STRAWBERRY LACE: A TESTAMENT TO THE POWER OF GRASSROOTS MUSIC

LIVE REVIEW | STRAWBERRY LACE | CAMBRIDGE PORTLAND ARMS 17/05 by Shona Hoey

There’s nothing quite like the buzz of a home town gig in the grassroots music community. It’s a beautiful sight to see a lifetime worth of friends and family come together to pay homage to their loved ones as they absolutely smash a gig. The energy is palpable, a unique blend of nostalgia and pride sweeps the room, creating an atmosphere that can’t usually be replicated in a larger, more impersonal venue.

Connor Adams (Shona Hoey/Northern Exposure)

Alt-rock band Strawberry Lace graced the stage at a sold-out Portland Arms in their hometown of Cambridge last Friday night, marking the halfway point in their UK 2024 tour, with excellent support from Weller and Connor Adams (both of which are also worth checking out). Suffolk native Connor Adams began the night with a rare acoustic set; his soulful storytelling was a perfect start to the evening as he belted out catchy and heartfelt melodies such as his latest single ‘Better Days’ and ‘Don’t Play With a Heart’. Next up were Weller who followed with a wildly impressive and energetic hard alt-rock extravaganza; their latest single ‘INSIDE MY CRANIUM’ being aptly titled as fans couldn’t get the hook out of their heads.

Strawberry Lace @ Cambridge Portland Arms

After an excellent start to the night, finally what fans had been waiting for: Strawberry Lace. The sheer talent and versatility of these musicians is off the scale and it’s quite frankly shocking that they’re not bigger than they are. Their debut LP Quadrafeline is a masterclass in musical technicality, with each member of the bands pushing their instruments to the limits of technical difficulty whilst somehow maintaining harmony with the rest of the band. Their song ‘Barriers’ breaks them, ‘24 Hours’ makes you wish it lasted that long because a few minutes is simply not long enough to enjoy such a spectacle, and ‘Ever Be’ leaves you questioning if you’ll ‘ever be the same again’ because Strawberry Lace’s funk-rock is just far too good to forget. The chemistry between the band members was evident in every note played, with each instrument being in perfect breath-taking harmony. Their infectious groove had the audience singing along to every word, with roars of approval after each song, and a chorus for more as they neared the end of the night. Fans quite literally could not be contained as one member of the audience stormed the stage halfway through their set; clearly the ever expanding mosh pit was not enough for them.

Strawberry Lace (Shona Hoey/Northern Exposure)
Strawberry Lace (Shona Hoey/Northern Exposure)
Strawberry Lace (Shona Hoey/Northern Exposure)
Strawberry Lace (Shona Hoey/Northern Exposure)
Strawberry Lace (Shona Hoey/Northern Exposure)
Strawberry Lace (Shona Hoey/Northern Exposure)
Strawberry Lace (Shona Hoey/Northern Exposure)

The evening was a testament to the power of grassroots music, bringing people together in a hot mess of alt-rock goodness, and highlighted the band’s immense potential which left fans wanting more of their undeniable stage presence. It would be a shame if Strawberry Lace remained relatively unknown, because their talent deserves to be shared with the world, but if they do become world-famous, hometown fans can only hope they will return to their local independent venue in years to come for a repeat of this special evening.