Music / Reviews
Review: Gina Larner, The Louisiana – ‘Firebrand fusion of country-pop and rock’
The packed house at The Louisiana on Friday night was electric, and it’s clear that Americana’s future is blazing forward with British Country Music Association (BMA)-nominated artist Gina Larner leading the charge.
With her pint-sized stature, pink hair, and firebrand fusion of country-pop and rock, Larner commanded the stage, leaving longtime fans beaming with an “I told you so” glint in their eyes and newcomers scrambling to hit “follow”.
The UK music scene isn’t for the faint-hearted, but Larner’s evolution as a musician and performer since her last visit to this venue 18 months ago speaks volumes.
is needed now More than ever
In that time, she’s racked up praise on tour supporting icons like Simply Red and James Blunt, dropped her debut album Something Good to wide acclaim (and a 2023 Album of the Year nomination from the BMA), and snagged the “Best Close Up” prize at the London Music Video Awards for her 2024 single Sin.
This tour, however, is all about her headline status. Supported by her stellar band – guitarist Frankie South, bassist Chloe Peacock, and drummer Hannah Feenstra – Larner takes her time getting on stage, letting the band build anticipation before she bursts into view, bringing her trademark high-energy performance and an even bigger smile.
As expected, her album forms the backbone of the set, with seven of its eleven tracks getting a live airing; but she kicks off with a powerhouse performance of Sin, setting the tone with her distinctive vocals and a seamless blend of country, pop, and rock that immediately captures the crowd.
Tracks like Ask Me and For Your Sake follow, transforming the audience into a chorus of grins and lip-syncing fans. Larner’s connection with her fans—an almost tangible bond—is key to her charm, a crucial element in country music’s storytelling power.
Throughout the night, her bandmates shine in their own rights, with camaraderie that pulses through the performance and offers plenty of moments for playful banter and mutual admiration. There’s ample room in the set for Larner to chat with her fans, heightening the easy, natural rapport that keeps everyone on her wavelength.
Midway through, Larner surprises with two standout covers. First, a bold, feminine powered, high-energy take on Let There Be Cowgirls and then, in a moment that stuns the room, a soft and haunting rendition of Kate Bush’s Army Dreamers. Bush’s ethereal tones are no easy feat to capture, yet Larner delivers a performance that showcases the depth and range of her vocal abilities.
Her latest single Cocktail Menu comes in like a tequila sunrise, a reminder that we’re nearing the night’s end. One Way or Another brings those carefree, sunny, top-down-road-trip vibes before Larner pulls out an encore with two tracks that epitomize her anthemic modern twist on country pop: Heavy Heart and I Think I Love You.
There’s one track that deserves a separate mention: Say What You Want. Hearing it live for the first time felt like pure joy: in a world that sometimes feels overshadowed by darkness, music like this is a powerful, uplifting force.
If there’s one measure of the night, I’d call it the “Nashville test.” Fresh off a trip to Broadway’s bright lights, I can honestly say Larner’s set wouldn’t just belong there – it would stand out among the very best.
All images: Adie White
This is an edited version of a review provided by The Bristol Gig Guide, the best resource for Bristol gigs.
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