Couple in perfect musical harmony
BETWEEN the Vines is the wife and husband duo, Rebecca and Kev Whitehead.
Rebecca is a wellestablished local singer/ songwriter who is currently working on her second album and Kev is an in-demand drummer working in rock bands Dare and Barclay James Harvest, as well as laying down tracks for Lisa Stansfield as she works on her next album.
Vicolo del Vino was packed, with many people being turned away from Rochdale’s latest venue for local talent.
This intimate and very atmospheric stonewalled, cellar-like room was perfect for a night of original songs complemented by covers of crowd pleasing numbers that had the enthusiastic audience joining in.
One intrepid young man even treated us to a rather eccentric but very well performed dance that was captured on video by John Cooke and soon spread across social media.
Rebecca has a very powerful voice that is equally effective in ballads and high energy numbers.
Her guitar playing and songwriting are developing with enviable speed and her new album is much anticipated.
Kev’s percussive accompaniments complement the songs, and are never a distraction, demonstrating just how in tune they are, both as musicians and as a couple.
Kev is a drummer’s drummer and much in demand, but in Between the Vines he shows his obvious delight in making music with Rebecca, evidenced by his permanent smile.
This was Between the Vine’s first gig of 2017, as Rebecca and Kev are both very busy with their individual careers as musicians and performers.
Among their eclectic choice of covers are several songs that I had forgotten, but I quickly remembered how good they were - songs like the Who’s Squeeze Box from their 1975 album The Who By Numbers, The Beatles’ I’m Only Sleeping which is on Revolver released in 1966 and Paul Weller’s Wild Wood from his 1993 album of the same name.
Rebecca, justifiably, has the confidence to perform her own songs alongside these classics.
Songs like Sweet September Sunset and Get a Little Drunk (go a little wild) stand up well in the company of Lennon and McCartney, Pete Townsend and Paul Weller.
Following on from the excellent Festive Fling, this was yet another great night at Vicolo del Vino.
John Cooke, also in the audience, said: “A great evening and a great performance with good company and good wine. Vicolo del Vino is the place to go in Rochdale.”