TalkAwhile - The Folk Corporation Forum

I saw Soft Machine in Lichfield this year (Or maybe last year, I can't remember.) and they were amazing. The last time I saw them was when they had a pointless 'legacy' attached to the name and did a gig in Coventry Cathedral ruins for the jazz festival. Hugh Hopper and John Marshall were still in the lineup.

Last night, I enjoyed a very nostalgic evening with the Allman Betts Band at ACL Live. This is Devon Allman and Duane Betts, who look, play, and sing very much like their fathers. They have organized an annual celebration of the Allman Brothers Band, bringing along a parade of supporting artists (this time including the legendary Jimmy Hall, Amanda Shires, and Austin's own Eric Johnson).

I closed my eyes and imagined I was at a genuine Allman Brothers show. It was a wonderful experience, and although "tribute" bands are not my thing, this one has an incredible pedigree and chops to back it up.

When it comes to The ELO we really love 10cclo who we saw recently.  A great night with a fairly even split between to two bands.  Well recommended.

Henry Parker & Katie Spencer in Hull Saturday 20th Dec
Very good night , Henry did a cover of an old song that Shirley Collins's  first husband wrote , whilst Katie did a brand new song , both were really, really good
Henry is such a talented acoustic guitar player , even "Leeds Polka" went down OK , in deepest Hull , brave song choice

Bootleg Blondie in Hull last night , played for over 2 hours , many songs I didn't know or remember , great fun and so much more than a tribute

The Unthanks (Big Band) at the Bridgewater Hall last night with the Royal Northern Sinfonia.  28 people on stage...so God knows how they make much cash at under £40 a pop, but good on them.

Just absolutely gorgeous as you'd imagine.  There was quite a lot of emotion around (my Sue's Pa died a couple of weeks ago) so tissues were required at times.  Just very occasionally the subtlety of the band got lost but overall I'd say it was a resounding success.

My favourite live band of the moment by a country mile (although if pushed, I'd probably choose to see the 4/5 piece in a small venue like the Trades Club....

Twas an amazing evening.  As you say it was definitely a crying night, I've never seen anyone so nervous walking onto a stage as Rachel was.  A few really deep breaths, but she soon relaxed into it.

I was in the 2nd row of the Circle and even from there you could tell Rachel was nervous from the way she was talking.  There were a few brief moments when it felt like Becky's band, I thought.  She seems calmness personified.  It all turned out well in the end.  I loved it.  Good to see Chris and his crazy beard back with them - I miss it when he's not present.

Dominie Hooper at More Music in Morecambe last night. I'd seen her a couple of years ago supporting This Is The Kit and enjoyed her set, especially her cello playing. She released her debut album last year and that was what she played last night - the album from start to finish and no encore.

So quite a short concert but she pretty much filled the venue and tickets were only a tenner. More Music do a lot in the local community and one of their singing groups of youngsters joined Dominie and her band on stage for a couple of numbers which worked well.

They're off up to Glasgow today and are playing Manchester next week.  

The latest incarnation of Ten Years After at the very wonderful Barnoldswick Music and Arts Centre yesterday. Ideal Cropredy band.

Down to just Ric now, I think?  I saw the original lineup at the Reading Festival in 1983, and I thought they were, lets just say, 'unexciting'.  I think there's an album of it somewhere....  Lovely venue!

West Coast Folk Festival last weekend in Blackpool.

Very Good - Blackbeard's Tea Party

Good - Nick Harper, Seth Lakeman, TRADarr (who were short staffed), Baskary, Louise & Chris Rogan and Hazjak(?).

Could Do Better - Honey & The Bear (dull to my ears although they seemed very nice people), Jon Boden (he's never been my thing) and Webb Sisters (who I didn't get last time and my opinion wasn't any different this time).

Well run festival without any drama - roll on to the fourth.

