By Emma Turner
Self-acclaimed ‘folk horror songstress’ Amelia Coburn kicked off her headline tour in Manchester, in none other than the iconic YES Basement – the perfect gig haven celebrating the best new acts of today. With her debut album out last year, and a handful of unreleased tracks under her belt, Amelia had a wide range of songs to share. She took the venue on a journey through every corner of her discography. Coburn’s unique folk-noir style, paired with her endearing personality, really enhanced her storytelling.
If you weren’t at YES Basement, you missed out on one of the most hypnotic folk shows of the year.
Opening the night was Canadian indie-folk singer His His, who is supporting two nights of Amelia’s tour, in Manchester and Glasgow. With this night being his first in the city of Manchester, the crowd were sure to offer him a warm welcome. Their attentiveness to his delicate sound allowed for a blissful, intimate atmosphere, where each song only drew people in further.
He balanced his set with some of his older tracks and newer material, even including previews of unreleased songs such as No Trespassing!, which releases on the 26th May. The song was inspired by him trespassing through a man’s back garden on his way to get to the library. The guitar on this track takes centre stage, which makes it stand out to his typically softer sounding arrangements, yet still includes his smooth and melodic vocals. It was a beautiful way to start the night, pairing perfectly with what was to come.
As the crowd’s anticipation filled the dimly lit basement, it lured you in with its charm. When Amelia took to the stage, the compact size enhanced every subtle detail in her songs, allowing for a greater appreciation of every element. She opened her set with brand-new song Just Wanna Say. This was only the second time it had ever been played live, so it went down an absolute treat. An eruption of cheers commenced the moment the last note was sung.
Throughout the night we heard a mix of upcoming releases and tracks from her debut album Between the Moon and the Milkman, with track two Nodding Dog being next on the setlist. It’s a commentary on the dating world, particularly social apps like Tinder, and how ‘horrendous’ they can sometimes be. Amelia’s poetic lyricism managed to transform such a simple modern concept into something much more complex and meaningful, likening her heart to one drawn on an etch-a-sketch – easy to shake up – it perfectly comments on the emotional fragility of dating.
Each of Amelia’s songs have an incredibly unique story behind them, but Le Fabuleux Destin de Sandra was definitely the standout of the night. Originally an English song titled Sandra, Amelia had fittingly translated it into French. It depicts the story of Amelia’s landlady from when she lived in Paris, and the stories that she’d get told about ‘Sandra’s’ life – the good and the bad, but always presented in a positive light. This song in particular was about Sandra’s ex-husband. As the peaceful instrumental began, it created a beautiful moment of awe from the crowd as they were captivated by Amelia’s ethereal and hypnotic vocals despite its unique and perhaps unusual subject matter.
As well as life experiences, a lot of Amelia’s inspiration is drawn from other forms of media. In See Saw, the influence of gothic literature is potent. It’s a beautifully dark and sinister piece, with a sound that is hauntingly cinematic. It opened with a dreamlike quality, with whimsical rhythm and a carnival-esque sound that plunged the crowd into another world. Similarly, a newer song by Amelia, This Body Is Yours To Keep, is based around the film The Wicker Man, which Amelia revealed was her comfort movie, as she poked fun at herself for being a ‘weird kid’. The daunting drum alongside her high notes really made the eerie and mysterious atmosphere come alive in this song. Instantly you could feel the connection between Amelia’s track and the original soundtrack, which is what makes her such a talented writer.
She told the crowd how she would love to have the song on a remake of the film if they ever chose to do one, and I can confidently say that she would be an excellent fit.
All night, the reception from the audience was filled with admiration and love. Whether it was a fan favourite or a new piece, everyone in the room was gripped from beginning to end.
You wouldn’t have expected such loud shouting from a crowd so immersed in the music, but their screams were outstanding. It was clear Amelia had built a genuine connection with them, engaging them with her humour into her interests and adventures.
Amelia’s tour has only just begun, so make sure you don’t miss out on your tickets, and if you want to hear more from her, she’s even got her own Patreon page where she shares new demos and behind-the-scenes of what she’s up to.
Chloe Morris 
Jack Walsh 
Alisha Lawton