Intimate, atmospheric, and utterly spellbinding, St Peter’s Church in Poole provided the perfect setting for a career-spanning set from the brilliant Nick Mulvey. Having recently released his latest album Dark Harvest Live, he was the latest artist to grace the stage at this softly glowing, fairy-lit venue as part of the ‘Warm in the Nave’ series, which has previously hosted the likes of Tom Smith of Editors, Bill Ryder-Jones and more.
Mulvey’s most recent releases mark a renewed sense of creative independence and artistic control. He has described Dark Harvest Pt. 1 as emerging from a period of grief and personal upheaval shaped by loss and emotional struggle, while Pt. 2 moves towards renewal and emergence after that “deep winter,” exploring new beginnings and a clearer sense of faith.
A new era for Nick Mulvey
Released alongside his 2026 world tour, Dark Harvest Live captures the unifying, immersive quality of his performances. It reflects how his intricate guitar work and emotionally charged songwriting foster a shared experience in the room, often blurring the line between the sacred and the everyday in a way that feels genuinely transcendent.
Musically, the Mercury Prize-nominated singer-songwriter draws on a rich tapestry of influences, from the lyrical depth of Leonard Cohen and the introspective delicacy of Nick Drake to the complex rhythmic traditions of West African guitarists such as Ali Farka Touré.
Introducing JP O’Grady
That sense of emotional and musical breadth was evident from the very start of the evening. Opening the night was JP O’Grady, a singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer whose work sits in a space of folk-pop romanticism and stripped-back, lyric-led songwriting.
Moving between sparse piano and guitar figures and more expansive, harmony-rich passages, his self-produced approach allowed the songs to gradually open out while retaining their confessional core.
JP made use of a retro-styled television screen displaying pre-recorded performances on other instruments, adding a subtle multi-layered dimension to the set that expanded its sonic world without disrupting its intimacy. It was an understated but effective touch, reinforcing the sense of careful craft behind the performance and setting a reflective tone that suited the space perfectly.
A career-spanning set from Nick Mulvey
Nick opened with the rousing ‘River to the Real’, a quiet but assured introduction that set the tone for a set defined by stillness, focus and restraint. The line “I don’t care what they say, I gave my guns away” landed with particular clarity, resonating as a moment of quiet defiance and emotional release from external pressure.
From the outset, there was an unforced confidence in the way the song was allowed to breathe, its intricate guitar work flowing with patient clarity that suited the reverent hush of the space. It was swiftly followed by the sublime ‘Nothing Lasts Forever’, which drifted forward with the same quiet emotional gravity that runs through Nick’s wider work.
A masterclass in songwriting
‘Begin Again’, a contemplative piece on family, lineage, and the gradual passage of time, was a very special moment and was closely followed by ‘Radical Tenderness’, showcasing Nick’s characteristic open-hand strumming, light and unburdened, carried by a featherlight touch. ‘Dark Harvest’ moved in the opposite direction, its darker mood reflected in stripped-back, fractured strumming that felt deliberately sparse and unsettled.
After a superb rendition of ‘My Maker’, Nick, who is a charismatic and hugely endearing artist, referenced the 1995 Underworld track ‘Born Slippy’, remarking that he once considered performing an acoustic version of the iconic dance track, but admitted that the refrain of the infamous “Lager, lager, lager” line would not really work. Instead, the track served as inspiration for the beautiful ‘Unconditional’ from 2017’s ‘Wake Up Now’.
An intimate and mesmerising evening of live music from Nick Mulvey
‘Cucurucu’, with its laid-back, hypnotic groove, takes its name and chorus from a character in 17th-century Italian theatre, folding that historical detail into its melodic flow. Nick’s voice, rich and expressive, weaves through intricate guitar lines that are complex on paper yet glide by with an effortless grace.
Intimate, stripped-back, and charged with quiet emotion, few artists are as compelling and transcendent live as Nick, every moment of his performance drawing the audience in and creating an almost communal experience, at once moving, immersive, and intensely personal.
This was an understated but compelling performance, the set fusing folk sensibilities with a spiritual depth, creating songs that felt both intimate and uniquely atmospheric.
Mesmerising, transcendental, and captivating, Nick’s performances and body of work continue to confirm him as one of the UK’s most accomplished musicians.
Photo Credit: Chris Lopez Photography, follow Chris on Instagram to see more of his amazing work!