Sorry to hear it - we saw The Webb Sisters with Leonard Cohen (twice) and Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers. All three times, they were very welcome presences on stage. LC gave them mid-concert minisets each time, which were bewitching and well-received. I wish they'd come to the States again in some form or fashion.

Glad you enjoyed Hazjak. Used to catch them regularly when I live in West Yorkshire. Always a lot of fun. You've reminded me that I still haven't bought their second album.

The fellow from the duo, Steve Chapman-Smith, was, I believe, the original bassist for Red Lorry Yellow Lorry though he'd left by the time they released their first album.

Thanks John, The Webb Sisters can certainly sing and are pleasant and unoffensive but that maybe is the point?

We saw Nick  Harper locally on Sunday and it was really quite surreal. My bestie is unable to go to many gigs as his wife is confined to bed/wheelchair with Parkinsons and he is full time carer .We went for a stroll with them last week and stopped at a cafe and noticed on our phone that Nick was playing at a craft ale bar within walking distance of home. As my friend was a big fan of Roy , he showed interest . Mrs Reg pipes up Nick will bring me to sit for your wife and give you a lift (they are 30 minutes away ie 2 hours driving all told). I was happy to oblige as he needed a break. However it was sold out(only 80 capacity) but he managed to get 2 returns at £13 (instead of £20 ). It was billed as Doors 7 PM , start 8 PM with 2 x 45 minutes sets, playing music from the recent album featuring songs by all the folkies who had visited Roy's flat in the sixties . We arrived at 7.15 to be told by the doorlady that he had been playing for a while already, he had done a soundcheck and just kept going doing stuff not related to the main sets and chatting. He was wearing a flat cap, scarf and coat and sat on a low settee with a table from Roy's old flat complete with lava lamp and "herb box" (which we were invited to touch in reverence). At 7.45 he asked for a Tequila as he got nervous before gigs. He was formally announced at 8PM and played for about two and a half hours!! The main set was all songs by the old folkies , some of whom were on the album ( and pictured on the backdrop) Davy Graham , Bert and John, Jackson c Frank , Roy, Sandy Denny and some not Paul Simon, Bolan, Bowie, John Martyn etc. Anji was featured of course, (recorded by at least 3 of the forementioned) and he claimed that the original recording was financed by Bob Monkhouse. The last song before the encores was WKWTTG. The anecdotes were highly interesting and amusing. One of the most rewarding 13 quids I've ever spent.

I was recently bought the CD of Nick's 58 Fordwych Rd show. It's really very good indeed.

Jules

The only time I have ever heard Nick Harper was when he played Cropredy (2004, I think), and all I can recall is that I absolutely hated it!

I thought he was awful at Cropredy, the Zappa song didnt help, but I have enjoyed him every time since.

Agreed, "Titties and Beer" was not a Cropredy song, really.

This sounds like a truly special evening, such a bit of luck getting those tickets and precious time with your friend!

Glad to hear it wasn't just me, but maybe I will give him another chance if he comes near some time. Not that I think I have had to go far out of my way to ignore him in the past 20 years...

My daughter and her friend saw Nick Harper quite a few years ago. They both loved him. They told me how he broke a guitar string and carried on playing while changing the string, which sounded remarkable. Anyway, a year or so later, I got the chance to see him. He broke a string and carried on playing while he changed it. I thought, 'hang on!' Anyway, it seems that was his party piece. Other than that, I enjoyed the gig, but I've never felt compelled to see him again, or buy any of his CDs.

It is indeed his party piece. He did it the only time I saw him play too. But hell, it's a great party piece.

Jules

I thought he was amazing at Cropredy 2004 (my first one!) but there you go...!

I really enjoyed him too (although was very familiar with him by then so knew I would).  Horses for courses and all that...

It was also my first Cropredy and we enjoyed him, but we were a bit giddy with it all!!  ::)

I’ve seen him twice since and enjoyed him but I doubt I’ll go to see him again.

First gig of the year last Saturday was the incredible Barsteward Sons of Val Doonican. More Val offspring have been discovered and they are now a 5-piece.

