People are always complaining about the cost of concert tickets but last night Glasgow was treated to a line up with viral country star Kaitlin Butts and one of the most promising new artists of the year in Meels for less than £25 including fees. Here was an affordable, dare I say even underpriced show in this current market, featuring two stellar acts on the rise who were a total joy to spend the evening with. You could have bought merch and still end up having spent less than one ticket to see most artists on an arena or stadium tour. Supporting women in music is easy and cheap if you’re willing to seek out the underrated and up and coming artists.
Meels took to the stage and immediately made an impression with her wild curly blonde hair, sparkly red outfit, a badge that said ‘kiss me’ and a raccoon tail hanging off her guitar. She opened with the catchy ‘Vultures’ from her recent EP ‘Across the Raccoon Strait’ and easily captured the hearts of the audience with her quirky, engaging lyrics and slightly off beat tunes. Her set did lean heavily towards covers, allowing her to get the audience singing along to tunes like ‘Do I Ever Cross Your Mind’ by Dolly, ‘Harvest Moon’ by Neil Young and ‘Don’t Let Me Down’ by The Beatles. However the enthusiastic response and spontaneous audience clapping along to songs like ‘The Wizard’ and ‘Oh Deer’ proves that she has enough engaging original material too. Afterwards a lady next to me described her as ‘very unusual but very good’ and that summed up the set nicely for me.
Kaitlin Butts told the audience she was so grateful and even surprised that a decent crowd were showing up for her shows in Europe, but on the evidence of this show she can’t possibly remain a small artist for too much longer. From the opening shot of ‘Bang Bang’ she brought so much charisma to the stage you could hardly believe that such a small space could contain her star quality.
In between songs she also showed her ability to tell heartfelt stories about her life, alongside the kind of self-deprecating jokes that Dolly would be proud of. Her intro to the beautiful ‘Come Rest Your Head (On My Pillow)’ gave us a hilarious run down of how she got Vince Gill to sing on the song, and showcased the fact that not only does she have incredible stage presence but she also has the vocal talent to match.
Her band The Mules also brought so much energy to the stage, especially her brilliant fiddle player. The setlist showed the versatile quality to her music from darker tinged country songs like ‘White River’, brilliant toetapping hoedowns like ‘Roadrunner’ and catchy, poppier tunes like ‘How Lucky Am I’ alongside acoustic heartbreakers like the poignant ‘Elsa’ inspired by a woman she met when singing in a nursing home.
Kaitlin has recently signed a major record deal and shared new song ‘Never Really Mine’ a ballad which was written with Maggie Antone and Lola Kirke. Of course it was the song ‘You Ain’t Gotta Die (to be Dead to Me)’ which broke through for her on social media and led to her record deal and other opportunities, including supporting Lainey Wilson and appearing in Ella Langley’s recent video. Unsurprisingly the Glasgow crowd were suitably thrilled to hear this viral song live, singing and laughing along with every word. The song reinvents the murder ballad in a brilliantly inventive and irreverent way but it was Kaitlin’s witty and engaging performance of the song that really sold it. You just hope with the new record deal that she goes all in with another high concept album, because it is the personality that she brings to this song and hilarious ones like ‘Wild Juanita’s Catcus Juice’ which sets her apart.
For her last two songs Kaitlin played a couple of crowd pleasing covers from the recent released ‘Yeehaw Sessions’ including an absolutely brilliant, bouncing version of ‘The Middle’ and a storming ‘Tulsa Time’ to finish off the night.
I left the gig just feeling so damn lucky to hear two singers this good, in a venue this small, with such an appreciative listening crowd. Come on down next time Kaitlin Butts is in town, this self proclaimed ‘cowgirl redneck church’ will restore your faith in live music.
Highway Queens 
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