The Second Period of Gig-Going
Live in Leicester Touring Bands
My second, and current, period of gig going started in October 2017… caring duties were over and I went to two gigs… Richard Thompson (De Montfort Hall) and Fairport Convention (Y-Centre)… both in the weeks following my wife’s funeral where we left the service to Fairports “Meet on the Ledge” and of course both gigs featured that song… Fairports as always ending with it, and much as I tried to sing along it damn near broke me… the emotions were absolutely at breaking point!
However, a few weeks earlier, I had been persuaded by Mike to go to a gig at the Musician which fostered my love of the venue, and of the grass roots circuit.
At the time I write this (June 2025) I have seen around 700 different bands/artists on the circuit and the overall standard has been exceptional… many gigs have been as good as anything I’ve seen anywhere whatever the status of the artists and and a huge majority have been absolutely great… of course, as you will see following there have also been a number of real turkeys!!…
One of the joys of the grass roots circuit is that the gigs are inexpensive… I have a £20 per ticket limit, though some circumstances have persuaded me to pay a bit more…
Of course the vast majority of bands/artists I go to see having never heard them, or heard of them, before… it is always exciting to see someone new, especially when they turn out to be as good as many of the people I’ve seen… The circuit is incredibly sociable and you soon get to know and befriend many of the audience and promoters… and indeed can always meet and chat with the artists, many of whom become friends… there is a wonderful warm feeling when you walk into the room and the headline artists greets you by name and with a hug!… bet you don’t get that Wembley!!
A fair few of the artists I am going to write about I have seen now several times, so maybe can’t pick out a single gig, so l’ll generally reminisce about all of their gigs… and will cover the artists alphabetically!!
The first section will cover touring bands and tribute bands, and the second section will cover the wonderful range of local artists
ALLAN FLETCHER
Allan Fletcher, known by many as Dr Karl Kennedy in “Neighbours” brought his country band to the Musician Pub, and he delivered a superb set.
Allan was here as a great musician to play music, not to be the TV Soap celebrity… though the feeling was that a good percentage of the audience was there to see the soap doctor.
His band are superb, featuring Riley Catherall on electric guitar and Lachlan Bryan on bass… both accomplished musicians and artists in their own right, along with a cracking drummer, whose name I lamentably don’t know… The band was completed by Allan’s wife Jen on keyboard and occasional vocals and there overall sound was high class authentic sounding country music,
Some of Riley’s playing was sensational…especially the exquisite sounds he teased out with a slide, while Lachlan’s bass playing was outstanding. Jen contributed some terrific keyboard work and a co
uple of high class vocals, where lead or singing harmony. The whole band underpinned by a drummer who really knew his job and played effortlessly and brilliantly.
Apart from the music, the outstanding memory of the night was the huge warmth and charm of Allan and all the band… they radiated warmth and joy throughout which gives the music an extra lift.
At the end of the show most bands will be available to chat, either the whole band or one or two members… but Allan knows how to treat his fans, he is quickly to the end of the room and wont move until he is happy that everyone who wants to talk to him, have selfies with him, take photos etc have done just that.. and throughout he talks with warmth and charm throughout.
I told him I had never seen “Neighbours” but was there to here his music… he said “Yes I know… Paul has told me already.. I’m delighted” and from there we had a lovely chat about the show.
A great singer/songrwriter leading a superb band… and an absolute diamond of a fella… he and the band provided one off the great nights
ALBANY DOWN
I went to see this band based on recommendations by the Promoter (of course biased!!), a couple of “word of mouth” recommendations and the prospect of an album launch… so I went along hoping, indeed expecting, a good show… however… as soon as the band walked on stage I recognised then… I’d seen them before but could remember nothing about the gig… never an encouraging start.
They kicked off without speaking to, or indeed looking at the audience and after a few minutes I was regretting my decision to go… the band were lifeless and terminally dull… I think they were pretty competent as musicians but it just didnt come together… the overall performance never really got going or raised themselves above a competent lethargic…
Hugely dull performance and a band I will not be venturing out to see again….
ANNA RYDER
I have been lucky enough to see the wonderful Anna Ryder many times, in many guises, singing and playing with Sally Barker, as one of the trio Iota and as part of the ‘Supergroup’ the Sandy Denny Project, but it’;s her solo shows, with Nicky Cure, that bring the best memories.
Anna is a brilliant multi-instrumentalist, a great singer and a total barm-pot… and she will always entertain and delight from the start to finish of a show.
First time I saw Anna solo, Zoe Cure played a delightful support slot before Anna came on. Then after a short break Anna came on and sat at her keyboard, grinned and spoke about the forthcoming show… it was based on her songs, which can be quirky, sentimental, serious or totally daft… but all great… and be accompanied by the cartoons and films made by the equally eccentric Nicky Cure… the pair have adventures, do eccentric things and film them… the films, along with the cartoons, appear on screen behind Anna while Nicky triggers them via her laptop… and the films always accurately reflect the songs, or vice versa….
Anna starts singing and playing the keyboard, and you think that is her strength… but she then moves to guitar… the piano accordion,.. then she will play trumpet whilst playing the accordion…
It is impossible to see an Anna Ryder without smiling, grinning and laughing throughout… while also admiring her musicianship and voice
The films, which reflect the pairs adventures may included rowing a boat in the garden and equally unlikely activities and are beautifully constructed and put together…
After all the eccentricity of the show… along with Anna’s infectious charm, smile and musical prowess, it probably doesn’t come as too much of a surprise when she encores by playing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” on a bicycle pump…
A genuine feel good performance delivered by a master entertainer and delightful person
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BAND OF FRIENDS
The band was formed in 2012 by Gerry McEvoy and Ted McKenna , long standing members of the great Rory Gallagher’s band, playing bass and drums respectively and introducing Marcel Scherpenzeel on guitar.
Rory’d bands were all about Rory, the ultimate guitarist and showman, so it was intriguing how this band would be… would they be an ‘original’ band or a Rory tribute band… in the event they were both.. .Gerry and Ted are authentic Rory Gallagher band members and Marcel came inn with the reputation of being the closest possible player to Rory
They hit the stage running and blasted into a set continuing the legacy of the original bands… material from the same repertoire played with fire and passions by a hugely experienced and talented band… the vibe was definitely of a great band delivering rock’n’roll/blues in Gallagher styler and featuring his repertoire…
In Rory’s band Gerry was the bass player… in the Band of Friends Gerry is a feature… his personality shining as he led the rabble rousing, encouraging the audience to sing along, walking around the audience playing bass and encouraging the crown and band…
Obviously Gerry and Ted were longstanding member of Rory’s band and knew the material inside out and were able to stamp their own personality on it… while Marcel was a revelation… a superb player in Gallagher style, and also a fine vocalist.
The set includes many of the Gallagher classics such as “Laundromat”, “ Messin’ with the Kid” and “Bullfrog Blues”… Rory’s version of Bullfrog Blues is considered by many to be definitive, but the Band of Friends delivered an outstanding version.
The whole show was high energy rock’n’roll with Gerry bouncing around and acting as Cheer Leader and rabble rouser.
Tragically, not long after this show Ted McKenna died and was replaced by another stalwart, Brendan O’Brien, on drums… subsequently Marcel was replaced by Jim Kirkpatrick and Paul Rose… distinguished guitarist for sure, but the dynamic and sound changed… still high quality, but different… personally, I preferred the trio format with Marcel playing guitar
BASKERY
Bakery were an unknown name to me, but the on the listings they were shown as a Swedish banjo punk band… how could you resist that… so I went to see them
The stage set-up was intriguing…. On one side electric and acoustic guitars, on the other an upright bass… in the middle a small drum kit and a couple of banjos
The band are three sisters, Sunniva Bondesson (guitars) Stella Bondesson (Bass) and Greta Bondesson (drums and banjo). Even as they picked up the instruments we didn’t quite know what to expect… we certainly didn’t anticipate the power of the rock’n’roll that they produced… Stella fairly static while playing thumping solid slap bass which reverberated around the room… Sunniva rocking out on electric guitar and in the middle Stella playing the drums with her feet whilst playing rock’n’roll banjo… All three sisters sing, taking a share of the lead vocals and adding harmony. The whole band playing with energy and bags of attitude… a formidable and exhilarating sound.
Stella laid down a powerhouse bass groove while Sunniva was grinning and smiling as she ripped out the guitar parts and bounced around the stage, standing at times on the drum kit and at others on the monitors while Greta pounded her drums and played rocking banjo… and as the evening wore on she took out a slide and delivered some fluent and glorious slide banjo… something I dont think I have seen before, or since
As a band they rocked the night away generating terrific energy and building a terrific rapport with the audience… a very different unique band that became firm favourites with everyone lucky enough to see them… they returned several times after this initial gig, and showed it was no flash in the pan… they delivered the same quality shows every time,
THE BEGGS SISTERS
Another new name to me but the blurb looked interesting so along I went to the Musician… the first surprise was that the Beggs Sisters actually comprise the sisters Willow and Lula and their father Nick, who rose to fame as the founder of the old band Kajagoogoo
Nick stands in the centre playing upright bass and definitely taking a back seat as the girls sit either side, each playing either guitar or ukulele… all acoustic and a beautifully mellow show
Lula and Willow both sing their own songs, m though on many the other sister and father Nick add harmonies.
