Lady Nade, a local Bristolian, is headlining the Sunday afternoon at this year’s Bristol Folk Festival, I was concerned it would be a tough slot, but she has the wonderful St George’s around two thirds full. With Jesus looking down on the three musicians, full of roast dinners, in the converted Church. Nice they have kept the original features but do wonder if it is a bit disconcerting for some acts.

Lady Nade is all about individuality, I’m not planning on speculation on her religious beliefs today, that’s her business. But she is very open about many other things, the song ‘Rainbow’ regarding mental health struggles and is dedicated to a long-time supporter of hers who was sadly lost recently. She is also very open about her previous struggles with drink and drugs, which she has managed to beat, well done to her, still working on the cake addiction (aren’t we all).

We actually discover it is her Grandma that first introduced to her to drugs at age ten, albeit with receiving treatment for cancer, this is the way that Lady Nade tells the story before we get any bad taste complaint. She is very self-depreciating with a strong sense of family, especially her Grandparents that effectively raised her, both sadly now lost. A tough time of loss and bereavement that she channels through her song.

But the songs mostly have a message of hope and acceptance. Through she colourfully takes centre stage, flanked by the other two accomplished, but definitely more in the background in the narrative. This is the sheer presence of Lady Nade, who acknowledges them throughout, including a song dedicated to the daughter of the guitarist, musically it is possibly more bracketed into Americana than Folk, but who needs labels anyway.

In fact, she was shortlisted for the Americana award, but sadly didn’t win. Reading back my review you may think the tales of sadness would lead to a downbeat afternoon, but far from it, she has taken her struggles and turned them into something wonderful to listen to. We are treated to a new song, minus the shakers that seem to have vanished, before she disappeared into the early Bristol evening. Another successful set as part of the amazing Bristol Folk Festival.