“On a particularly rainy June Sunday afternoon in Liverpool city centre, I had the pleasure of attending my first live music event hosted by the innovative grassroots Liverpool Entertainment, Music and Arts Network, or LEMAN for short. As rain of biblical proportion descended onto the narrow city streets outside, the perfect antidote was being served up to the intimate audience by hypnotic and healing singer / songwriter Joanne Louise Griffiths in the Paul Simon Suite (yes he did play here), above the historic Liverpool business district boozer The Cross Keys. I’d previously seen Joanne perform various americana, blues and folk covers sets, sprinkled with a limited number of her own compositions, but this was to be the first set I’d heard live comprised entirely of Joanne’s original material. It did not disappoint, Joanne’s hauntingly beautiful 30 minute set transported the audience on an almost astral non-physical journey of musical dreamscape sound frequencies. Having performed her first few songs solo, Joanne was then joined on-stage by her sweet soul sister Katie who brought the intensity of a second guitar and graceful backing vocals to the hypnotic sound. The definitive stand out track from this set was new composition ‘Lake Of Wishes’, a song that perfectly reflects this artist’s spiritual nature and longing for a better world. Although the lazy conclusion is to define JLG as another musical New Age spiritual traveller, this would be an unfair error as proven in her blues rooted songs such as ‘Two Penny’, the politically observational ‘Make My Day’ and easy listening of ‘Last Train To Paradise’. I would also single out ‘Translucent’ as a highlight of a mainly soporific set of songs, perfect for a lazy Sunday afternoon spent in Liverpool City Centre. I look forward to seeing JLG expand her original repertoire at future performances. Highly recommended. I would also like to give special praise to the organisers of this event, LEMAN. In addition to JLG, two other remarkable original acts were on the bill for this event, Hull based BBC emerging artist Tymisha and the locally based indie anarchic trio ‘Kat and The Strays’. For the £5 entrance fee this was a real gem of a grassroots event. I emerged from the venue into the summer sunshine, I liked to think that the rain had been blown away by the music. If you possibly can, go support future LEMAN events. I will certainly be looking out for them” - Brian Clarke - live music advocate June 25th 2023