The music is very gentle, quiet and very beautiful… but don’t think this is hippy drippy stuff… many of the songs are very personal and have quite a cutting edge, but all beautiful crafted. The girls voices are quite different but both lovely,,, and when harmonising they blend to perfection
It feels like sitting in their living room with them as they sing you their life stories and dreams… and this feeling is heightened when they leave the stage and sit on seats in the midst of the audience to sing a last couple of songs, without the benefit of microphones… by then the whole audience was totally entranced and the silence while they sang was profound bring a superb gig.
I left feeling relaxed, happy and not a little high… a show like this has that sort of effect… all good music should touch a nerve, trigger an emotion, whether of love or anger depending on the nature of the music… this band certainly touched a nerve and triggered feelings of peace, calm and beauty.
BILLY WALTON BAND
Billy Walton came with a reputation for Billy paid his dues in the rock’n’roll scene on the New Jersey shore, and brought his band to the Musician, and drew a pretty good crowd.
Billy’s band featured Billy on guitar and vocals along with William Paris (bass/vocals) Eric Safka (Keyboard/Vocals) Tom Petracarro (saxophone) Dave Moore (Drums) and Destinee Monroe (guitar/vocals)
The band rocked like crazy and had the entire audience moving and cheering from the off… Billy’s guitar playing was absolutely spot on and and he led the band with great style and flair… the band played up a storm, musically fiery and superb, and clearly totally in sync with each other and the leader.
At one point Billy asked for a pint, and was duly served on stage, and he downed it without missing a beat… Musicians leaving the stage and continuing to play while walking around the audience was not too common at this time but later Billy stepped off the stage while playing and made a b-line for the bar, where he bought another drink, drank it and walked back tot he stage without dropping a note… to the huge applause of the audience.
The band’s music, like Springsteen’s is clearly rooted in the New Jersey rock’n’roll scene and is a powerful melting pot of sounds and totally exhilarating… Billy and the band more than lived up to their reputation…
A year or so later, Billy brought the band back for another gig and this time I went with high expectations based on the previous show… and the band did not let us down in any way, another storming evening of New Jersey rock’n’roll with all the features and quality of the earlier show… the main difference was that the previous year Destinee was new to the band, tended to stand back in the shadows and only sang one, maybe two songs… this second gig she had fully found her home in the band and was up front and shining all night… singing more, taking guitar solos and dancing like a dervish as she played… during the encore she joined Billy in a wander round the audience still playing… and carrying her pint… with little encouragement she stood on a chair then to a table, playing guitar, dancing and finishing her pint… at this point maybe half a dozen punters proffered the end of their pints to her.. .she took them all in turn, downed them and onto the next one… still playing up a storm…
These shows were not just New Jersey rock’n’roll feasts, they were totally wonderful and uplifting… you couldn’t help feeling high as you left the hall after the band finished and disappeared….
Brave Rival were an unknown beyond word of mouth recommendations… so expecting something good I had to go and check them out… before the band came on the audience was filling up into a big crowd, and the atmosphere building nicely… as it got to show time the atmosphere was getting hot with a distinct air of expectation… it seems the band were already well known… and many of their regular supporters, the Bravians, were there wearing their Bravian lanyards
Eventually to recorded music stopped… and three member son the band came on… Billy Dedman, replete with generous beard, on bass and Ed Clarke on guitar, along with Donna Peters on drums…. No frills, no tricks the band kicked into their first piece… there were two unattended mic stands at the front… softly the twin singers, Lindsey Bonnick and Chloe Josephine took the stage to a huge cheer… grabbed the mics and launched into “Heart Attack, a blistering rock song.
The band were hot… Billy delivering pulsating bass while Ed was delivering superb guitar. At the back drummer Donna was deceptive… totally un-flmabouyant with minimal movement but drumming up a total storm… as good a summer as you are likely to see anywhere…
Lindsey and Chloe have contrasting voices and styles but blend together perfectly.. they both take lead vocals on some songs with the other harmonising or sing together. A Brave Rival gig starts on a high and builds beautifully… but midway through they change gear for an acoustic section… normally featuring a hugely emotional version of Paul Simon’s “Sound of Silence” in which Lindsey and Chloe take alternate verses… after the acoustic section the band are back to the rock’n’roll featuring superb musicianship, particularly some blistering superb guitar breaks from Ed.
The band have visited several times, each time delivering a superb show… the most recent show featured a song written by Chloe relating to here troubles with mental illness… clearly an emotional song and Chloe was feeling every word of it as she sang… the band were playing brilliantly as ever when Chloe took the mic out of the stand and stepped onto the floor in the audience… next to a Bravian… and threw herself into eh ladies arms and sobbed… Lindsey stepped forward and took the mic from her and stood quietly at the back of the stage while the band sllpped into an improvised instrumental section, Ed stepping forward and playing a magnificent solo.
As Chloe finally looked back at the stage Lindsey stepped forward and hand her the mic and as the band slipped back into the song Chloe continue from where she left off… this was a hugely moving and powerful moment… the raw emotion shown by all the band was something not to be forgotten… and the way the five continued was wonderful…
After each show the band invite the Bravians with Lanyards onto the stage for a group photo with the band.
The original line up of the band with Linsey and Chloe had Donna playing acoustic guitar, as she does on a couple of song and singing… the band then changed direction with the addition of Ed and Billy and have become a nightly rock band
Recently however, Chloe left the band to concentrate on her family and the other four continue to deliver the goods…
CASSIDY PARIS
Cassidy Paris came over from Australia with a growing reputation as a rock artist delivering an infectious brand of high energy rock with a catchy melodic edge… sounded interesting so bought a ticket and went along on the night with high expectations…
After watching a pretty good support band… Rattlesnake.. who delivered a sprightly and rather good set of heavy metal.. especially praiseworthy as it was one of the bands first live performances.
As the interval started there was a bit of a buzz and a “hey they were pretty good” feel and we were all looking forward to seeing the main attraction… expectations were rather high…
Eventually the band came on and tuned up before Cassidy came on stage and greeted the audience. As the show developed the set the band weren’t exactly pulling up trees and it was clear that all Cassidy Paris had to offer was an average voice her rather sleazy persona… short skirt, standing up on the monitors and stretching up… get the idea?… Overall the music was poppy with hints of rock and totally uninspiring…
You can’t win ‘em all… this was fairly poor stuff!
CATFISH
First time I saw Catfish was a cold damp Sunday in February 1978… had no idea what to expect but they proved to be a four pieces featuring Matt Long, who proved to be a quite exceptional guitarist… his father Paul on Keyboards, Adam Pyke on Bass who proved to be the core of the band along with a drummer, who changed on nearly every visit!!
The band played the blues… very rocky blues… and were quite brilliant. The band playing with authority and great power throughout, and Matt playing exceptional guitar the whole time… Matt and Paul each taking vocals.
During the evening it turned out that Matt and Adam had been at music college together and and had been firm friends since then,
During the set Matt embarked on a fiery solo and walked through the audience playing.. and disappeared into the street still playing… as he came back he said “I’m not doing that again it’s f… snowing”… and indeed he was covered in snow.
The set ended with a piece dedicated to a dear friend of Matt who had tragically died very young… the piece is called “Make if Rain” which starts off as a full tilt blues until Matt steps the the edge of the stage and starts to ;play more quietly… gradually the band stops and Matt continues to reduce the volume until he is on his knees on the stage apron playing without any volume… just the sound of the unamplified strings… and the audience was entranced and absolutely silent… a remarkable end to a show… and it turns out that the band always end shows with this number… which is a hugely emotional piece for Matt.
I got to see the band a number of times after that first gig, and each time they were exceptional… always ending with “Make it Rain”… which always had the same effect on the audience
Not only did Matt play at the Musician with Catfish, but he brought a three piece heavy rock band, Matt Long and the Revenant Ones, round several times as well. This was basically Catfish without Paul, who was invariably there in the audience, and without the blues shades… just pure heavy rock and also absolutely superb.
All the gigs were memorable for the quality of the music and Matt’s outstanding guitar work, but one Revenant Ones gig stands out for other reasons… just before the band went on, someone in the audience knocked a pint of beer over onto he sound desk… there was a huge bang… and the whole sound system died.
Sandman Alan produced miracles in getting most of the system working again… in fact the sound from all of the instruments was once more superb, but there we’re no vocals possible… Once the band started Matt stood on the stage apron playing his brilliant guitar and courageously singing without the benefit of microphone or amplification… he got through a couple of songs before deciding that I was hurting his throat too much and he had to stop… he stepped back to his usual spot and said they would continue purely instrumental if that was ok… the band carried on until they got the message from Alan that the vocal circuits were now restored… as they started the next piece there was a bang from the stage as Matt’s amplifier gave up the ghost… happily this was quickly remedied and the band played the rest of the set as normal… and another superb set it was, especially in the circumstances.
Both bands were absolutely brilliant and delivered high quality in every show and Matt’s reputation as one of the truly great young guitar players was growing rapidly… as was his reputation as a thoroughly lovely person… sadly Matt was diagnosed with a terminal cancer and despite crowd funding and surgery he passed away.. .far far too young… a top class man and supreme guitar played lost…
CHRIS MURPHY
Another of those artists totally unknown to me, or virtually anyone else other than seeing his name in the Musician listings… but I love to see new music, people I don’t know… occasionally you regret the decision, but on most occasions you know you have done the right thing!
I arrived at this gig and chatted with Andy who said that “he is a smashing bloke and sounds great on soundcheck”… well, he would, he was the promoter.. .but he is usually spot on!
