Small Room, Big Stories: Lachlan Neville & Mary Liv at Art Bar

Article and Photography by Andreea Moore (Andreea the Narrative)

One of the hottest little venues these days is Art Bar. Set somewhere between a theatre and a classroom, it has a warm, cozy feel that lends itself perfectly to intimate shows. It embodies everything that makes a great small-room performance: interactive, familiar, and welcoming. There’s an essence of a house concert here; that close, almost secret feeling that gives the night an exclusive, shared energy.

Lachlan Neville opened the night, and holy hell, did he impress. The late November set was in promotion of his recently released self-titled full-length record. Neville played his favourite track, “50 Years,” a song shaped by formative childhood memories of jeep rides and wide-open spaces. His autobiographical soundscape paints a vivid picture of farming roots, small-town life, and coming of age in the post–post-apocalyptic world we now inhabit. Despite his youth, Neville’s words carry a kind of timeless wisdom, something that usually takes a lifetime to earn.

Mary Liv pulled double duty, acting as both audio engineer and performer. She moved effortlessly between guitar and banjo (the fiddle was notably absent this time), and performed her award-winning song writing competition piece. Between songs, Liv shared stories of tough times and riding the rails, as they used to say. Her wide range of talents hits you like a freight train rolling down the line. There’s an optimistic realism in her soundscape, the perspective of someone who has endured hardship but believes the worst is behind them. That lived experience is the root of bluegrass, and by writing from her truth, Liv connects in a way that feels deeply intimate and universally relatable.

Overall, it was a highly engaging and intimate evening, filled with friends, conversation, and genuine connection. The atmosphere was delightfully warm and welcoming, reminiscent of those smaller, almost secret shows held in houses, backyards, and living rooms.  The kind that linger in your memory long after the night ends.