Over the years some kind people have said some rather nice things about us at The Chattery

Here are some of the things I have found online (and that other people have found and emailed me).

"HELEN WATSON

@The Chattery, Swansea.

After receiving Helen's "Doffing" CD pre-performance I was fairly excited at the chance to experience such a profound signer…what I never imagined was the prospect of seeing her at venue allowing as much intimacy and warmth at The Chattery… a venue where you can experience one of your favourite performers as if they were in your best-friends living room, whilst their mother cooks you a comforting supper. As I sat down to support act (and manager, promoter, web-person…and I'm told a dab hand with the vacuum!) Alex Clatworthy I was duly presented with one of the best home-made curries I've had in a long-time - Alex had a lot to compete with given how good the food was but she held my attention throughout a folk-tinged acoustic set of humorous/social commentating covers (Chris Mills, cited throughout, her clear inspiration and I guess his songs formed the bulk of the set)...

I must admit, despite "Doffing", I wasn't prepared for the "feeling" in Helen's naked vocals as she opened unaccompanied with 'You've Gotta Move'… a vocal performance that instantly hooked those in attendance and from there we were undoubtedly hers to do as she wished. Alternating between harmonica-accompanied, acoustic-accompanied, egg-shaker-accompanied (on occasions recalling a one-woman-bluesband as Helen adopted multiple accompaniments) and bare vocal, Helen simply charmed and enchanted the audience - making a detailed review impossible given how tranquil I became… I did note Ruth Brown's 'As Long As I'm Moving' and Bruce Springsteen's 'Highway 69' as highlights of the set but I could have cited any two tracks from a rootsy performance that dipped into many genre's but always retained that Blues undercurrent. Having recently reviewed Nina Simone's re-released live album "In Concert" it was easy for me to draw comparisons with Helen tonight - vocally not a direct comparison but the way Helen interacted with, and involved, the crowd, which really gave the night an added dimension (to see the crowd singing along, and laughing, with Helen at the end - I wasn't drunk enough tonight - was like the family Christmas you always imagine, but which never quite materialises past the 4pm 'punch-up'). Magic is about right!

Darren Howells (the review appears in Blues Matters magazine)

"Between acts you would be forgiven for thinking you were a gatecrasher at a wedding as at The Chattery it's buffet time! Out comes the cheese board, bread, pork pies and nibbles to keep the paying punters entertained while the next band sets up. You don't get this at Barfly!" Soundsnew.com

And mad props to all of the folks at The Chattery in Swansea for one of the best times I've ever had. They are, honestly, some of the most sincere and gracious people you will ever meet, and Nigel cooks an excellent pork chop. Chris-mills.com

Our show that night was at a restaurant called the Chattery. I have to say, if you happen to find yourself in Swansea and are looking for a first class dinner then look no further. The owner, and our host for the night, provided us with the best meal of the tour (and the best breakfast next morning). A small but extremely loud and enthusiastic audience greeted us that night, some of whom had travelled 70 miles on a BUS to see us. That may not seem much Stateside but in the UK through the Welsh hills and valleys that's mighty impressive (thanks to Islwyn and Aled for making the effort). John Miller

Nigel & Marg own this place... daughter Alex books the artists (although just two years out of school, she's a pro... & very nice) a very good vibe here... this venue is located in something like an upper middle class New York suburb... (ie: "Rockland County")- & the venue is not dissimilar to the vibe of Rockland's "Turning Point" ... although it's a more modern structure. Chip Taylor

Songdog mention us in their tour diary...