Before the show Chris wandered around the audience, we were sitting at table, and sat and chatted with almost everyone… and as Andy said… he was a lovely guy…
When he took the stage, you began to wonder… one man, one fiddle, would the show bring enough variation to sustain interest over a couple of hours…
But once he started everyone seemed to sit bolt upright transfixed… the man has such a presence… such a hold on any audience and and proved to be a quite phenomenal musician… I have no idea what he played… but he did explain the origins of the pieces as he played, and took in music from many different cultures, including the familiar jigs and reels as well as blue grass along with many others… he also took the chance to lay the fiddle down and sing a couple of songs accompanying himself on mandolin… and no-one was surprised that he was brilliant on that as well…
The show seemed to be over in seconds, though he played for a couple of blissful hours… the final piece was a long one, mixing in jigs, reels and airs, during which he wandered around the tables, stopping and sitting at most while he played… before going back to the stage to end with a breakneck speed burst of dance music…
This had been an incredible gig delivered by a truly breathtaking fiddle player who was absolutely on fire…
At the end I stopped to chat again with Andy… he said he felt high on that performance and I was totally blown away by it… there weren’t enough superlatives and we had to have him back next trip!!
Next morning I wrote up my usual review of the show and got a nice comment back from Chris… and duly around a year later he was back and I was getting high just anticipating another great show… as I walked into the room and headed for my usual spot Chris came over to me… shook my hand, hugged me, and said “I have present for you”… it was a Chris Murphy tote bag which I use constantly and treasure… He said he had read my review and kept it with him always, and if ever he was down or lonesome in his travels got it out and re-read it a couple of times… I was hugely touched by that…
Of course… once on stage Chris delivered another master class of fiddle playing… no mandolin this time and I think vocals… but it was a treat to chat with him again after the show… a total one off…
CHUCK PROPHET & HIS CUMBIA SHOES
I’d never heard of Chuck Prophet… but so many people said how great he is… how they’d seen him at the Musician years before… classic country/americana… and judging by the higher ticket price this would appear to be a big deal… so I duly rocked up on the night
First thoughts before the music… hey, this is a good turnout and there’s quite a buzz in the room… the omens are good…
There were a couple of support bands, the first I don’t much care for,, the other, new to me were rather entertaining… but I could whip up too much enthusiasm while waiting for there main event…
So after a reasonable gap after the support bands the canned music stopped… the lights dimmed and the crowd gathered from the four corners to the foot of the stage…
Chuck came on with his band, the Cumbia Shoes, and here was the first surprise… no hint of country americana… the band were a fully fledged tex-mix outfit (minus the accordion) and they swung and rock like crazy…. Not at all what I expected, and I suspect that is true for a fair bit of the audience, but boy was it good!!…
The band delivered magical mingling patterns of sounds from guitar, bass, drums and keyboards… and if Flaco Jimenez or Clifton Chenier stepped up with an accordion I wouldn’t have been surprised.. mind you the music didn’t need any extra.. the sound was full, rich and vibrant throughout while Chuck stood at the front, played guitar and sang his songs… Chuck and the band are not showmen in the sense of dancing, flashy lights or novelties… but they deliver a huge slice of wonderful driving rhythms and fine songs… hard to describe… but maybe Santana meet Ramones meet Mariachi band would get you into the right sort of area… though still miles off.. .Chuck Prophet and His Cumbia Shoes are a unique, electrifying, exciting band… quality musicians… quality music
DAN BAIRD HOMEMADE SIN
So, late summer Warner brought his brilliant band to the Musician (see separate item), blew everyone away and said “ if you like this,, Dan Baird is here later in the year, he’s much better”
So, that autumn I was duly present, with great anticipation, to see Dan Baird Homemade Sin. First up was support band in the form of Joe Blanton… Joe and the band proved to be full tilt rockers delivering a storming set. During the performance it became clear that the band was Dan’s band, Homemade Sin, backing Joe as well as playing their own set… after well over an hour with a riotous version of “Country Roads” ringing in the ears Joe and the band left the stage…
After a short break Dan and the band took the stage and with no preamble kicked into what was to be a breathtaking 2 hours and more of full tilt rock’n’roll.
It was clear we were watching one of the truly great rock’n’roll bands in action… four musicians all clearly knowing their rolls, all hugely talented and with charisma to spare… It’s difficult to remember the set list, butt it surely included the likes of I Love you Period”, “Railroad Steel/Route 66”, “Sheila/Do You Wanna Dance” and “Dont Pass Me By” as well as a bunch of Dans own songs and maybe an odd country song… all delivered with colossal energy and musical brilliance.
The band rocked like crazy for over a couple of hours without let up of energy or style and when they finally finished the audience was really bouncing… overwhelmed by an outstanding, overwhelming performance… even out into he street afterwards the audience was still buzzing…
Next time Dan visited the Musician it was with a mix of excitement and a hint of sadness as it had been announced that this was to be Dan’s last tour… he was in remission from cancer but the touring and privations of the road were becoming too much for him…
However… when the band kicked off Dan looked strong and the band rocked as hard as ever… though it was noticeable that throughout the set Warner was looking to his left to keep an eye on Dan and checking the time.. .he was clearly not going to let Dan overrun the time, as he usually did, and indeed… they did finish on time for once…
Having said that it was another full tilt superb show… somehow Dan was producing the same levels of energy and commitment as ever and delivering a phenomenal set.
There is a strong argument to say this was the best rock’n’roll band on the planet…
After the show, Dan sat at the merch desk happily chatting with everyone, signing merchandise and generally proving to be a charming gentleman…
On the positive side, there have been rumours that Dan has started playing some gigs again… you can’t imagine a music man like him being content to sit and play in his living room!!
DAVEY DODDS BAND
Davey Dodds is truly an inspiration… first couple of times I tried to see him the gig was cancelled due to Davey’s health… eventually I got to see him… a frail gentleman sitting on a large chair supported by his band, on this occasion just Gillie Hotson on fiddle and Daniel Billing on bass.
Davey is a unique rare talent.. .a fine mandolin player and surprisingly strong singer delivering his own songs. The music improved to be unique, a mix of Celtic, pagan, psychedelic and always inspiring… creating complex melodies and rhythms perfectly reflecting the pagan and nature of the lyric… while the focus is on Davey and his vocals and mandolin Gillie and Daniel are superb musicians, providing perfect support and capable to take over and improvise when Davey seemed to flag.
However, Davey completed the gig and the magic he wove around the room with his songs, music as quiet charm was totally uplifting…
Davey sits almost stock still throughout, just looking to the audience and to Gillie and Daniel and smiling appreciatively… meanwhile, in the up temp passages Daniel rocks back and forth while Gillie dances around with her electrifying fiddle…
A gig that left me somewhat in awe of Davey, and admiring him and his band… and hoping to see him and the band again.
After another cancellation, happily Davey and Friends returned to the Musician, this time with drummer Doug Clifford joining Gillie and Daniel in the band.
This time we knew Davey had had some tough times and he was frailer than before and didnt look well… but the man loves playing and hates letting people down… and he eventually took the stage, with a bucket which he kept to hand… the band joined him and as he struck up the first notes he appeared to gain strength and delivered another magnificent set… though the pauses in the introductions were more noticeable and he had to stop and sit twice walking from the stage back to the merchandise table where he was happy to sign copies of his album.
Two superb concerts in very difficult circumstances for Davey… he has to be careful not to overwork and Gillie constantly keeps an eye on him… a lot of love among the band and it communicates with the audience.
Since then Davey posts on social media either announcing a performance or apologising for having to cancel due to health.. Davey is a rare performer and a special talent and special man.
ELIZA CARTHY
Eliza Carthy… the living legend.. have seen her in various combinations over the years, most recently with both the entire Waterson Family and also the Wayward Band, but it is always a joy to see any member of the Waterson Family in any situation… but the last twice had been at the Royal Albert Hall and a BBC Weekend event… so the chance to see her at the Musician was unmissable…
So I arrived early to find a large crowd already assembled… tends to be the way with folk gigs… but got a good seat and stayed put!!…
At the appointed hour Eliza took the stage accompanied by an accordion and guitar player and before you could draw breath she she was into some brisk tunes and the toes were tapping and your whole being smiling… you are in the presence of one of the major players, from the major family, of the folk scene and she is right there… playing to a large audience who were loving every moment… from fiddle to song and Eliza’s voice will nail you to the seat and send shivers down your back… as it was doing here and now…
It is impossible to detail the pieces played and sung… you just felt there in the moment listening to pure class… mesmerising brilliance… from one on musics great…
As Andy said afterwards, or was its before the show?, “I could listen to her sing all night… and I could listen to her play fiddle all night”… as it was we got a glorious mix of both… an object lesson in folk music
Eliza was back a couple of times more in subsequent years, with the same degree of breathless anticipation and joy… and each time Eliza delivered in the same imperious way…
The third visit was slightly odd, as Eliza said she had picked up the wrong fiddle case, brought the wrong fiddle, no chin rest and lost a couple of other things, which she was able to borrow from someone locally… for anyone else you would criticise a lack of professionalism, but you can’t criticise this family!!… Eliza still scintillated with another truly glorious set
EMILY DUFF
Emily Duff came to the Musician as a total unknown, to me, but her promo showed her in a superb hat!!… that is often trigger to go see an artist I dont know… mind you you promo paragraph looked interesting anyway, but it was the hat…
So off I went to the Musician with an air of curiosity and also optimism… eventually Emily took the stage, a small lady dressed all in black with a super huge hat and massive dark glasses… I thought “yes… this is going to be good” and when she kicked off, playing strong as steel guitar and singing out so strongly I was hooked… literally from the first notes…
She proved to be a really street-wise New Yorker with a big heart as she delivered a raft of her own songs which all had a either a hint of menace or of tenderness… but Emily and all her songs have a backbone of steel and some real genuine quality… Emily delivered her set with total assurance and class and truly blew me away… an amazing strong and powerful performance.
