AMERICAN singer, songwriter and musician Mary Chapin Carpenter brought her award-winning talents to York, playing classic country hits alongside new material from her latest album, The Things That We Are Made Of.

Carpenter has won five Grammy awards, two CMA awards and two Academy of Country Music awards and has even been inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Opening act Applewood Road started the night off with a simple but solid acoustic set, mixing together traditional country crooning and harmonies with good old-fashioned guitar music. Although minimal in style, their strong vocals and charming presentation kept the audience in rapt silence through each of their songs.

Following a short intermission, Carpenter herself entered the stage to uproarious applause. Her musical talents instantly drew the crowd in, playing her way through her career catalogue – and a surprising number of gorgeous guitars – with a generous smattering of well-received favourites like Passionate Kisses and Something Tame Something Wild, as well as a few amusing, soft-spoken ramblings on the spirit of country, life as a musician and love.

The atmosphere was very relaxed, allowing Carpenter’s performance to wash over the audience at its own steadily building pace until she reached a lively, faster-paced finale that demanded an encore. That encore, with Applewood Road singing alongside her, earned all involved a thundering standing ovation as they took their final bow.

Whether you’re already a country convert or just a fan of good music, Mary Chapin Carpenter will give you a night to remember.