Acclaimed songwriter PJ Harvey has debuted new material during a stunning headline performance at Camp Bestival on Saturday (July 25th).
PJ Harvey return this year with a re-union of sorts. The Dorset born singer’s early material was largely composed with John Parish, before the pair went their separate ways in 1995. To the delight of fans the two songwriters revealed earlier this year that they were working on new material together.
Harking back to her blues-driven early years, ‘A Woman A Man Walked By’ was a sensational return from Harvey. With the influence of Parish clearly evident, the pair seemed keen to roll back the years and resume where their partnership left off.
Hailed by critics as one of her most uncompromising and thrilling returns in years, the new album followed by handful of live dates. PJ Harvey restricted her live appearances, and confirmed only one British festival slot – at Camp Bestival.
Held in Dorset the event is the little brother of the Isle Of Wight’s Bestival event. Family orientated it is curated by Rob Da Bank and features a host of quirky features.
PJ Harvey played a headline slot on Saturday (July 25th) which is to be her only solo show of the year. The singer told the assembled main stage crowd that she would be playing her songs “the way they were originally written” during the gig.
Harvey played entirely solo for the show, moving between guitar, piano, and harp backed all the while by a drum machine.
Wearing a white dress against red lipstick PJ Harvey was on sensational form. Launching into a coy version of ‘The Wind’ B-side ‘Nina in Ecstasy’ Harvey labelled the song “a very small and quiet song”.
PJ Harvey played the following:
‘To Bring You My Love’
‘Send His Love To Me’
‘The Devil’
‘White Chalk’
‘The Last Living Rose’
‘Dress’
‘Angelene’
‘My Beautiful Leah’
‘Nina In Ecstasy’
‘Electric Light’
‘Shame’
‘Snake’
‘Big Exit’
‘Down By The Water’
‘Grow Grow Grow’
‘The Mountain’
‘Silence’
‘Let England Shake’
‘C’mon Billy’
‘The Desperate Kingdom Of Love’