After the gig we took the chance to chat with her and the hard edges of the performance were nowhere to be seen…just a softly spoken relaxed lady…
I had a chance to see her a couple of more times, each time going with anticipation of something special… and each time she delivered her set with the same power assurance and quality… for me Emily is a major star!
EVANGELINE GENTLE
Browsing through the Musician listings for October 2024 I saw a name I hadn’t heard before, and reading the blurb I thought solo singer songwriter… I’ll go check it out… so, off I went to see Evangeline Gentle
Evangeline took the stage, introduced herself then proceeded to enchant the whole audience with her beautiful voice, warm open persona and great songs… many of the songs were very personal as she opened her heart through them…
Every song was enthusiastically received and it was clear that she had won over the audience with her talent and charm…
After the show she put down her guitar and walked into the audience and sat with all three of us that had attended… and chatting she proved every bit as charming as she had on stage… and generously said that “as a young musician who no-one has heard of, I can’t really expect people to come and see me”… maybe she has a point, but this is Leicester, and audiences are not willing to come out to live music unless it is a tribute band… new original music just doesn’t have a ready audience, which is so sad…
I thoroughly loved the gig, Evangeline delivered a truly high class performance.. and to be honest, my heart bled for her playing her heart out for just three of us… she deserves to be playing to packed houses, and I hope she is now developing her audience
EVE SELIS
In the summer of 2025 I was hearing radio trailers for Glastonbury, among a list of names, some household names, others totally new to me… but one name struck a chord, though I’d never been aware of hearing it before… the name was Eve Selis.
On my next visit to the International I noticed a poster promoting a gig there… I saw she was a country singer, and would be playing there with a band… as there was not much on there that month I decided to go… one of my best decisions!
I was surprised when I got there to see a stage so bare… just a keyboard with a vocal mic and a vocal mic.
After a short but very lovely opening set by Randi Driscoll, Eve took the stage flanked by Sam Hunt on acoustic guitar and Randi on keyboards.
I somehow felt that this was going to be something different, something special… and so it proved
Eve started by explaining that she was really a country artist but this was going to be a different sort of performance… a set she had played only a handful of times before… and explained the traumas she had gone through some years earlier… two loved ones struck by cancer, though surviving… a bereavement and a brother involved in gun crime… she paused… said he was the one holding the gun… that is a lot of trauma…
For many, Eve included, songwriting is cathartic, and Eve set out to write and album for that reason… and she did just that, over a period of some 5 years… the album is “Dark Sky Blue” and it is one of the most powerful albums you will hear… and the performance tonight was that album…
The album, and concert, takes you on a journey through the isolation of the trauma, the anger, the acceptance, hope onto the ultimate resolution.. .live on… choose love… ending with a song suggesting everyone, whatever, is someones brother… son…
Eves voice its simply beautiful, light and airy, and she sang with total conviction and assurance throughout, her voice sounding lost, harsh and angry, calm and then soothing as the story unfolded.
She commented on each song before singing it, and spoke so emotionally…
Everything she said and sang touched me deeply and every line I was close to a smile or a tear…
At the end Eve walked off… then returned for an encore… she said she would start with one of her regular songs then sing something everyone knew and she hoped would sing along with.. the song was “Imagine” and she sang it superbly, not as John did it, not dreamlike but as an exhortation to try a better way… and the audience responded.. when it finished Eve thanked the musicians and venue.. .bowed then said “Lets sing a couple more choruses”… which everyone did.
I, and some other friends, have walked much of this journey as Eve walked it… different traumas, but the same impacts… made this not only a beautiful performance but a hugely emotional one
After the gig talking to Eve about the issues it was clear that she is a totally sincere and genuine person… a magnificent emotional performance and a simply wonderful warm lovely human being
GERRY JABLONSKI BAND
Gerry and his band have been to the Musician a couple of times… First time I hadn’t heard of them, second time I couldn’t wait to see them, and word of mouth had spread and they drew a really good audience.
I had no idea what to expect, other than a rock’n’roll band with a growing reputation. Gerry and the band are a hard rocking hard working outfit with bass, drums, vocals/harp and based on Gerry’s superb guitar playing.
It wasn’t long before it was clear why they were developing such a reputation… they proved to be a superb band… rocking hard and playing fluent high quality rock music.
Drums and bass powered away throughout forming a powerful driving rhythm behind the lead. The harp blows wild, free and bluesy while Gerry plays superb guitar, ranging from hard rocking to bluesy and throwing in some more classical passages… at one point Gerry was laying on his back playing a superb version of “Nessun Dorma”… not a piece you expect in the middle of a rock performance, but with the variety of Gerry’s playing maybe not such a surprise.
Really great band, great value and well worth going to see them… the band clearly loved the venue as some time afterwards after playing at an event at the 02 they preferred to come back tot the Musician, have a drink or two, hang out with the audience and enjoy whoever was playing that night
GONG
The hippy mavericks from the early 70’s .. how could I resist even knowing the Daevid Allen had died and there were no survivors from the original band.. .it still looked like an exciting night.
I arrived early, more than an hour before the band were due on… admittedly partly because I had not read the time of the show!!… and was surprised that although there were a fair few punters already there and there was no music playing.
Part of the Gong show is a CD, lasting an hour, which they had put together to be played before they took the stage, and they would come on as it ended… the music was interesting… psychedelic, unique, ethereal and no surprise given it was a Gong gig… .
As the CD ended the band took the stage without fanfare and plugged their instruments in… it was almost impossible to see what they looked like as the only lighting was flashing and sweeping across the stage from behind, so we were watching silhouettes at best… the one thing that was clear was that the guitar player was standing on the stage right about 3 feet from me at the front… arguably the most elegant and beautiful musician I’ve seen draped in a truly flamboyant outfit that made Hendrix look dowdy!!
The music flowed and rocked from the opening chords propelled by a simply wonderful drummer who somehow controlled the whole performance and the brilliant guitar work of the guy in the flamboyant outfit… The music just flowed on, no idea what pieces they played, but it didnt matter, the music changed intensity and style throughout and was at all times ethereal, magic, and simply wonderful…
The lighting and overall ambience in the room was magical, the music ethereal, psychedelic and rocking… the band delivered a couple of
hours of pure magic and at the ended simply melted away into the back stage area… leaving me breathless and open mouthed…
GWENNIFOR RAYMOND
Promoted as a dazzling guitarist and musician, even though I had never heard of her it seemed like a gig worth going to… so I went along.
When I go to the venue I found myself chatting to the fellow she was with, who was extolling her virtues as a performer so I took my seat and sat back to enjoy the show
Opening set was by local folkie Steve Parker, which was a typical Steve gig, entertaining and warm.. after a break Gwennifor took the stage and sat down with her guitar and started playing.. .it was soon evident that she is a great player but there is more to being an artist than being talented… talent is wasted if the artist doesn’t communicate and reach to the audience….
That is exactly what happened here… Gwennifor didn’t introduce herself, speak or acknowledge the audience… she just played with her head down not speaking or singing.. only looked up a few times but didn’t look at the audience or smile, and finally left the stage without a word…
A great talent but wasted due to a monumental lack of stage presence or life which produced a totally boring performance
GYPSY PISTOLEROS
First saw the Pistoleros a few years ago.. seen them a couple of times since and they were growing into one off my favourite live bands… most recently saw them rocking Duffy’s to it’s roots.
Felt a bit out of place… most of the audience were fully fledged and signed up members of the Church of the Pistoleros… wearing their Pistoleros cloaks, hoodies, t-shirts, hats and so forth…
I had been really looking forward to this gig… and for sure they rocked the place… absolutely superb performance as always
A Pistolero gig is more than a gig.. it is a celebration… a life affirming experience… truly the Church of the Pistoleros…
The band take the stage in their Pistolero cloaks… backs to audience.. .Gypsy Lee Pistolero spins round, face mainly hidden by the cloak and announces the band before Kerry and Shane spin round blasting into the opening song, “Church of the Pistoleros”… the band then shed the cloaks and with the audience already rocking launch into their full set… the band are visually mesmerising… watching how quickly Shanes make up runs down his cheek with the sweat… trying to keep up with the movement of Kerry on bass… while Shane is relatively still Kerry never stops.. bouncing around the stage with a permanent smile… and up front Gypsy Lee Pistolero is one of the most exciting and charismatic front men and singers around..
The band are Renegade Glam Punk Rock enigmas and are preposterous, epic and overblown… but beyond that, musically superb and absolutely rocking… by the time they play “Livin’ La Vida Loco” the atmosphere here is about fever pitch, and continues to build until the encore, their astounding version of “Come On Eileen” where Gypsy Lee swings the microphone round and has the audience singing along with the chorus,,, if not the whole song!
The pre-gig thrill and anticipation is always great.. by the time the band hit the stage it is peaking and as the band hit the stage and deliver a set of magnetic power and energy.. clearly loving playing together… loving the craic of the gig… audience and band feeding energy from each other.
