Live: Geraint Watkins and the Mosquitoes @ The Sound Lounge

by | May 3, 2017

It’s 3pm on a warm spring Bank Holiday Sunday afternoon and Tooting’s newest café-come-music venue The Sound Lounge is packed to all four corners with middle-aged hipsters eager to see Geraint Watkins and the Mosquitoes play their first show in 18 months.

Geraint Watkins & Martin Winning (Lauren Patel)

Geraint Watkins & Martin Winning (Lauren Patel)

The show’s organiser, host and support act Niall Kelly kicks off the afternoon with an uplifting fusion of blues-folk-country packed with foot-stomping tracks from his second studio album Not Sleeping as well as new material that he hopes to release in the next year.  The latest studio offering features legendary pedal steel player BJ Cole on three tracks, and was aptly titled during the period following the birth of Kelly’s first child, a period to which I can resonate with having started this review at 3am in the morning whilst feeding my own little one!

Niall Kelly (Lauren Patel)

Niall Kelly (Lauren Patel)

Singer-songwriter Kelly is supported by Dan on drums, James on guitar, Jimmy on bass and his wife Caitlin on violin.  He met his wife some years ago whilst working the Soho Blues circuit, but today it’s a family affair in his own neighbourhood, with children in tow to watch as they warm up the 250-sold-out crowd with tracks including Love Light and When Do I Check In?

Caitlin Kelly (Lauren Patel)

Caitlin Kelly (Lauren Patel)

With a sound that takes influence from Van Morrison, the Derry-native’s eight-track set included new tune Stranger In Love, before concluding with stand-out track Lady Dancer from his first studio album Hand in Fire, which he boasts is not available to buy today as he sold them all…all four of them!

Niall Kelly Band (Lauren Patel)

Niall Kelly Band (Lauren Patel)

The trendy crowd, enjoying an afternoon tipple, have shunned beards in favour of chunky black-rimmed glasses and trilbies.  Kelly has left them fully enthused as he hands the batten over to Geraint Watkins and the Mosquitoes for the main show.

 (Lauren Patel)

Watkins has spent much of his 40-year career supporting others with his nimble-fingered talents on piano, keyboard and accordion, and he has supported not just anyone I must add, notching up performances with Van Morrison, Paul McCartney, Nick Lowe, Bill Wyman, and Mark Knopfler to name but a few. One of his recent ventures saw him feature as accordionist on Status Quo’s 2014 album Acoustic (Stripped Bare), and he is regularly championed by BBC Music.  He can sing too, and has recorded a number of solo albums in his accomplished career, including the critically acclaimed In A Bad Mood in 2008, which earned him a guest appearance on Later… With Jools Holland.

Geraint Watkins (Lauren Patel)

Geraint Watkins (Lauren Patel)

Today he too is performing on his patch, hailing from South Wales but a south-west Londoner for decades.  He is joined on the quirky venue’s generous stage by The Mosquitoes; whom include Martin Winning on sax and Tucker Nelson on drums.  Also joining the party is special guest Little George Sueref, a talented blues and soul singer, guitarist and harmonica musician tasked with two vocal leads per half of the show.

Little George Sueref (Lauren Patel)

Little George Sueref (Lauren Patel)

Watkins sits throughout on keyboard and treats punters to three full hours of rock ‘n’ roll mixed with blues and peppered with the Welshman’s humour between tracks.  Playing tunes from In A Bad Mood as well as a number of jolly covers including Dancing Queen and an inspired amalgamation of The Sound of Music’s My Favourite Things and the James Bond Theme.  A charismatic Winning is a joy on sax, whilst guest Little George delights with his vocal strength.

Martin Winning (Lauren Patel)

Martin Winning (Lauren Patel)

After a short interval half way through the session allowing all to get a much-needed refreshment, the afternoon turns to evening and Watkins returns to the stage alone, showcasing his voice with a lovely rendition of Only A Rose, taken from 2004 album Dial W For Watkins and since re-recorded with Nick Lowe.  Afterwards, The Mosquitoes and Little George return to stage, completing the set with upbeat tunes including the late Chuck Berry’s Johnny B Good, which has the sell-out audience on their feet and dancing.

