“Stay with me, oh you’re right where you’re supposed to be.”
Anyone still unfamiliar with Roo Panes missed out on a stunning album from last year. Little Giant was Roo Panes’ debut and showcased the very best of a talented songwriter, instrumentalist and singer. With his pensive, thoughtful, introspective lyrics delivered warmly with seemingly minimal effort over his trademark 12-string guitar, Panes was sparing when it came to his trusted backline (Georgie Harris on viola, Joanne Sy on Cello, Sean Hatton on drums and Deborah Panes sharing vocal duties) and production to keep his classic sounding folk pop tracks as natural as possible.
“Stay With Me” is the latest material from the 27-year-old. Although not a single from upcoming album Paperweights, this latest offering does hint at what’s to come. All we can really take away from this is that Panes has found his formula and he isn’t changing it. Another charming folk pop song packed to the brim with engulfing layers of rich, finger picked guitar, Panes’ gravely vocals and wistful, angelic harmonies. A tail of love and appreciation, it builds slowly and meanders through all the motions to reach its rousing chorus. Nothing out of the ordinary with extraordinary results, there’s not much else I could say that would do Roo any justice so I think it’s about time I let “Stay With Me” speak for itself.
Roo Panes will be heading out on tour around the UK in support of Rae Morris in October:
1 – University Stylus, Leeds
2 – Oran Mor, Glasgow
3 – Liquid Room, Edinburgh
4 – Academy 2, Newcastle
6 – Junction, Cambridge
8 – Shepherds Bush Empire, London
9 – Leadmill, Sheffield
10 – Ritz, Manchester
11 – Library, Birmingham
13 – Concorde 2, Brighton
14 – Academy, Bristol
15 – Engine Rooms, Southampton