I am a fully paid up member of the congregation.. the Gypsy Pistoleros are one of the very best bands around… definitely a must see for me.. .and a genuine favourite…
Join the Church!!!
James must be one of the most hardworking musicians on the scene, gigging constantly with his bassist and drummer.. but whatever the line-up the gig is about James…
James plays a guitar that looks about three sizes too small for him… but he sure can play it… he is a terrific musician and a real character… between songs a joke and witty quip will always be there.. but when the band are playing they are pure guitar rock gold… playing predominantly original material with some well chosen covers thrown in… often including “Desilu” and Dawson’s “American Cars”
Having seen James and his band a number of times, I know that not only is he a great musician but delivers a really great show… always loving playing and always ready with a funny comment… always worth seeing
JASON RINGENBERG
Jason visited from Nashville working now as a fully fledged country/americana singer songwriter and years fronting the superb Nashville rockers Jason and the Scorchers… I knew the Scorchers work but had heard any off the solo work so was keen to go and see what he is about now.
It proved a very good decision!!.. Jason came on looking all the way the part and went into his set… great voice and full of energy Jason started on a high and it didnt drop… not only does he write some superb songs, but his delivery is superb… he has a great voice and accompanies himself on acoustic guitar… playing with delicacy or greater power as the songs required, not only that he had a raft of tales and both entertaining and informative chat between songs, though he never overdid that…
The songs are whether rather muscular, political or more sensitive are high caliber.
Jason writes much about the road, his observations, and the native American Indian. For me one of the two most powerful songs in his repertoire was “I Rode with Crazy Horse”.. he explained he was fascinated by Crazy Horse and always wanted to write a song about him, and ended writing this epic, looking at the Chief through the eyes of one of his loyal supporters and friends, and it tells the story eloquently and powerfully… a superb piece
Another side of Jason’s writing deals with civil rights, and the other powerhouse song “The Freedom Rides Aint Free” deals passionately with the student movement to share buses with the coloured population, to fight for civil rights, despite knowing they would be beaten and imprisoned, or worse, for their acts… and incredibly powerful and emotional song, as with “Crazy Horse”, and indeed the rest of the set delivered with total passion and commitment.
Jason proved to be a superb performer as well as a great writer and singer, his solo work deserves to be more widely heard
JERRY JOSEPH
Jerry came to the Musician almost unheralded and unknown… he left a star!
Jerry has lived a full of adventure, trauma and addiction and poured his life-story heart out through his songs… a massively powerful performance with intense highly personal and often emotional lyrics outlining the pitfalls of addiction and the way he had lived his life… and also digs deeply to the core of love an politics he did it however with looking for pity or sympathy… he just told it as it is in all its detail.
A superb performance delivered by a man who has really been through so much and come out smiling… a performance to make you think… a performance that totally enthralled and kept you
hooked… would love to see this guy again, an exceptional performer
JOE D’URSO
Another American singer/songwriter, playing mainly americana/country style songs.. .but that doesn’t come close to it. My experience of Joe live has always been as a solo singer songwriter accompanying himself on acoustic guitar… but his alter-ego is leader of an americana/jersey shore rock’n’roll band… Stone Caravan. I haven’t seen the band but seeing Joe solo you realise with his charisma and power of performance he doesn’t need a band to generate excitement or power.
His songs are straightforward and powerful, always worth listening and his performance always strong and fully committed… and when he ends the show with his glorious anthemic number, “One Guitar” the energy levels and emotions on stage and in the audience goes through the roof… at the end of an already scintillating show Joe takes things up another level with this number… a wonderful climax to a terrific show
JOHN OTWAY & WILD WILLY BARRATT
Where do you start with these two… totally genuine English barmpots.
This really breaks down to three separate acts… Otway & Barrat, Otway solo and Otway Band… the style, content and comedy is virtually the same for all three… but lets think primarily of what is, I think, the original… Otway & Barratt
Throughout the show Otway delivers the vocals and guitar, as well as the body drums and theramin while Barratt plays guitar, fiddle, wheelie bin and bagpipes, while continually looking disdainfully at Otway.
Otway’s tour blurb says “25 Years and the set remains the same” and so it does… as do most of the jokes.. but however often you see them you will be laughing throughout… Barratt is actually a superb musician, both are consummate performers, have an almost impossible telepathy together and are totally barmy.
Barratt stands in front of a clothes rack with a series of guitars, lap steel, banjos, fiddles suspended from it, and the legendary Bagpuss bagpipes on the end… he also has a wheelie bin with a lid that appears to act as an effected pedal, usually with an insult written on the underside… he plays superbly but is always likely to pull out a saw and saw into a guitar, before beating it with a hammer… while Otway plays guitar and theramin… Otway just can’t simply play guitar or theremin… it is a whole pantomime of a performance, physical comedy at its best… but nothing to compare with “Body Parts” where he sticks an electronic drum pad in each of four trouser pockets and gyrates beating the pads like a madman producing a crazy rhythm.
Music and comedy dont always mix, but with Otway and Barratt it is an outrageous success every time… they use a roadie as a “prompt” for heckles… as in “there is a house… “… “Where is it John”… “In New Orleans…” ”What do they call it John”….
You never seee a below par performance, in whatever combination the totally shambolic professionalism always leads to a great show… musically excellent and simply hilarious from start to finish…
KOSSOFF/BAND PLAYS ON
As may be clear from the band’s name, the band feature the music of Free and Back Street Crawler, the bands the late great Paul Kossoff was involved in. The band features Terry Slesser, vocalist with Back Street Crawler and John Buckton, who was touted as Koss’s replacement in Free had they carried on…
The Band only play a mix of material by Free and Back Street Crawler, and they play them with power and great quality. Although Free had one of the best blues/rock singer around in Paul Rogers and an iconic guitar player in Paul Kossoff from the couple of times I got to see Free I found the first couple of times I saw this band I actually preferred them to the original band…
We knew how good a singer Terry Slesser is from Back Street Crawler’s output, and John Buckton proves to be an exceptional guitar player, in the Kossoff mould, which means they deliver authentic and quality versions of both bands material.. and rock mighty hard.
The downside is that neither of the original bands had a huge repertoire, although their were a good number of classics, there were also a good number of relatively bland pieces, which means Kossoff/Band Plays On have limited material to work with… the set barely changes from show to show and for me first couple of times I saw them I thought them great, but after that found I had seen them too often and was rather bored by the them.
LUCCA MAE
Neither I, nor anyone I know had the slightest idea who Lucca Mae was, but the promo material sounded interesting, and given that she was supported by Amy DX, (See the local Musicians post) decided to go… and it was a great decision!
Lucca came on with her band and proceeded to deliver an outstanding show. She writes most of the songs, and they are a consistently high quality, gentle and delicate and her voice pure and delicate… the band were also high class musicians playing with sensitivity and empathy throughout.
Lucca did play one cover in the set, most unexpectedly it was Peter Greens “Oh Well” which she and the band handled superbly… a very different arrangement to the Fleetwood Mac original.
The one disappointment was that the set was relatively short, Lucca is young and fairly new to the scene so they didn’t have much material stage ready.
None the less, a lovely performance by a singer and band who given a couple of the right breaks could become big…
MAGPIE ARC
A real folk supergroup featuring Nancy Kerr, Martin Simpson, Findlay Napier, Alex Hunter and Tom A Wright… though the second time I saw them Sam Carter was deputising for Martin due to illness
Sam had stepped in with only days notice and his performance was outstanding, it was hard to believe he was a short notice replacement as he fit into the band perfectly
The band all have enviable CV’s in the fold world and blend together seamlessly into a really high class band. Findlay has a great and powerful voice and sings out with massive assurance and spirit. Nancy has a gorgeous pure sweet voice and is a superb singer as well as magnificent fiddle player. Both Martin and Sam are fine singers and guitar players and put them all together with such a fine rhythm section and you have an exceptional band…
MAN OF THE WORLD
Also tagged as “The Music ofd Peter Green”… a band led by Remi Harris playing the Peter Green guitar stuff. I first saw Remi playing with a bassist, playing gypsy jazz on acoustic… he ended that set picking up an electric, announced he was shortly touring with the Peter Green show and played a superb interpretation of one of Peter’s hits.. I was sold!.. Had to see the band.
So when they were announced I got a ticket and went along full of hope and excitement and was settled at the front in great anticipation and wondering just what to expect… and what was delivered was an outstanding show.. .
Remi almost coyly standing in the shadows of the speakers while Tom Moore, who had played stand up bass in the gypsy jazz duo, playing outstanding electric bass guitar. At the back Shane Dixon plays drums but the vocal point of the band is singer Dave Small, a powerful and charismatic vocalist who also adds harp, tanbourine and congas
The band deliver the great Fleetwood Mac material… from the Peter Green era rather than touching the later flaccid era… and delivered their own twist got the material rather than copying the originals, this band are a creative outfit in their own right rather than a tribute band.
Their interpretations are very much in empathy with Peter Green;’s originals, but also uniquely their own performances… Remi is really the star, his guitar playing reaching the heights throughout while Dave sings powerfully and leaps around the stage blowing harp, banging a tambourine or pounding on the bongos…
This is a really great band, creative, musically brilliant and visually riveting.. they really reminded me how great Fleetwood Mac were anhad me reaching for the original albums each time I saw them
MARTIN CARTHY
Martin Carthy.. a total idol since the mid sixties… and booked to play at the Musician… no way I would miss this so I got my ticket early, and the excitement and anticipation grew by the day… on the day of the show I was a tad restless and arrived at the Musician early, to find a huge crowd already assembled and an almost reverent buzz of anticipation and excitement in the room…
In respect for Martins age… he was 83 at the time… he had been booked to do an hour, and local singer Andy Griffiths was booked to play a support set… and Andy played a great set!
