The Swaps at the Tuesday Night Music Club Cousldon

Review And Photos By Ken Jackson

Last night at the Tuesday Night Music Club, I had the pleasure of discovering a new band to me —The Swaps, an acoustic trio. As is my habit when encountering an unfamiliar band, I searched YouTube for a preview of what to expect. However, my search led me to a different group called The Swap Band, leaving me unaware of what was actually in store for the evening. It wasn’t until I arrived at the venue that I realized my mistake.

As the queue formed outside before the doors opened at 7 PM, I chatted with fellow attendees and found that most were also unfamiliar with the night’s act. This, of course, is one of the great things about TNMC—the opportunity to experience a variety of artists we might not otherwise encounter.

When Richard Dunning introduced The Swaps, I was astonished to learn that they had been nominated for multiple UK Blues Awards this year, including Best Emerging Band, Best Acoustic Act, and Best Blues Band. Additionally, Beth Brooks had earned nominations for Best Vocalist and Best Contemporary Artist—a truly impressive set of accolades.

The stage setup was notably minimalistic—just three microphones and a couple of guitars, a stark contrast to the usual drum kits, keyboards, and array of mics. The band members sat in the darkness to the side, waiting to be introduced.

As the audience hushed in anticipation, James and Alan began playing, providing the first glimpse of Beth Brooks’ stunning vocals, beautifully accompanied by the skilled guitar work of James Knight and Adam Phillips. Initially, Beth appeared a little nervous, but some lighthearted banter between her, the band, and the audience helped ease the tension. As her confidence grew, so did the strength and richness of her voice. It quickly became apparent why they had garnered so many award nominations.

James joked that after playing together for around 15 years, their nomination as Emerging Band of the Year was proof that their emergence had been a long and difficult birth. The first set flew by, filled with their original compositions, before they introduced their first cover—a breath taking rendition of an Aretha Franklin classic—which marked the end of the set. Given the crowd’s enthusiastic response, it was no surprise to see many audience members purchasing multiple copies of their albums. With four available for sale, I happily left with two: “Swaps Live at the Upton Blues Festival and Missold”.

By the second set, the band’s nerves had settled completely, and they engaged in a more relaxed banter with the audience, revealing that they hail from Leamington Spa. Now fully in their element, Beth’s vocals became even more commanding, revealing the true depth of her talent. Her voice, paired with Adam and James’ musicianship, created a beautifully cohesive sound that was mesmerising to witness. The trio writes all their own material, and they had no shortage of songs, delivering two packed sets of absolute gems.

As they played their final song, the audience rose to their feet in appreciation, calling for more. The band returned for an encore, treating us to a spellbinding cover of Nina Simone’s I Put a Spell on You, before taking their final bow to another standing ovation.

I sincerely hope The Swaps advance to the final five in their respective award categories—they certainly deserve it. A huge thank you to Richard Dunning for continually bringing both well-known and emerging talent to the TNMC stage. Thanks also to Mickey on the sound desk and the ever-excellent bar staff for helping to create another fantastic evening of live music.