7/10

After making waves with his debut album 'Songs from the Campfire' in 2023, a record that cemented him as a vibrant name on the rise, Craig Gould has returned with a project that strips everything back to its bare essence. 'Live at Beckview Studios' is a document of an artist testing his own craft in the heat of performance, and emerging with something richer, sharper, and deeply alive.

Recorded in Scarborough’s Beckview Studios, the six-track set carries the warmth of a room built for truth-telling. Backed by his steadfast band The Noble Thieves, the frontman reimagines older favourites and introduces new material from his forthcoming sophomore album 'Songs of Love and War', each song coloured differently by the intimacy of the space. There’s a grit to these performances, a kind of lived-in authenticity that can’t be replicated in polished studio takes.

What makes this release stand out is its dual format; offered both as an audio EP and a full video performance. The visual element enhances the listening experience, giving fans a chance to see the dynamic interplay between Gould, his band, and the Beckview setting itself. There’s something about watching the songs unfold in real time that amplifies their emotional weight.

Gould’s voice has always carried the texture of campfire storytelling, and on 'Live at Beckview Studios', that quality is magnified with each lyric hanging heavier in the air. In an era of over-produced gloss, Craig Gould has chosen to document the human imperfections, the crackle of the room, and the communal spirit. The result is a live EP that feels like both a celebration and a promise; the sound of an artist stepping boldly toward his next chapter, without losing the fire that lit the first.