Words: Miljan Milekić
I’m not exactly sure how many times I’ve seen Anna Haverstock play, but up to this point, I remember seeing her in three different variations. I’ve seen her play solo, perform with her sister Jill Haverstock on backing vocals, and even as a trio – with Jill and another backing singer. This time, I finally got to see her with a full band, and I couldn’t imagine a better place. Open air on a beautiful Summer day, big stage and great sound – hell yeah, bring it on!
The band started strong, focusing mainly on Anna’s 2018 record ‘Coasting in Dreams,’ and songs like ‘How Nice It Is,’ ‘In My Heart,’ or ‘Tonight,’ combined with some newer tracks, some of them still waiting to be released. While I enjoyed all the previous shows I saw, this one immediately jumped to the top of my list. Drums, bass, and a second guitar, along with the festival sound system, elevated these songs to the next level, showcasing how versatile her songwriting is.
Somewhere in the middle of the set, Haverstock dialed things down a bit, replacing her electric guitar with an acoustic one, while the rest of the band, except for Jill, stepped off stage. “We have a trailer this time, and it has air conditioning!” Haverstock shared a few minutes earlier, followed by another equally important detail: “There’s also chips!” While the rest of the band was catching their breath, Anna and Jill delivered two of the most emotional tracks from Anna’s catalogue – ‘On The Eyes’ and ‘You’re Here For Me,’ along with a cover of Lucinda Williams’ ‘Greenville.’
The back end of the show was reserved almost exclusively for heavy hitters, including a song she ”didn’t write the lyrics for, but wishes she did,” which turned out to be ‘Kiss Me’ by Sixpence None the Richer, and ‘Mirtazapine’ from Hayley Williams’ new album ‘Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party.’ The very end of the show was reserved for two of Haverstock’s latest singles – ‘Thoughts of Summer’ and ‘Lungs,’ followed by the first song I ever heard from her, and still my personal favourite – ‘Reach Out To Me.’
Playing festivals is not as easy as it seems, but playing a 90-minute set at 3 pm on day one is an even bigger challenge. At this point in her career, it feels like Haverstock’s catalogue may still be a few songs short of carrying what is essentially a headlining set in front of a crowd that goes beyond her own fans. On the other hand, those who did come for her were in for a treat.
