record Store Day, April 19th along with B-side ‘Vanishing Point’ which was also in the live set. Sankofa were joined by lead singer Stephen Wall’s sister Jodie to perform a re-work of Muddy Waters classic ‘Mojo Workin’ to close their set in great style.

A capacity crowd had packed into The Kazimier by the time headliners The Sundowners took to the stage to launch their debut album ‘Sundowners’ and end their UK Tour with a homecoming. The Wirral band kicked off their set with ‘Wild As The Season’ the opener of their album before continuing into singles ‘Back To You’ and the trippy ‘Into The Light’. Co-singer Fiona Skelly noted that she’d blew her voice out on the tour but “would give us everything she had, till she couldn’t speak.” Her vocals never swayed from their usual high standard though as the usual vocal exchanges between herself and fellow lead singer Niamh Rowe glowed upon the foundations built by Alfie Skelly’s trippy and fuzzy guitar flows.

Latest single, the bassy and drum led ‘If Wishes Were Horses’ was next followed by more newbies. Niamh then took time out to introduce a special track. “This is the first song we ever wrote as a band, played live and released, this next one you might know, it’s called ‘Hummingbird’.” When playing live a band generally has an old song in their locker that goes down well to a live crowd and is loved by their fans alike and for The Sundowners that’s ‘Hummingbird’, an easy to remember, sing-a-long friendly, genuinely buzzy song. Bluesy/Rock belter ‘Soul Responding’ notches up the attitude and packs the most punch in the Sundowners set with it’s head nodding beat and catchy chorus.

The band closed with debut single and psych fanatic ‘Medicine’, drowned in reverb effects and led by distorted guitars that dazes the mind in a live situation till it’s conclusion. The band left the stage to a rapturous ovation from the Liverpool crowd and rightfully so, anyone in attendance arrived expecting a great show and The Sundowners delivered. Memorable.

Jake Marley