BY MICHAEL CHOWNE

Some people are put on this earth to make others feel brighter; Savannah Gardner is one such beautiful soul.

We were back at Lil’ Nashville in Chiswick, a honkytonk bar in West London, on Thursday 16th July 2026 for Savannah’s first gig back following her wedding and honeymoon.

She was apprehensive to get back to work after a month off but, to Savannah, this felt nothing like work as she later confessed! Mainly a covers show, just a talented girl and her guitar, this was the type of show any full-time musician on the independent circuit has done a hundred times before but, with Savannah, every show is unique which is why, so often, I just have to be there.

Savannah has a British passport through her English parents but is American born, and raised in California, and that oh so beautifully raspy American accent is nothing but authentic when singing these classic, and timeless, country songs. In two full sets across two hours, there were favourites from Patsy Cline, Gretchen Wilson, Little Big Town, Nancy Sinatra, Hank Williams, Neil Young, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, John Prine, Janis Joplin, Fleetwood Mac, Dolly Parton (x3!), Carrie Underwood, Darius Rucker, John Denver & Keith Whitley. Really great to hear a few new songs (to her) in her repertoire too – Ella Langley’s ‘Choosin’ Texas’, First Aid Kit’s ‘Emmylou’ and Taylor Swift’s ‘You Belong with Me’.

Savannah did manage to squeeze in 3 of her own songs – ‘Home Again’, ‘Recovering Good Girl’ and ‘High Desert Memory’, all of which stood up well to the classics.

The evening built as all good nights do and, as the shots flowed and the dancing began amongst the pre-wedding crowd in the room, the second half became a full-on party and singalong. Savannah, as ever, was up to the challenge and has well and truly got back on that horse!