Fanny Lumsden & The Prawn Stars – Live – Nice n Sleazy – reddirt road records

Review By Darren McIntyre

Edwina Margaret Lumsden aka Fanny Lumsden is a country music singer / songwriter from Tallimba, New South Wales who came to our attention in 2011. Fanny is the winner of 7 Golden Guitar Awards @ Tamworth Country Music Awards of Australia, 3 AIR ( Australian Independent Record ) Awards, 2 ARIA Awards, Tamworth Songwriters Award, is a Support Act Activist, volunteer Firefighter & has been named Albany Local Woman Of The Year 2021. Fanny has given us Small Town Big Shot in 2015, Real Class Act 2017, Fallow in 2020, Hey Dawn in 2023, Autumn Dawn EP in 2012 & Live @ The Great in 2021. Fanny is on a 22 date UK Tour and is covering the length & breadth of the country and tonight she brings her Fanny Lumsden & The Prawn Stars to Glasgow @ Nice n Sleazy so please join me as I bring you this exciting contry star and her rag taggle band of musicians as they deliver a good ol dose of country rock / blues and some smatterings of disco thrown in for good measure, the place is rammed, it’s hot, sweaty and we are rearing to go as The Prawn Stars take to the stage as we get opener –

Rawhide / 5678 – The Prawn Stars rock onto the stage as we await the arrival of the one and only Fanny as the band whips us up into a frenzy with their country rock n roll riffs that gets the place moving. The door swings open and on comes Fanny Lumsden all realing to go as she bounces all over the stage and really brings the energy, the uptempo country classic is given a twist with The Steps intro slipped in to really get us moving and a grooving. The band are tight, melodic and ready to give us what we came for as they hit us with a real punchy rhythm section that is commanding the room as it controls how tonight is going to go, Fanny joins in and bellows out the famous lyrics that gets us all singing along, the place is ready and willing to party as Fanny high kicks her way through the opening track as we roll into –

Millionaire – The intro kicks in as a cool slick guitar lick opens the track up as Fanny’s soulful, smooth vocals get us ready to party as the acoustic strumming chords let the groove flow as we kick it up a notch. The snare drum beats are letting the rhythm flow effortlessly through the track as a cool, funky low end lets the track ease through Glasgow tonight as the crowd sing along as we feel the electricity oozing from the stage, the Prawn Stars are really bringing the smiles as Travis slips in with a cute, funky guitar lick that is backed with a nice, melodic acoustic strumming that just puts a smile on your face for sure. The whole place is ready to party as we sway from side to side with this infectious brand of country, pop, blues that is just kicking up it’s heels as we flow into –

When I Die – Fanny tells us a funny story about a neighbour who wanted to have his ashes turned into shotgun cartridges and shot into the air, this raised a laught from the audience as we get a full on bass kick that lets the track unfold. Fanny brings her sweet, melodic vocals that mix really well with a funky, delicious bassline that is dropping cool melodies all through the venue, the punchy snare drum beats are keeping us tapping our feet as this happy no pun intended track on the up as we sing along and feel the tone flow effortlessly through us as we let the band bring the good times to us all tonight. This is one of those songs that just brings you along for the ride as fiddle tones are coming at us and really giving the track that cool country feel as we stroll into –

Land Of Gold – A sweet, cool acoustic strumming comes oozing from the stage as Fanny lets her fabulous vocals bring the track to life as Dan leans in with the low end bassline hitting us with funky, dark, delicious tones that just allow the track to breathe. The fiddle is again coming through and adding depth and tone to this thigh slapping country driven number that has us all dancing around as the band give us a funk laden groove that just puts a smile on our faces, we feel the band as they take the tempo to another place as they jump around the stage and really put on a show for the fine folk of Glasgow tonight. This is a real thought provoking number that just ticks all the boxes, Fanny is chatting with us and telling stories from back home and how she really enjoys going home to her needy kids ( only joikng she says), we are hurtling through the setlist as Fanny leads us onto –

