Review of John Smith, National Centre for Early Music, York

Opening with Great Lakes, the reverence of the surroundings and the reflective offering let the songs breathe and unfold.

With a sound and style reminiscent of Fleet Foxes and Ray Lamontagne, there is an honesty in Smith’s writing where restraint becomes a strength. The beautiful Freezing Winds of Change was followed by the stirring Joanna, a song about connection and distance and which tonight included extracts from Van Morrisons’s Tupelo Honey.

John Smith, National Centre for Early Music, York. (Image: Gareth John)

Throughout the evening, Smith’s storytelling included tales of illness, touring, songwriting and relationships. The restlessness of Burden of the Road was followed by the haunting Hummingbird before Smith introduced Sanctuary, a fan-requested track inspired by his move from Kent to Merseyside as a 19-year-old.

He spoke of the challenge and torment of song writing and how some songs are often formed years after the initial scraps of an idea. His mid‑set sequence included Milestones and Town to Town, highlighting the depth of Smith’s song writing.

Smith introduced his cover of the Richard Thompson classic Down Where the Drunkards Roll as he moved through his set with the perfect balance of grit, introspection and narrative drive. Smith also spoke of his relationship with singer-songwriter and mentor Joe Henry as he sought Henry’s opinion on his track Trick of the Light, one of this evening’s highlights.

Smith introduced the stunning Save My Life as the saddest song he’d ever written and moved towards the end of the set with the lovely Salty and Sweet. Tonight’s set felt carefully crafted.

John Smith has released his album Gatherings. (Image: Gareth John)

Far Too Good carried a quiet emotional weight, while the final notes of Winter brought the evening to a fittingly beautiful and haunting close. This was not a performance built on spectacle, but on craft and connection with audience and instrument.

In a venue that favours simplicity and nuance over noise, and in promotion of his April 2026 album release Gatherings, John Smith delivered a set that was both thoughtful and assured, a reminder that sometimes the most memorable concerts are the ones that simply trust the songs.

Review and photos by Gareth John