The Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter BETH HART expertly balances a brazen, trashy style with tender vulnerability. She’s a kind soul with a pure mind and a driven body. Beth’s achievement is her ability to create contrasting assets that inspire faith in humanity and trust in forgiveness, and she always faces the truth without fear.
Beth’s profound emotional vulnerability is so great that she almost lays bare her heart while performing. This is the reason behind the sorrowful quality of her enduring sound. We were lucky to have experienced her remarkably dramatic show at the famous Bristol Beacon (which used to be Colston Hall) on Thursday, May 14, 2026.
Tickets are still available for the remaining dates on the tour. See the poster below: https://www.bethhart.com/tour-3-2/
I think we remember one of her concert openers “Soulshine” to have been brighter and sunnier, but now the song is colder than a church key and lonelier than a whistle in the dark. Warren Haynes penned this song, The Allman Brothers Band recorded it in 1994. Beth Hart released it in 2007 for her album “37 Days,” a disc titled that way because it took 37 days complete.
While the specifics of Beth’s life between “37 Days” and “You Still Got Me” (2024) remain unknown, it’s probable that her experiences along the creative journey have been a mix of poignant, bittersweet, and frightening moments, encompassing a wide emotional spectrum. Though one thing is certain: these days, her plightful yet smooth contraltos possess a deeper pitch and a more brooding disposition than they did back in 1994. So, “Soulshine,” played on piano with sparse accompaniment from her experienced band, emerged as a country-rock gospel anthem. It served as a validating comfort, a spiritual rebirth for some members of the audience, and a supportive gesture for those others who sought solace in the language of music.
“Lifts You Up,” (“…this song is about pain”, she told her audience) originally featured on the 2003 album “Leave the Light On,” and at Bristol it was a captivating piano anthem characterized by vibrant rhythms, soaring lyrics, an invigorating chorus, and sufficient spiritual depth to inspire even the most doubtful idolaters in the West Country audience.
Following her superbly effective exploration of Ella Fitzgerald’s “I’d Rather Go Blind”, Beth introduced a new sound from her most recent album “You Still Got Me.”
While remaining at the piano, she shared her desire to be reborn as a man, ideally as Johnny Cash, or failing that, a pimp. And this rather unexpected introduction brought us to “Pimp Like That (You Still Got Me)”. This piece began subtly and took on a dark, psychedelic quality. The song-notes were coffin-black in style. The texture was wistfully dark. The tune has a strong James Bond theme vibe going-on. The lyrics were difficult to decipher, let alone fully comprehend, but the likely objective was to depict the type of fortunate, skilled gambler she could never emulate due to the societal constraints of 21st century society and her personal emotional issues. This segment was a truly dramatic turning point in a remarkable show. This song was the first to be met with a standing ovation.
The lovely “Drunk On Valentine (You Still Got Me),” was a wonderfully smooth jazz piece reminiscent of Billie Holiday. This slowly developed composition offered skillful flirting, captivating charm, genuine honesty, and natural resolution.
Another high-point of sacred devotion was her self-penned “Baddest Blues” from the “Bang Bang Boom Boom” album of 2012. Beth revealed that her song was completed after her album “Don’t Explain” was developed, a project she had worked on with blues rock guitarist Joe Bonamassa. She said that the song draws inspiration from her mother, a steadfast beacon despite facing many hardships.
The central theme of the show was the positive impact of love on Beth Hart’s life. She captivated her audience with intricate, delicate, and distinctive heartbeats. The performance was sophisticated, daring, heartfelt, and undeniably memorable.
Beth Hart – “You Still Got Me” – May & June 2026 UK Tour
Special guest: Wille & The Bandits (Acoustic Duo)
Tickets available from – https://www.bethhart.com/tour-3-2/
Nottingham, Royal Concert Hall – Monday May 18
Gateshead, The Glasshouse International Centre for Music – Wednesday May 20
Oxford New Theatre – Thursday June 4
Words: © Neil Mach
Photo credit © Andy Balcam
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