REVIEWS from Autumn /Winter 2007/2008
4th November - Clive Gregson - I shouldn't have liked this evening because I prefer traditional folk far more than the more modern singer songwriters. They are usually pleasant enough performers but usually nothing special with "samey" songs, only one basic melody with uninspired pattern playing on the guitar. Then along came Clive Gregson to blow that theory out of the window - a variety of good melodies with interesting guitar accompaniments and with some intriguing lyrics to boot. His guitar playing was really something special, with the odd nicely balanced instrumental break that added to rather than distracting from the song. Clive also knew how to balance his music with chat. For while some performers really do spend moore time talking about their songs than actually singing them, Clive was content (as was, i'm sure, the audience) to let his music do the talking. All in all it was a very enjoyable evening with only one very minor criticism in that too many of his songs had the all too usual repeated phrase ending with a very gradual finish. I much prefer the sudden ending.
John Prowse
Steve Tilston 2nd December 2007
Despite arriving with a sore throat Steve Tilston gave us a terrific performance as always, though probably not as planned. His first set included some of his well known favourites such as So It Goes and Living With the Blues and he finished with a storming rendition of Angie. With a deteriorating voice, (everything will have to be played a half tone lower) his second set was just as entertaining including a couple of instrumentals and newly penned Goodbye Madam Muse finishing off with Jackson C Frank's Blues Run The Game. As always he gave a professional performance and was a pleasure to watch. He was promoting is new 'Boxed Set' which gives an overview of his career so far including a 100 page book - I can heartily recommend it. Thanks also go to Annie, Chris and Tony AND Nigel for 'the bit in the middle'.
Sue
Mick Ryan and Pete Harris 16th December 2007
I've always enjoyed Mick Ryan's singing and tonight was no exception. Ably assisted by Pete Harris he led us through a selection of mainly self penned songs. These ranged from the serious to the funny and in one case the risque (Desperate Dan!). I particularly like the range of subject matter Mick covers in his songs. This ranges from tales of navvies, King Arthur, ballad sellers and politics. Personal favourites include what I think is one of the best anti war songs ever written : The Man I Killed as well asTom Paines Bones (written by Graham Moore), Long Hard Season and I Won't Take That Lying Down. A shame the room wasn't full for the night but those who were there joined in the sometimes tongue twister choruses with gusto.
Support was in the capable hands of the resident trio and I particularly enjoyed Chris's slide guitar on Midnight Special. John gave us a selection of Christmas tunes on his guitar but I wonder if it was wise for Nigel to remind us, albeit amusingly, about the "black hole". I think Mick Ryan nearly fell in it later. More Christmas songs were provided by Bill, Lynn and Karen which included a rousing version of Shepherds Arise as well as a timely reminder that some people won't have the chance to enjoy Christmas.
An excellent night.
Tony Sawford
13th. January - Bill Whaley & Dave Fletcher. I knew that I was going to enjoy this evening, what with Bill Whaley's squeezeboxes and Dave Fletcher's wonderful voice performing superb folk songs (most of them with choruses), what more do you need? Bill even showed off his new toy - a weird and wonderful english concertina synthesiser which he got to sound like a church organ, a flute and a banjo!!! OK, synths ain't proper folk music but it was fun, and it wasn't excessive. The evening was actually a brilliant demonstration of both traditional and modern (but written in the traditional style) folksong at its absolute best - I even bought a CD, so it must have been great. Although there were a few spare seats, the club had an excellent turnout (the room is larger now) so to all who didn't come (including you Nigel!) tough!! You missed a cracking evening and you won't get any sympathy from me. Many thanks to Chris and Annie for booking them and getting 2008 off to a great start.
John Prowse
27th
January - Lester Simpson. With
a bit of time to spare between being asked to do this review and the gig
starting, I pondered whether I could make a start before Lester began
performing. I’d seen him before so could I predict what he’d sing or play?
