BY MICHAEL CHOWNE

What I love about these 4pm two hour slots at Ain’t Nothin’ But in Soho by Savannah Gardner is how relaxed she’s able to be and you can see just how much she enjoys playing them.

Thursday 20th August 2026 was no different in that sense but it was so good to hear, amongst the covers and favourite originals, two brand new songs being tried out for the first time – thanks for being brave enough, Savannah! Savannah said the songs have been falling out of her lately and ‘Makin’ Honey’ and ‘Entirely Yours’ both seem to stem from Savannah’s ‘love stage’ in her life following her recent marriage, beautiful to see! Another quite new song, ‘Grim Reaper’, played yesterday too, is a much darker affair but I’m pleased to see Savannah playing this one with a smile on her face.

Savannah makes no bones about being a country singer playing in a blues bar but she certainly gives a more bluesy feel to some of the songs whilst playing here. It’s great that she has a space like this to allow her to experiment with a slightly different feel to some of the songs and I always love hearing her stunning version of ‘Fever’.

Savannah is such a top performer and show-woman that her songwriting may get overlooked at some of her bigger shows – performances like this are able to highlight what a classy songwriter and storyteller she really is.