At the interval I walked back to the bar to speak to a couple of friends who were there and suddenly found myself talking with Martin himself… now, Martin is a true great… a folk superstar… a legend… and a fully rounded god to me… so what did we talk about.. .well nothing… I was totally tongue tied… couldn’t think of anything to say (doesn’t happen often!!) So wandered back to my seat ready for the show…
Martin came on to a great reception and launched into his show… the voice unmistakable and barely changed over the years.. the guitar playing as fluent and brilliant as always… the song selection of course mainly traditional and perfectly selected… and the introductions to the songs informative and entertaining as ever. I and the audience loving every moment, every song…
Eventually Martin was ending a couple of songs mid-stream because he’d forgotten the words… and I notice a fair few in the audience looking at their watches. I couldn’t believe people could be bored, so it wasn’t until the promotor went to stage side and asked Martin to finish after the current song… he did one more because he felt the song in question was unsuitable as a closer… it was only as he finished and quit the stage I realised he had done around 2-1/2 hours, and people were having to leave for last buses!!…
For a solo artist, simply guitar and voice to do a 2-1/2 hour show, without a break is a tremendous feat, and to do it in your 80’s… unbelievable!!
Martin had delivered a superb set, despite a few forgotten verses towards the end, and for me he wound the clock back half a century to when I first saw him. My love for, and admiration of, Martin and indeed the whole family
Another totally unknown band, but Richard, Mike and I thought they were worth trying… so we went along.
In the room we settled and and Steve, the bass player, came and sat with us and chatted… before introducing us to Michale (the guitarist leader) and drummer Kris… Stever is English, Michael and Kris are American and look the epitome of a southern rock band… and all three proved to be lovely genuine people and great musicians.
They delivered a tremendous set of rock music and really had us bouncing throughout, after the show Steve joined us for a chat and we became friends…
A year on the band were back, sadly without Kris but with a new drummer, and as I entered Steve came straight over, shook my hand and gave me a hug… and again the three of us chatted with the band before and after the show… lovely bunch of guys… but sadly they didn’t pull enough people in to get a gig at the International (Musician 2)… hugely disappointing, they are a great band and deserve great success… but without a suitable venue for them in Leicester all we can do is follow on social media and wish them well.
MICHELL PFEIFFER & KULESH
Michell Pfeifer and Kulesh are an absolutely incredible vocal trio… but also include two outstanding duos.. .this section will consider all the options…
First of these acts I saw was Daria Kulesh.. a Russian folk singer… I knew nothing more that that, but it sounded interesting especially as Pete Morton was also on the bill.
I went along initially more out of interest than anything else and was in the room as Daria sat on a stool with a guitar and did her sound check… I was absolutely blown away by her voice.. When she played her set she played guitar on a few songs and shruti box on others… she also did some acappella songs. The whole set was absolutely beautiful… totally engaging and beautiful. I knew then I was going to be first in the queue whenever she was back in town… and I was!!
Fir subsequent visits she brought her piano accompanist, Marina Osman along and concentrated on her singing and shruti box. This time her performance was even more wonderful… she passionately told the stories of her homeland, where most of the population had been ethnically cleansed by Stalin in the mid forties… sang some simply magnificent songs about her late family and other people who had resisted the cleansing… and sang some traditional Russian folk songs… and whether singing in Russian or English the it didnt matter… her voice simply transfixes you…
Marina showed herself to be a simply wonderful pianist, adding so much to the beauty of the performance
In subsequent visits, after the invasion of Ukraine, her shows became even more emotional as she sang her traditional songs, her own wonderful songs and a couple of songs in Ukranian… ending with the most beautiful tender lullaby in Ukranian
It was around this time that Marina tragically lost her husband and withdrew from touring… but when she came back with Daria the whole show took on an even more emotional level… at one point, during a particularly beautiful song of Daria’s, Marina looked full of the joys of spring… but as the set neared its close, it was clear the emotion was telling on her… the final song was a piece that had an extra emotional context for both Daria and Marina… and indeed the audience…and sadly she found herself unable to continue… the whole audience felt for her. This was a hugely emotional climax to a superb and emotional performance… a night when no-one was left unmoved or untouched
The other duo is Paul Walker and Karen Pfeiffer… Paul is from Stoke, Karen from Germany… First time I saw the I thought that were wonderfulsongs and a fair few covers and traditional pieces…At one point Karen sat on the edge of the stage.. .inches from me.. and sang a stunning version of “Diamonds and Rust”, a song that has great meaning for me… I was misting over and and as she reached the verse about the Chelsea Hotel I could feel the moisture in my eyes…
I spoke to the couple afterwards, and found them to be beautiful people… At their next visit I walked into the room and Paul was on stage sound checking, he stopped and greeted me by name and Karen came over with a big hug… we had a chat and I reminded of the impact “Diamoonds and Rust” had on me… she asked if I’d rather she didnt sing it that night… no.. I’d be gutted if she didn’t… her rendition that night got me again.
From then I have seen the couple a few times and always found them to be warm, delightful and a joy to chat with and listen to… Karen has a stunning voice and sings beautifully… Paul is a great guitar player and their shows are always full of joy and and a total delight to see.
Some time during this period Daria and Karen teamed up with a superlative English traditional sing, Odette Michel, and the trio was born… they came together to sing a couple of songs after one of either Karen or Daria’s shows and they blew everyone away, and shortly afterwards they came back to do a full trio show… they started by each singing a solo pice to introduce themselves… mind you, Karen let Paul take the stage to perform a song….
The concert they performed was one of the most memorable emotional and beautiful shows ever… they sang song of joy, peace, hope and every positive emotion… Daria again spoke passionately about her history and the three produced tearjerking and wonderful harmonies, not least in “Where have all the Flowers Gone” where each sand a verse in her own language and joined together each singing in her own language… as well as Russian folk ballad “The Cossacks Bride” (known as “The Carnival is Over” as performed by the Seekers) and “Those were the Days”.. each bringing her own culture and history to the whole in a totally joyous demonstration of humanity and togetherness… stunning performances
Three ladies… Odette, Karen and Daria combining to provide an intimate beautiful passionate and inspiring whole…
MONICA AND THE EXPLOSION
A totally unknown name sharing a bill with some local artists in a free show at the Soundhouse… we had no idea what to expect, or how big the band would be… so were surprised when up stepped a small lady with an oversized guitar… we wondered what the Explosion might be… then she started and jeez… it was an explosion… playing powerhouse guitar and singing with emotion and power… Monica’s set was a real tour de force and a real explosion of talent and power… a total surprise to me and a truly thrilling experience…
Monica and the Explosion… so aptly named…
NATHAN BELL
Nathan is simply an outstanding musician, writer, raconteur and man.. .you will have to go a long way to find anyone better!!
He hails from Tennessee and has a background of hard work and playing music from his early days.. a totally honest and genuine working g man who is also a supreme musician.
Nathan’s songs cover a wide range of topics, they aren’t political in the party politics sense, but most of them relate to the human condition, human behaviour and absurdities, and all of them have a point and are magnificent. He doesn’t waste words, the songs are tough songs and make their points powerfully and eloquently. His voice and delivery is at times reminiscent of Springsteens solo work, not “prettying it up” with flowery words or lines.. you just know every word he delivers is totally from his whole being… and yes, that voice and singing is absolutely superb.
As a guitarist, he defies description.. .finger picking with power and energy the playing is absolutely breathtaking… not only technically brilliant, but hugely enjoyable, the playing always totally appropriate to the lyric..
Nathan sits on a chair, is totally relaxed and assured in everything he does, and between songs he is a superb story teller… he doesn’t do it, but I would gladly pay to hear an evening of Nathan telling his stories.. whether sad, critical or humourless… from the first time I saw him I treasure the tale he told of being in a queue , as a customer, in a record store. He says he could hear the guy behind the counter being very rude and patronising to the man he was serving. Nathan didnt like it!!.. He went to the counter, tore the man off a strip for his rudeness and sacked him… and this guy was the manager of the store… on the spot. Feeling bad about it next day Nathan returned to the store and asked to see the manager… the chap behind the counter said “sorry, he got sack by someone from Head Office yesterday!
So, having seen Nathan several times, each time delivering a truly breathtaking set… knowing g he is a magnificent writer, singer, guitarist and story teller… chat with him after a show and he is also a perfectly humble and delightful man.. .
Go see Nathan when you can… the man is absolutely brilliant!!
PAPA SHANGO
How in heavens name do you describe this bunch… first time I saw them I went with great trepidation having seen their promo material and all the insane things that go in a Shango gig…
Lets start with this… first time I saw them, having no real idea what to expect, I had been to see another band earlier in the day, and I saw one of their musicians in the room for Shango… I had a chat with her and found her a very nice and demure lady who also didnt know what to expect… I think neither of us expected half way through the gig to her be wrestling a guy in gorilla suit rolling around the floor as a guy in a giant banana outfit roller skated by…
Shango are not normal… mad as a box of frogs… on stage is a drum kit, a host of vocal mics and several boxes of stage props.. when the band come on there is a group of girls, backing singer, in basques and tights.. a vocalist in a Basque… a flautist in a slightly more modest outfit and a drummer…things start with a band and a shower of confetti fills the air from a couple of cannons… and the band appear… two guitarists and a bass player… who bounce around the audience throughout. After a few bars the gorilla and banana appear before Shango appears in top hat cape and nobbling stick growling away the lyrics…
And the lyrics.. this is not a group about to win poetry contests… the lyrics range from absurd to obscene and along with the props are hilarious.