No! Of course he did perform one or two old favourites, including his wonderful
pipe tunes inspired by his many visits to Belgium and in memory of his Great
Uncle and the millions of men like him who died out there, and, as ever, he
accompanied himself for many of his songs on his lovely Castagnari melodeon.
However, he also alternated his accompaniment with his ukulele, an excellent
instrument for lots of his songs.
There was no shortage of emotion covered by his choice of songs, whether those
self-penned (like the one about the VADs) or traditional (like the sea shanties)
or by other contemporary writers. Being just after Burns’ Night, we were also
treated to an address to the haggis – in Derbyshire dialect!
Another really entertaining aspect of Lester’s gig was the bits between the songs. As you already know if you listen to “Folkwaves” on Monday evenings or if you’ve been to a Coope Boyes and Simpson gig, Lester can pepper any occasion with fascinating facts. This gig was no exception and those of us who were there now know a little more about the groove in the floor at the Belgium estaminet and about Kate Rusby’s mum’s pork pies!
As I read this review, I realise I haven’t yet mentioned Lester’s voice. I think it goes without saying that a member of such a prestigious acappella group as CBS is no disappointment when he sings alone. He sang and played beautifully; he painted evocative word pictures; he gave us lots to reflect on and finally he gave us cause to smile. What more can you ask for of an artist?
Maggie
10th Feb - Gracenotes
I have to start by declaring an interest as a shameless “Grace Notes groupie.” I don’t suppose that many people, having seen them once, don’t come back for more and certainly no-one was admitting to seeing them for the first time on Sunday night.
Anyone who has seen them knows what to expect: an eclectic combination of thoughtful, well-selected and beautifully crafted songs. They move seamlessly from the modern to the traditional, from the quiet to the rousing, from the humorous to the poignant. They bring a sensitive interpretation to modern songs and a fresh individuality to the traditional.
Not only do Grace Notes understand the art of selecting and arranging songs, but they have a gift for constructing a well-balanced set. Thus we had such diverse songs as Steve Tilston’s Dewy Ones, Brookes Williams’s All that is Gold, and the traditional Proud Margaret. They moved effortlessly from The Two Sisters, which provoked a hilarious discussion on “recyclable aristocracy” (why do they boil them in lead?) to the power, beauty and honesty of Rosa.
Grace Notes are generous in their credits to songwriters and the other singers from whom they have acquired their repertoire. It falls to me to comment on the beauty and strength of the voices and harmonies which make a Grace Notes gig something special. Whether I am listening to Helen leading Mrs Rita or When the Ship Comes In, to Lynda leading Rosa or Widow with Shawl , or to Maggie leading Rue or The Power, I am struck by the quality of the singing. All three have wonderful voices and a talent for harmony; thus the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.
Further, they have the gift of putting across a song. They love singing and they engage with their audience. They are lovely people and it comes across in their performance. Forget “girl power”: this is music for real grown-up women. Also for men. In fact for anyone with the sense to come along and listen.
Combined with the usual quality floor singers, this was definitely an evening to remember.
Nancy
24th Feb - Cross o’th Hands Having started with the usual introductions, Chris Annie, and Tony started the evening with well performed singing of Lowlands, The Last Thing on My Mind and Love is Life (a slow and melodic song)
Swan Folk then welcomed Cross o’th Hands to the stage before an eagerly awaiting audience at the newly refurbished Swan.
The group opened their programme with, The Lazy Farmer and The Holywell Hornpipe using fiddle guitar melodeons and bodran. They provided a lot of information regarding the origins of their songs and tunes - notably Fill Every Glass (from the Beggars Opera) and Lilly Gilder. They were songs that painted pictures in the mind.
A versatile programme which included songs such as The House of Wax, Four pence a Day, The Nail Makers and The Derby Miller along with dance tunes and the group covered many aspects of folk music.
On a last note - thank you to all who performed floor spots at the start of the second half.
Ray
9th March Singers Night
Thanks to those ‘brave few’ who came to the singers night, their music was appreciated.
Chris
Thanks to all our reviewers. Chris