Geraint Watkins (Lauren Patel)

Geraint Watkins (Lauren Patel)

After more than four hours of live music, it’s now almost 7.30pm and the show sadly comes to a close.  No-one wants to go home, and I can understand why. Spirits are high thanks to a fine afternoon of live music.

Geraint Watkins & Martin Winning (Lauren Patel)

Geraint Watkins & Martin Winning (Lauren Patel)

Niall Kelly plays the Stroud Fringe Festival in August, whilst Geraint Watkins plays at Folk A Rock in Malmö in May and the Eel Pie Club in Twickenham in September.

Live review and photos by Lauren Patel

 

 

Stevie Wonder @ BST Hyde Park 2025 (Bethan Miller-Carey)

A Night In Wonderland: Stevie Wonder And Guests Delight At BST Hyde Park 2025

“Awwwwight!” drawls Stevie Wonder, arms flung wide, grinning like a teenager trying on cockney charm for the first...
Neil Young @ BST Hyde Park (Trudi Knight)

Dance, Shadow And Harvest Under The Full Moon: Van Morrison, Yusuf Islam And Neil Young And The Chrome Hearts At BST Hyde Park 2025

Gone are the sparkled cowgirls and pop princesses of previous BST gigs. It’s the turn of the Baby Boomer generation to make up the core crowd of Hyde Park – a sea of grey hair, straw hats, and sensible shoes. They reapply sun cream religiously, have brought picnic blankets, and can be forgiven for taking their time getting up and down from the ground between acts. This is the generation that invented outdoor rock and folk festivals – and they’re here to show the rest of us how it’s done.

Poptones (Rune Gro-Nielsen)

Poptones Play Their Wild Card With New Single ‘Say Something Now’ Ahead of Forthcoming Album ‘Pure’

Danish experimental rock trio Poptones have unveiled their new single Say Something Now, offering a taste of the unpredictability and emotional depth that defines their upcoming sophomore album Pure, out 26th September via Happy Metal Records. Where lead single Skin Of Sea teased a shift toward expansive and instinctive composition, Say Something Now dives headlong into that experimental impulse—guided, intriguingly, by the rules of UNO. Yes, the beloved card game.

Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age @ iTunes Festival 2013 (Kalpesh Patel)

Queens Of The Stone Age Announce Intimate European ‘Catacombs’ Tour, Including Special London Show

Queens Of The Stone Age have today unveiled details of their eagerly awaited Catacombs European Tour – a string of uniquely atmospheric shows inspired by their acclaimed 2024 Alive In The Catacombs performance. The tour, set for October 2025, will include a standout UK date at London’s Royal Albert Hall on 29th October, promising a rare and intimate reimagining of the band’s formidable back catalogue.

Alice Merton @ BST Hyde Park 2025 (Trudi Knight)

Alice Merton Brings Sharp Pop Precision To The Rainbow Stage At BST Hyde Park 2025

As the sun began to dip behind the trees in Hyde Park on 11th July, a throng of festival-goers packed into the Rainbow Stage area, drawn by the magnetic presence of German-Canadian artist Alice Merton. The singer-songwriter—best known for her breakout hit No Roots—delivered a punchy, emotionally agile set that brought the stage to a vibrant close, just before Neil Young And The Chrome Hearts took the spotlight over on the festival’s main Great Oak Stage.

Brian Molko of Placebo @ Brixton Academy (Kalpesh Patel)

Placebo Announce Deluxe Collection This Search For Meaning, Featuring Documentary, Live Album & Bonus Tracks

Anglo-American alt-rock icons Placebo have announced This Search For Meaning, a four-disc deluxe collection arriving 12th September via SO Recordings. The package offers a comprehensive portrait of the band’s current creative era, combining introspective documentary filmmaking with live performance energy and exclusive music content.

Die Spitz (Anatheme)

Die Spitz Announce Debut Album ‘Something To Consume’, Drop Ferocious New Single ‘Throw Yourself To The Sword’

Austin punk outfit Die Spitz have announced their debut album Something To Consume, arriving on 12th September via...
Dean Lewis (Sean Loaney)

Dean Lewis Releases Deluxe Edition Of ‘The Epilogue’ with Powerful New Single ‘Hurt So Bad’

Australian singer-songwriter Dean Lewis has unveiled the deluxe edition of his acclaimed third studio album The Epilogue, alongside the release of an emotionally raw new single, Hurt So Bad.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This

Share Thing