A Stunning First Headline Performance From Violetta Zironi at Sacred Trinity Church

There is always something special about gigs in old churches, a unique atmosphere be it a combination of the acoustics,  the history and the awed quiet there’s a certain reverence the music takes on. Last Thursday’s gig at Sacred Trinity Church in Salford was no exception it was a night of three exemplary performances headlined by the stunning Violetta Zironi. Also, special note should go to the lighting and sound which set the tone for the performances beautifully.

Opening the night was the brooding melancholic music of Jack Conman, his first track was played on an acoustic guitar turned on its side so that he could perform intricate tapping motions to construct the song influenced by his previous drumming experience. Later switching to an electric guitar Jack Conman played atmospheric songs that filled the room, reminding me of Turin Breaks and King Krule. Those that came down early to catch his support set watched in attentive silence.

Up next was the effortlessly charming Quiet Houses, I had recently had the pleasure of catching them perform a couple of tracks at The Rose and Monkey Hotel open mic night so I was interested to see if their quirky charm would carry on through a whole set. Let’s just say I was not disappointed  Quiet houses somehow have the ability to write songs about nothing at all; squeaky trainers at an art gallery, eating spaghetti and yet fill them with all those incidental details that fill the back of your mind. A very British folk take on the quirky lyricism of Courtney Barnett.

Sacred Trinity Church had been steadily filling up to the brim with eager music lovers sitting at the front and standing room only at the back of the church. As the light’s dimmed Violetta Zironi took to the stage resplendent in a white dress, her music filled the air and we were swept away into another world. To me it seemed as though she was playing songs from some forgotten classic movie soundtrack. Her songs were reminiscent of Lana Del Rey,  Norah Jones and Laura Marling. It’s probably due to all the talk around Billie Eilish Bond theme No Time To Die but I could easily see one of these tracks on a future Bond film.

Throughout the night Violetta Zironi charmed the crowd with different tales around each song including a song fittingly inspired by a trip to the Vatican and it’s angelic frescos, her latest single Hungry to kill inspired by a murderous dream and a humorous tale of the Amsterdam encore that never happened due to the crowd being too polite.