GOTYE( Somebody That I Used To Know – Mandolin tones flow from the stage as Pepi brings the noise with her sweet tones that really lets this track open up. A snare drum punch is coming at us as the band reworks this classic track and puts their spin on it for sure, Fanny’s awesome, smooth vocals really stops us in our tracks as we tap along to this unmistakeable tune that is a real welcome addition to the set. The track is short, sharp and really gives the band licence to bring their groove to us as we flow into –

Great Divide – Acoustic strumming chords get this summer vibed track off the ground as the rhythm section leans in with a cool punchy snare drum beat as the bass kicks follow on and let the track open. Mandolin tones are again bubbling under the surface as Pepi steps forward and lets us have it, the bassline is working quietly in the background as Dan brings the low end which just allows the track to move swiftly through the venue as we just smile from ear to ear as this quirky 5 piece really give it their all tonight as we groove away on our own as Travis steps forward and delivers a short, sharp killer solo that really brings the track to life, Fanny’s awesome vocals really wrap themselves around this toe tapping, thigh slapping country groover as we flow swiftly into the acoustic section with –

Black & White(Acoustic) – A sweet guitar strum oozes from the stage as Fanny comes in with her mellow, soulful vocals that just let a hush come over the venue as she really puts her heart into the track. The place is just watching the stage as we get a nice melodic mandolin tone that just wraps itself around the thought provoking track as we catch our breathe and let Fanny bring the smile to our face as the place is just putty in her hands tonight as we roll into –

Grown Ups – The place is silent as Fanny lets her dark, soulful vocals lead the way as this fantastic track opens up and lets us feel the emotion oozing from the stage tonight. This is a real nice part of the show as it gives us a chance to hear the classy vocals flow freely through the venue tonight as the place is silent as we just float away to somewhere new as this fantastic musician really brings depth and soul to this classy arrangement, we are being treated to a full on country hoe down tonight with this fantastic selection of tracks as we stroll into –

Fierce – A cool funky snare drum beat gets the track off the ground as a cool, dark, brooding bassline drops in and really lets the track breathe as acoustic strumming chords flow through the hall tonight. Fanny’s fabulous vocals bring the track to our attention as the funky groove tempo gets us moving and a grooving as the place starts to sing and dance as the band goes through the gears and really brings the funk to us tionight, the band are really in synch as Travis comes in with a sweet, mellow guitar lick that lets the tone build as the band just enjoys themselves as we stroll into –

New Medly – A country feel returns to the stage as a cool mandolin tone opens the track as a funking, deep, dark bassline lets the track come to life as the band just winds up the tempo for sure. The place becomes a danceathon as Fanny asks us to join in with her and the boys as we get a cardboard life size cut out of Fanny’s brother who unfortunately suffered a stroke but he is recovering well, the mash up begins with U Shook Me All Night Long and rolls into Love Is In The Air all the way through to Birdie & The Chicken Song as we are all dancing around and really getting into the party mood, we dip into –

Roll On – A singalong comes in as the band joins in as Fanny lets her cool soulful vocals bring this country song to life as the fiddle tones fill the air as Pepi comes front and centre. The rhythm section is pounding away at the back of the room as we get a punchy, fast paced kick that has us all dancing around and feeling all groovy, the band are just enjoying themselves as we watch the stage and just see the smiling faces beaming back at us. The hoe down is in full swing as the place just comes to life as we get our fill of country blues at it’s finest as Fanny just takes us to somewhere new, next up –

Dig – A cool funky snare drum beat comes in as the cool funky bassline joins the party as this toe tapping punchy track brings the feel good factor back to the venue. We are in a line dance situation as Fanny gets us to follow her lead as she takes us through our paces as this cool number just puts a smile on your face for sure, the band are really bringing the heat tonight as we finish on a high with slick, funky guitar licks that are all centred around the rhythm section as it controls the beat as we sing at the top of our lungs and really don’t want the night to end.

Fanny Lumsden & The PrawnStars

Fanny Lumsden – Vocals / Acoustic Guitar

Travis – Guitar

Pepi – Mandolin / Fiddle / Acoustic Guitar

Dan – Bass / Backing Vocals

Riley – Drums

Setlist –

Rawhide / 5678

Millionaire

When I Die

Land Of Gold

Somebody That I Used To Know(GOTYE)