June 23, 2023

Juliet McLean at Wine Cellar 22 June 2023

Juliet McLean travelled up from the ‘Naki to perform an intimate couple of sets at Auckland’s Wine Cellar, her first proper show in “The Big Smoke”.

The New Plymouth-based singer songwriter has been this way before, playing at Kumeu Live and even at The 13^th Floor.

Click here to watch Juliet McLean at The 13th Floor

Juliete McLean at Wine Cellar Like that 13^th Floor session Juliet is once again accompanied by her producer Ben King (Goldenhorse) who provides guitar and harmony vocals as needed. But Juliet begins the first of two sets on her own, perched behind an electric keyboard playing Overlooked, a song from her most recent EP titled Amaze Me.

Juliet is in fine voice and soon Ben is on stage adding his delicate guitar runs to Leaving Copper Mountain. The crowd could be bigger but those who are here are entranced.

Juliet’s between song patter loosens up as the set goes on, giving us little insights into songs Iris Beside Me , Somebody’s Sweetheart and Love Remains, which she describes as her ‘leaving song’.

After 30 minutes and eight songs they take a break, beverages are purchased and consumed and then the duo are back on stage performing Free, a song from Juliet’s 2022 EP, The Dance. Ben sounds more integral to the performance during this second set, his guitar seems to have more twang and his vocals are a bigger part of the sound, blending with Juliet’s on We Know and Set The Fire.

Juliete McLean at Wine Cellar

Burnt Out is a highlight as it builds with a smouldering intensity.

We learn more about Juliet…she’s now a grandmother, she broke her ankle last year and, she warns, ‘don’t take the dresses home’.

It’s a shame more folks didn’t venture out into the winter night for this show as it was a beauty. For those around the Hamilton area, Juliet and Ben bring the Darker Nights Tour to the Nivara Lounge, be there if you can.

Marty Duda

Click any icon to view a gallery of photos from the show