AMERICANA singersongwriter, Anais Mitchell’s appearance at The Little Theatre may have been her first, but it was far from her Jumpin’ Hot Club debut.

For the charming, unassuming act and now a mother is no stranger to North- East audiences, and this near sellout gig underlined the popularity and momentum that’s taken place since her debut at Morden Tower.

Mitchell’s whimsical, enchanting vocal style had the audience eating out of her hand the moment she stepped out on stage. Switching back and forth from her new to older material, she was inundated with requests dating back to Hymns For The Exiled.

Some requests she completed, while others she promised to have ready the next time she plays. Her performance couldn’t have worked better or been better received.

Pick of the crop included Why Build The Wall (and just as luck had it, the one and only prop remaining on stage was a red brick wall), and from her Young Man In America album, Tailor and Shepherd, surpassed all others despite the keen competition.

Mention of her Royal Albert Hall folk awards performance was made by a duly proud Mitchell when she introduced the winning song Willie Of Winsbury, written with Jefferson Harmer.

Support came from Warkworth-raised Sara Hayes.

The budding folk singersongwriter, now living in Glasgow, made a good fist of her task. Displaying a love of traditional folk music, her pristine vocals won both applause and a bunch of new fans.

Maurice Hope