Live Review: Joanne Shaw Taylor at Buxton Opera House
Buxton, Derbyshire — 26 January 2026
Review and Images by Ali Burman
On a cold Monday evening in January, beneath the gilded balconies and vaulted ceilings of the historic Buxton Opera House, Joanne Shaw Taylor delivered a performance that was equal parts brave and breathtaking. Battling a throat infection that threatened her famously sultry voice, she refused to let it get in the way of giving the audience everything she had.
Early in the set, she addressed the crowd with honesty and humility, apologising for being unwell and explaining that she would lean more heavily on her guitar to carry the night. What followed felt less like a compromise and more like a statement. Her solos stretched longer than usual, each note powerful and emotive, bending and sliding in ways that made the music speak where words couldn’t. There was a rawness to her playing, an edge sharpened by circumstance, that pulled the audience in completely.
Her band was tight and locked-in, providing a rock-solid foundation that allowed Joanne the freedom to explore and expand, while never letting the momentum drop. Despite the grandeur of the venue, she made the room feel intimate, engaging the audience with warmth, dry humour, and an unmistakable sense of connection. The shortened set passed quickly, but it never felt lacking. Reworked tracks from Black & Gold took on new life, their emotional weight amplified by expressive, soul-drenched guitar lines.
Even as her voice faltered, the spirit of the performance never did. Joanne Shaw Taylor turned adversity into artistry, delivering a night defined not by what was missing, but by what was given.
Verdict: Shortened, yes—but rich in feeling and fire. This was a powerful reminder that true blues is about resilience, emotion, and heart, and Joanne Shaw Taylor has all three in abundance.
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