For instance… the song “Master Baker” goes where, in this bands hands, you would expect it to go… “Looking down the Barrel” takes an unexpected line when it proves to be a biscuit barrel and the girls circulate handing out biscuits.. other songs see them attacking the audience with water pistols, squirts cream and other things…
Last time I saw them Shango introduced a song about water… asked where I was in the audience and said they were going to give me seeing to., one of the girls said “there he is” and next thing I knew was four women and Shango himself were surrounding me and attacking me with sponges.
A Papa Shango gig is more than a concert.. they are a rock band… circus act… burlesque… and a quite simply riveting experience. A band you find your self dancing to while laughing at the crazy antics going on.. .
Once you see a Shango gig, you will want to see them again and again.. they are an experience not to be missed… but dont go to see them if you aren’t prepared to be involved… that isn’t your choice!!
RICHARD STRANGE & LILYBUD
Sunday afternoon and a trip to the Musician to see Richard Strange… the one time frontman of the Doctors of Madnerss.
We arrived early, got a drink and sat down at the front table as ever and were chatting when a tall guy in a rather eccentric suit sat down with us to chat.. we spoke of Norfolk.. of Birdwatching.. of Wildlife and Nature… of this and that… thought”what a really lovely guy!”… He then said he was waiting for his daughter, and was a bit worried because she was playing the first set… he went to the door… came back… and seconds later his daughter appeared… he greeted her warmly… called her Lily.. .and then we realised we had been chatting for some 20 minutes with Richard Strange himself!!
He introduced us to Lilibud, who then went to finish setting up her kit. Richard got onto the stage to introduce Lilibud. When she started to sing we gasped… what a fabulous voice… and her songs touching to an huge extent had us moist eyed.. this was a simply beautiful set.. Lilibud was exceptional!!
After a short break Richard took the stage, he explained that todays show was music and storytelling, he would talk about his life and career and sing some relevant songs as he went along.
He started by announcing that he had now been banned for life twice but eh BBC… it seems Radio 4 Breakfast had heard that he had written a love song for Cherie Blair. He was asked to go in and sing it live on the breakfast show at 7.00 am.. he asked if they wanted to sound check or hear it before he played it live… they didnt want that… so he performed the song, called “You will Die|” … the song is far from a love song to Cherie and includes some choice language!!… the BBC were traumatised… the audience here found the song hilarious!!
From here Richard spoke openly, warmly and amusingly about his career…and my goodness has the man had a career!… musician, band leader, actor, writer.. .he has been deeply involved in just about every aspect of entertainment and excelled at most… he has also been involved in some unusual or severe accidents and incidents, all of which he spoke of with a welcome honesty…
He also did some lovely duets with Lilibud which really warmed the heart, and showed a lovely father/daughter relationship together..
During the performance I discovered I had seen him, and James Nesbitt, at the Haymarket theatre playing the gravediggers in an extended production of Hamlet.
Richard Strange is a delightful man… has had an incredible life and delivered a simply enthralling afternoons entertainment.,
Next time he played the Musician, he was standing near the front and we went to talk to him.. he said he was glad to see us back in the same seat for this show, and we requested “ You Will Die”. He said he hadn’t planned to do it but would fit it in if he could,
He had Lilybud as support again, but this time Clifford Slapper accompanied him on piano and again Lilybud sang some duets with him. This show however proved to be purely song.. a different type of show but equally enjoyable afternoon.
Midway through the second half he told Lilybud and Clifford they could have a break for a few minutes because he had had a request and was going to do it now… thanked us and played “You Will Die” … which again went down a storm!!
What a lovely pair of people… both absolutely delightful people and superb entertainers
Ridge is a singer/songwriter from Nashville, and I was introduced to his work by Nick Plews who plays bass with the band. For a year Ridge worked with Nick, Sean, Harris & Mark through studios and the internet…
Ridge came over to the UK IN August and met up with the band and with minimum rehearsal developed their set and embarked on a tour, mainly in Leicestershire, and I was able to get to four of the shows and hang out with the band… and with the regular support band, Wild Daisy & the Blackhearts…. Several members of both bands are friends and it was great to be able to do that.
Musically the initial Ridge Banks Wall of Sound gig was not great… mainly because of the appalling sound quality, where Ridge’s voice and guitar, as well as Sean’s harp were totally inaudible through the first 2/3 of the set… but we heard enough to know that there was a damn good band in there… and subsequent gigs, with proper sound mix and balance got better and better and proved themselves to be a high quality band… basically country/americana with hints of rock in there…
Ridge showed he has a great voice and is a fine guitar player as we’ll as writing some high quality songs, in particular the superb “Beautiful Mistake” and “Half a Mile from Normal”.
I got to see the band at an outdoor mini-festival, which was not a good showcase because of the fact that the soundman wasn’t doing his job, two regular music venues and a church.
The church gig was acoustic, with a minimal drum kit and no electric guitars where the sound was pure and clear…
For some of the gigs they had Niki Colwell-Evans , recently seen starring in Blood Brothers, along to sing a couple of songs, and in this band setting her voice really set the hairs on the back of your neck prickle.
The final gig was at the Real Ale Classroom, with immaculate sound, courtesy off Colin, and Niki singing lead on “Proud Mary” had the audience bouncing and the walls shaking… a stunning performance by all.
A band, clearly all great friends having a great time playing together and being together, and communicating totally with the audience, who got stronger and stronger with each performance…
A real quality band and I absolutely loved getting to see them multiple times and look forward to seeing them back next tour
SANDY DENNY PROJECT
Its hard to know how to describe this band… they do a two hour show featuring solely songs written by or featured by Sandy Denny, arguably the greatest English singer of folk/folk rock music, and certainly one of the finest writers… however they are not a tribute band, although they play the songs they do their own versions, always in empathy with Sandy’s recordings, but totally their own arrangement and versions.
The vocals are shared between three formidable singers, Sally Barker (guitar), Marion Fleetwood (guitar, fiddle) and Gemma. Shirley (originally Anna Ryder)all of whom have beautiful voices and sing wonderfully, and each of the three take lead on songs, They are supported by musicians with an enviable pedigree in the folk/folk-rock field… (PJ Wight (guitar), Mat Davies (Bass) and Mark Stevens (percussion)
They take us on a tour through Sandy’s songs, including her solo work, Fairport Convention and Fotheringay pieces, pacing the set perfectly and covering not only the cream of the catalogue, but some of the maybe less familiar numbers creating a beautifully balanced and superb concert.
Thja arrangements are often very different to Sandy’s recordings, but always respectful and empathetic with the lyrics…
I’m sure any lover of Sandy could predict a fair percentage of the set, but that in no way detracts from the impact or joy of the show. Inevitably they close with the iconic wonderful “Who Knows Where the Time Gose” where each of the singers takes a verse in turn to close a simply spellbinding show.
They do encore with the one song that Sandy didnt play… “White Dress” which was written by Swarb about Sandy
SONS OF LIBERTY
One of the great rock’n’roll bands on the road, the Sonbs of Liberty hail from Bristol and play Southern Rock.. .and they play it with conviction and authenticity.
First time I saw them I hadn’t heard of them, the the promotional blurb looked rather exciting and guitarist Andy looked the business with his hair and hat… often a tell-tale sign!
So I arrived, not really knowing what to expect and it was with interest and hoper rather than excitement.
When they hit the stage they looked like a typical American southernRock outfit… with twin guitarists Andy and Fred wearing western style hats and oozing confidence and the whole band owned the stage… they rocked out powerfully and the rhythm section of Steve (drums) and Mark (bass) powered away at the back driving the band…
Andy looks every inch the southern rocker.. .hair, hat, beard, ripped jeans… who wander around while delivering some superb guitar work, across the stage Fred, wearing a sleeveless vest and big hat runs around in circles, is forever moving and is riveting to watch… he also plays great guitar. At the front the singer, Russ, maybe doesn’t look as authentic, but he is a tremendous rock singer, prowling and bouncing around the stage and totally engages the audience…
This first experience of the band was a revelation… and made themselves a “must see” on any future dates.
They then returned annually and I was able to go knowing I was in for a great night, and they delivered in style every time… great band… very consistent and delivering great shows every time… one of the best and most enjoyed rock bands on the circuit
In the current climate few bands are attracting the numbers they should, and judging by the 2025 gig, the Sons of Liberty are experiencing the same issues.. .and there was talk of them folding as a result… however… the good news is that they are still going strong with a string of festival and club dates booked for the next year… it would have been tragic to lose this band… they are one of the most hard working, authentic and exciting bands around
STACIE COLLINS
Stacie will always have a place in my heart… after many years being able to get to live music, which I really missed, Mike persuaded me to go to the Musician to see a band he strongly recommended… that band was Stacie Collins with her band… and they blew me away!
They are a Nashville based rock’n’roll band in whichStacie sings and plays harp with her husband, also the song writer/producer alongside playing bass and accompanied bya superb guitarist and drummer… but to be honest.. it is Stacie you are focused on. Al’s bass playing is impeccable, and the rapport between him and Stacie clear to see, as it it with the other band members.
