GRACE PETRIE
The Wyeside, Builth Wells, Mon 15 Feb; Theatr Mwldan, Cardigan, Tue 16 Feb
Grace Petrie is fast becoming the poster-girl for all the things that could have once been described as fringe, or niche, or alternative. Protest, folk and LGBT+ are all on-trend, true, but there’s nothing jingoistic, bandwagon-jumping or zeitgeist humping about Petrie: a writer with something to say.
Grace Petrie writes the sort of songs you want to pin the lyrics of on your bedroom wall, or on the office door, to remind you and everyone else who might read them what is important and what is true. Hers is a singular voice that cuts through the crap with a clarity that doesn’t skirt around issues in pretty epithets but exposes the words in broad, strident phrases that leave their mark.
Make America Hate Again, You Build A Wall, God Save The Hungry, Farewell To Welfare: these songs have been setting the festival circuit alight for the past few years and you can find them all on her two official releases with the Robot Needs Home label. But if you want the choice tracks from her earlier, self-produced albums then getting along to one of these gigs is the best place to buy them. And if she performs a capella anthem A Young Woman’s Tale that will be worth the trip alone.
Tickets: £14/£12 (Mon 15); £3-£14 (Tue 16). Info: 01982 552555 / www.wyeside.co.uk (Mon 15); 01239 621200 / www.mwldan.co.uk (Tue 16)
words John- Paul Davies