Heather Peace at RNCM

HEATHER PEACE – ROYAL NORTHERN COLLEGE OF MUSIC

If this gig was a walk in the country it would wear matching fleeces. If this gig was a beverage it would be a lady grey served in bone china and drunk with the little finger extended. If this gig was your mum it would make you eat your greens, wipe your brow and tuck you in at night.
Yes, there’s something distinctly sensible, refined and comforting going on tonight. No one’s going to upset the apple cart, Heathers definitely not going to be crowd surfing (mores the pity) and no one’s is going to throw a pint in your face. And that’s just the way the packed hall with it 99.95% lesbian crowd would want it.

Peace was at the tale end of her tour promoting her debut independently released album Fairytales when she came to the Royal Northern college of Music. In the past she’s performed with Alison Moyet, Rebecca Ferguson and Brian May – but tonight, it’s her and her 5 piece band who treat the audience to the album which entered the independent charts at number 7. There are a few new numbers  thrown in for good measure too, with Peace swapping effortlessly between keyboard and guitar. Peace is an artist who very much wears her heart on her sleeve, her dramatic vocals echoing tales of love lost and found, heartache and losing and finding your way.

It’s a relaxed and jovial Peace who seemed just as happy chatting with the crowd and enjoying a spot of banter as tinkling the ivorys.  “Sorry for the all the waffle Manchester – but I just feel very at home here!” And the crowd seemed very happy to welcome her – hanging on her every word, laughing in all the right places and swaying with their mobile phones.

If we needed any reminders that the crowd was full of red blooded lesbians one of the biggest cheers of the night came when she took her jacket off! Peace might want us all to concentrate on the music and forget we’ve all seen her up close and personal on or small screens in various sates of undress – but we can’t. A telling moment comes just before a particularly emotional ballad when one audience member shouts “when are we going to see you kiss another girl in Waterloo road?” She enjoys the banter but is quick to move on and remind us all that we’re NOT here to talk about the telly – we’re here for the music!

We are. We’re definitely here for the music. Aren’t we? But music skills or acting skills – what ever they’re here for the crowd are loving heather peace tonight. Maybe we shouldn’t care how we know her or why we love her.
 Perhaps we should just be happy we’ve got a lesbian heart throb who’s happy to be out and proud and fight for our rights. If you used to be a Michelle shocked fan (before she turned into a born again Christian and homophobe) and you’re looking for a new hero – I suggest looking no further.

Published: 21-Mar-2013 (1828)