Review and Images by Ken Jackson
After a six-week separation from my beloved Tuesday Night Music Club, courtesy of the annual Christmas shutdown (which is clearly designed to test our patience and resilience), it was a joy to be back. There’s something special about standing in the pre-gig crowd outside the door, sharing that buzz of anticipation, and the silent hope that nobody sits in your favourite spot inside.
This time, the reward was the wonderful Alice Armstrong and her superb band, Joshua Rigal on bass, Kevin Hickman on drums, and Olly Knight-Smith on guitar, a lineup so tight and talented I suspect they rehearse telepathically.
Alice mentioned on stage that she picked up four awards last year, and I know for a fact that there were numerous nominations over the past twelve months also. That impressive list doesn’t even include reaching the semi-finals of the Blues Challenge in Memphis or winning the challenge in Split, Croatia, casually collecting international acclaim like most of us collect parking tickets. With momentum like that, I have no doubt 2026 will bring even more awards, top billing and standing ovations.
Last night, Alice and her band were on top form, delivering a powerful and varied set with lots of new material, which I loved, and it appeared from the audience’s reaction they did too. Crowd favourites like Speed Dial, Life I Chose, and Your Guess sat perfectly alongside newer tracks such as Persephone, Auto Assassin, and Strawberry Moon – all of these performed with the trademark passion, intensity, and sharp humour from Alice that we have come to love. Alice’s stage presence remains a masterclass in how to command a room while still making it feel like a shared experience rather than a performance.
The night ended with an inspired cover version that brought the already rapt audience to their feet for the second standing ovation of the evening, proving once again that this band doesn’t just play music; together, they ignite a room.
A triumphant return to Tuesday nights and absolutely worth the six-week wait. Many thanks to Richard, Mike on the sound desk, John on the door and the hard-working bar staff.
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