Introducing an Intimate Acoustic Evening
Catherine Lawson
I confess that it was something of a thrill to find myself chatting to singer Kevin Simm as he prepares for his upcoming tour, An Intimate Acoustic Evening with Wet Wet Wet. Performing alongside founding member Graeme Clark and long-time guitarist Graeme Duffin, the tour offers an opportunity to show a different side of the band to fans old and new. Kevin might be relatively new to Wet Wet Wet himself, having only joined as lead singer in 2018, but he has taken those much-loved songs we all remember from the 80s and 90s, and made them his own, his soulful voice and commanding vocals captivating audiences across the globe.
And it’s the opportunity to showcase more of the unfiltered, raw talent in the band – vocal and instrumental – that has inspired this latest tour.
“We’ve done several tours over the last few years which have included little acoustic sessions mid-show (usually three or four songs), and everyone has enjoyed them. It’s important to keep things fresh for audiences. Our last tour ended in November last year, and this next one starts mid-May, so we wanted to find a new way to present songs.”
I ask him if this is the start of a new direction for the band – a longer-term change.
“It’s more of a side-step at this stage, a chance to do something different. After this tour is over, we’ll have more gigs lined up with the full band again. The acoustic tour is something we’re all looking forward to. It’s a way to have some fun as musicians – almost like having a jam with your mates. Sometimes we don’t know exactly what we’ll be doing until just before we go on because one of us might have an idea to change something up at the last minute and that’s what’s great about it – there’s no-one else to consult with, just the three of us. We’re ultimately performers and performers like to show off their skills. This gives us the chance to do that away from the polished performances we sometimes give in the bigger productions. For me, as a vocalist, it gives me much more freedom. I can use the full range of my voice.”
It strikes me as we talk, that this might not be something all musicians would enjoy. It takes a degree of confidence to show up for an audience in this way.
“Experience definitely helps. You’re very exposed when you’re playing an acoustic set. There’s no room to duck in and out, nowhere to hide and no band to pick up the slack if you miss a step. That kind of unfiltered performance is built on good relationships with the others in the band. We know how to read each other and play off each other. It’s also important to read the audience and respond to them and again, that comes with experience.”
He goes on to explain more about what the acoustic set offers.
“It’s much more stripped back. The songs and the setting are more intimate and for audiences it’s a chance to get to know the three of us better, whether they’re new to Wet Wet Wet or not: for some it might be the first time they’ve seen me sing in person. The pace is slower and more relaxed, and there’s time for stories between songs. We’re looking forward to having some Q and A with the crowd – time to engage with them differently. The evening will have a completely different feel to it.”
For Kevin, returning to the unfiltered, raw quality of acoustic performances is a bit like coming home. He’s no stranger to the stage, having been part of the original Liberty X line-up for six years, and having won The Voice in 2016, the latter being one of the main turning points in his career – the point which led him to Wet Wet Wet where he has really been able to explore the full spectrum of his vocal talents. I ask him which song he most enjoys performing and am quietly delighted when he mentions ‘Angel Eyes’.
“It’s a great song, so different from anything else. It can be vocally challenging, which I love, and the crowd always responds so well to it.”
It is of course one of the songs on the set list for the acoustic tour, along with other fan favourites such as ‘Temptation’, ‘Sweet Surrender’, and ‘Sweet Little Mystery’. There are also some covers which, (as Kevin notes is one of the most important factors when choosing a cover), are well known and loved by audiences. ‘The Chain’, for example, has been very well received and for all three musicians, the powerful harmonies in the song give each of them a chance to play to their strengths.
And the desire to play to their strengths, and share that joy with audiences, is something which comes through loud and clear in my conversation with Kevin. Ayrshire-based fans will be delighted to know that there are five dates set across Scotland as part of the acoustic tour, the closest being Paisley Town Hall on Friday 22nd May. It’s one Kevin himself is particularly looking forward to.