Stacie is perpetual motion on stage.. never stopping moving, even when at the microphone to sing… and covering miles on stage while blowing harp… she also has a love for roaming around in the audience playing and this first time having lost sight of her in the audience was concentrating on the band while she roamed, sang and blew her harp… she then scared me to death by appearing directly at my side belting out the song!!
Her harp playing is full of energy and sparkle and her singing so powerful and expressive making this band absolutely exceptional…
I was lucky enough to see her a few more times after this, and the standard was as high every time… a real favourite and a band you cant see too often…
Sadly, some time after I last saw her her husband/bass player died suddenly and Stacie gave up music for a career as a Flight Hosterss with an airline… however, in recent times there have been rumours of her doing some gigs… I hope she can get back to playing live and touring again…
STICK IN THE WHEEL
A folk/rock band I hadn’t’t heard of before, but they came with a glowing reputation and a relatively high ticket price so decided to give them a try…
Not one of my better decisions… they were a big name on the London cool trendy circuit which meant that their approach was, what I believe is referred to as “supercool”…
In fact “supercool” meant they were lethargic and looked miserable and bored throughout… it is hard to judge the music, it seemed equally lifeless and they aren’t a band I would ever want to see again…
THE BAND FROM COUNTY HELL
A new band to me, and it was a punt, I turned down a gig by Remi Harris/Man of the World to see them at Duffy’s because they sounded interesting….
I was standing in the room chatting with Andy, it it seemed we were there on our own… there were a few guys wandering around wearing fairly ragged jackets with BFCH or the name Band from County Hell painted on them… either devout fans or the band, was hard to tell…
Eventually the band, and indeed it was the guys who had been wandering around, took the stage… and all but filled it!! They lined up with drums, bass, guitar, mandolin and banjo.. .with a space for a second singer…
By the time the band had sorted themselves out and ready to start the room was packed and buzzing!
The singer hopped onto the stage android they were starting with an instrumental, and as they were playing in an Irish pub they would do a few Pogues songs as well… that went down well…
Without delay the band were in top gear and the tunes were crashing through the room like a juggernaut and half the crowd was already whooping and dancing… the temperature was rising and the atmosphere becoming electric… by the time the first half ended everyone in the room was moving, dancing and whooping….
The interval came as a relief to gather the wits and settle for a wit… then the second half started where the first left off and build and built… starting with a gentle Presley song followed by a more raucous song about him… then things really exploded… the band shifted up another gear to two and as they powered along through a raft of traditional and original material the audience was reeling all around the room,… huge smiles and whoops everywhere…
The did slow down briefly as Jock’s wife Julie announced a song she had actually performed with Shane MaGowan… “Dirty Old Town”… which of course everyone knew and sang along with before the tempo and heat went up to 11 again and they stormed through the final numbers, ending curiously with a quiet version of Rod Stewart’s “I don't want to talk about it” (I think… may’ve been a different song!) Before encoring with another glorious Celtic rave which left everyone dazed and whirling at the end…
This band is something else… the Pogues on speed may give you an idea… but they are a powerhouse… massively high octane Celtic folk rock’n’roll which just about melted any steel on the room.. not a band to miss… musically superb and and leave you on a high…
THE DAMN TRUTH
I must admit I am including this band partly as a vanity thing… having been at the gig with Hannah we chatted with the band after the show and parted… now Hannah leads her band, Wild Daisy & the Blackhearts, they often play the Damn Truth song, Only Love, and frequently dedicate the song to me….
But that is by the by… I didnt know the name of the Damn Truth but the promotional blurb looked interesting and a good hard rocking band was something I fancied seeing.
The Damn Truth were visiting from Canada and it seems blazing a trail along the grass roots circuit. They hit the stage looking ready for business and blasted into their set with a slice of powerful rock… Dave on drums pounding away while PY’s bass was pumping forming a powerhouse rhythm section driving things… Tom, the guitar player, was outstanding playing superbly, but up front, the singer and occasional guitar player, Lee-La was riveting… fabulous massive voice , the definition of a great rock band singer.
The rapport among the band was clear for all to see and the connection with the audience total… they had the audience bouncing from the off and the energy never let up.
The band played as a tight ensemble, but left room for the individual musicians to take the spotlight and solo, but not the long self-indulgent solos that blight so many rock gigs, they were relatively short, crisp and high quality, and at a couple of points Tom walked off stage into the audience while playing.
Overall,, the band rock like fury, driving hard rock but with some real melodies and tunes rather than the often heard unremitting screaming… a very high class rock band clearly destined for greater things and certainly now they are moving in higher circles… a band I’d love to see again and again… they were simply outstanding…
To finish the evening, chatting with Hannah and the band members, getting a hug from a sweat soaked Lee-La!!
The MILKMEN
A possibly unlikely band name, and they come on stage to to the strains of Benny Hill’s “Ernie”… the band take their music deadly seriously, but play for fun… and watching them it is clear they have a ball playing and have the audience with them from the start…
The band has a hell of a pedigree…bass player Lloyd Green is a former Pirate, and the son of legendary Pirates guitarist Mick Green. On drums is Mike Roberts, the Beau Brummel of the band and also a former member of the Pirates. Guitarist Adam Norsworthy was playing in many bands, along with a solo career previously and up front singer Jamie Sly, also with a long track record of singing with bands… put the four together and there is a wealth of experience and quality music behind them, and they bring it together with great joy forming a superb R&B band… very much the band Dr Feelgood should have been!
A Milkmen show is always great music, great fun and a total pleasure, they are one of the best live bands around. They deliver primarily original songs, but include well chosen covers, often including “Pinball Wizard” “Summertime Blues” and Peter Green’s “Oh Well” during which Adam, Jamie and Lloydstand shoulder to shoulder at the front while Mike abandons his suit jacked and bounces into the crowd playing tambouring and grinning incessantly…
Four incredibly good musicians blending into a superb whole… and totally captivating and exciting band to watch… and a band who fully understand that rock’n’roll is meant to be fun… and appear to be playing for the pure joy of it…
A “must see” band for anyone who loves their rock music
WARNER E HODGES
Warner is more than a guitar player/singer… he has a track record involving playing with the Georgia Satellites, Jason and the Scorchers and Dan Bairds Homemade Sin… 3 of the really great rock bands…
First time I saw him was with his own band…and he blew me and everyone else away… he is the definition of a Nashville rock’n’roll player.. He arrives in the hall in his regular day clothes usually carrying a plastic carrier bag and emerges at show time with a hat, flamboyant waistcoat, jeans and spurs on his boots… invariably with a broad beam on his face…
He doesn’t mess around, a greeting and he is straight into the first song.. .his guitar playing full of fire, melody and incredibly fluent… most of the material is original, but call out a request and he will almost certainly play it.. .including “War Pigs” and Merle Haggard songs… Warner is fairly static at the microphone despite ripping out music that you cannot stand still to.. .he and the band rock for the whole show.
To Warners left is Jason Knight, bass player extraordinaire, who never stands still, virtually doing gymnastics while pounding out the bass… in fact I have stood near him at a Dan Baird gig, and he is exactly he same as an audience member!..
The band is completed by a drummer and second guitar player both of whom simply play brilliantly throughout completing a truly wonderful rock band
Warner does chat between songs, often with tales of other Nashville rockers such as Dan, Jason and Stacie, and a bit about the songs… He never seems to have a rigid set list and will go off at tangents with different songs which the band have to adapt to… and they are all so well attuned that it all seems fairly organised anyway…
Warner does have one regular move which he pulls a couple of times in each set, where he pushes the guitar from the end of the fretboard so it swings right around his neck and as it comes back to where it starts he continues playing without a seconds delay.. .
A typical Warner set will see him rocking hard til about 4 numbers from the end when he will play something a bit calmer, before setting off into a hell-for-leather final few songs… invariably ending with John Denvers \”Country Roads”… but not as John did it… it is fully fledged high octane rovck’n’roll withe the entire audience adding backing vocals, a totally joyous upbeat end to a fabulous show.
WHITE ESKIMO
I include this band for one reason, and one reason only… the are absolutely the worst band I ever saw at the Musician…
They seemed to think they were the Jam.. .and played loud enough, they thought, to hide their total lack of ability… it didnt work!!
TRIBUTE BANDS
In the current climate so many people are unwilling to venture out to see new music… to take a chance on new names… most will do a few stadium/arena gigs and a couple of festivals… in each case predominantly for the main attractions, the big familiar names… the unknowns can be neglected…
The exceptions seem to be tribute bands… bands impersonating artists/bands who are long gone, or where ticket prices are in the hundreds of pounds for an arena.. beyond most music fans pocket… and for me a totally unappealing thing.. .seeing the artist from a long way away on screens above the stage… but tribute bands are big business on the grass roots circuit. The value of a tribute band maybe depends on your view of the original.. if you don’t particularly like the original the tribute act isn’t going to do much for you… but if they are tribute to someone you love but can’t now see, they can be great.. .I have seen a fair number of tribute bands ranging from the poor, the indifferent and the outstanding…
Here I want to namecheck the 10 tribute bands I will go to see at any opportunity… each one authentically reproducing the music of the originals and delivering really top class shows… the material you will know, but these bands deliver it all superbly and with huge love and respect for the original artists.
They are in alphabetical order, but I dont think I need to show who they are tributes to…
THER BOOTLEG BOSS
CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIEW
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