by Simon Green

On the hottest day of the year so far Kent music fans were treated to an equally sizzling performance by US singing star Beth Hart performing at the Cliff Leas Hall in Folkestone as part of her world tour.

The Grammy nominated singer, well known to blues fans on both sides of the Atlantic for her back catalogue of solo albums and bestselling collaborations with guitar hero Joe Bonamassa, played a varied set that lasted almost two hours and reflected the influence of jazz and rock, as well as blues, on her songwriting.

Backed by a tight three-piece band Beth gave a commanding and riveting performance, alternating between confidently prowling the stage and sitting at a baby grand piano, alternating between the upbeat bounce of songs like Bang Bang, Boom Boom and reflective, powerful ballads like Sister Heroin.

Her set included songs from across her career but featured material from her excellent last solo studio album Fire on the Floor, including set opener Love Gangster and the hypnotically catchy Coca Cola, the latter illustrating the versality of her voice, which, as she noted herself, channels jazz legend Billie Holliday in its vocal styling. Elsewhere in the set Beth played homage to Etta James with supreme versions of Sunday Kind of Love and I’d Rather Go Blind.

The enthusiastic audience enjoyed good songs played with complete conviction and honesty.