Dawn Kinnard, The Serpentine Sessions

On the face of it, comparisons could be drawn between Dawn Kinnard and fellow preacher’s-offspring-cum-country-singer, Diane Birch. Except Birch’s music comes from every musical advantage, whereas Kinnard still has a day-job as a hairdresser. Moreover, her voice remains totally unproduced - a glorious mix of Tom Waits and Marge Simpson.

Last time round, Kinnard, then staying chez Cerys Matthews, enjoyed a barnstorming session on Later with Jools Holland. Last night things looked a little more threadbare. The Serpentine Session's so-called bandstand stage turned out to be barely a gazebo, opposite the bar and next to a Mexican food stall. With characteristic impeccable American manners Kinnard delt with it with grace. Still, I doubt any number of gigs in Southern sports bars could have really prepared her for coming on to the sound of munched nachos and folding deck-chairs. 

She played seven tracks, all from the new album. There was no full band or New Orleans-style brass section, like on the new album - just Kinnard plus guitar, a bass and a drum kit. “Death is a Shark” and “Are You Still crazy About Yourself?”  seemed to have a dark sultry jazz feeling. “Japan” was a strange and ghostly song about love and belonging and leaving, and “The Queen of the World” a light and ironically triumphant take on love. But the best songs were “Bicycle”, which had a fevered quality, “Favourite Ghost”  a straight country lament, and “The Cost of Love” which beautifully oscillated between sorrow and forgetfulness. 

Kinnard started off looking bemused staring out at an audience mainly comprised of event photographers, but her confidence picked up. By the time she was into “Bicycle” and “The Cost of Love” she was back to her trademark “Elvis shaking legs” and screwed-up eyes. And afterwards, she thanked those of us who'd listened with a sincere smile, lit up a cigarette and strolled over to watch Patti Smith.