What an evening! No wonder they are selling out  :D energy, superb musician-&-wordship, hilarious. What a night!

A belated Xmas present from MrsB was a trip over to Gateshead to see the Transatlantic Sessions at the Glasshouse, formerly the Sage.

The house band included McGoldrick, McCusker and Doyle plus the ever present Aly Bain, Donald Shaw and James Mackintosh with Jerry Douglas doing the between-songs patter and adding his fine dobro playing. The younger generation was represented by bluegrass duo Tatiana Hargreaves & Allison de Groot. Their album Hurricane Clarice is well worth a listen if banjo and fiddle music is your bag.

Of the guest singers Karine Polwart was the best of the bunch and there was a lovely tribute to Danny Thompson written (I think) by Michael McGoldrick and featured new double bass player Daniel Kimbro. Whether it was by accident or design that they got another bass player called Danny I don't know, but Mr Kimbro is certainly a worthy replacement and has a nice sense of humour as we discovered when he got to sing a song with a borrowed guitar.

Fun weekend just gone with Skyclad (the inventors of folk-metal and surely a Saturday teatime shoe-in for Cropredy), a Queen tribute (very cheap tickets) and blues legend John Verity (who I have genuinely been trying to see for over 30 years and never managed it).  Forgotten just how good Skyclad are.

Cohen B-K was on fine form last night in Launceston.  A good start to the year's concert going.

Sunday night I saw Warren Haynes at the Paramount Theater. He played solo, without a band, for two hours. He mixed Allman Brothers and Gov't Mule tunes with solo compositions and a smattering of well-chosen covers, including a magnificent rendition of "He Ain't Give You None" (sounding very much like Van Morrison). Because of the format, we didn't get a lot of guitar solos. This was clearly his intention, though maybe a few shredders in the audience would have been disappointed. Some of the shows from this tour are streaming on nugs.net, so I recommend a listen.

Monday night we saw Emmylou Harris at the same venue. Although it was billed as an evening with EH, it was in reality a guitar circle with Emmylou, Verlon Thompson and Shawn Camp, performing the music of Guy Clark. I was unfamiliar with Verlon and Shawn, both of whom are skilled players and singers with long-standing connections to Guy. Their stories and choices of material were clearly honed over years of performance. Emmylou was kind of tacked on. She added high harmony to a number of songs, told stories of her own, and contributed verses to some tunes (aided by lyric sheets). Altogether, it was a loving and musically rewarding tribute to a mercurial songwriter.

Did he play any Grateful Dead?

Indeed he did! He opened with “Cassidy” by Bob Weir and closed with a GD song whose title I forget but is at setlist.fm

At a local craft ale bar (capacity 80) The Guilty Men, 5 piece, featuring Clive Gregson, Paul Burgess on drums, and two long time members of John Lees' Barclay James Harvest, didnt know the other guitarist, Neil Cossar , but he was very good. Fantastic gig, two and a half hours, great songs , only one of which wasnt recent and the musicianship goes without saying. 4 singers too. Catch them if you can . They are headlining a small local fund raising festival in August so I will be.

Thanks for the reminder Nick, I earmarked them in my diary as they’re in Colchester soon.

I was sorry to have missed them last year when they played locally, but I was away at the time.  Hopefully they might come back again.

Sound of the Sirens were very good last Friday - I hadn't seen them since Cropredy (8 years ago now, I think?), but they are just as good, if not better.

Blackbeard's Tea Party a week before were a little more disappointing, I felt.  The very poor turnout probably didn't help, but I felt it took a while for them to get into the groove - I was struggling to pull the tunes out of the noise and energy, but when they did break through, they were fine.

Wille and the Bandits at Acapela on Wednesday, first time since they played Cropredy 10 years ago. Definitely worth going to see, tons of energy and the new proggy keyboard player was right up my street  ;D

As Cornish lads fond of a bit of surfing, they're rightly concerned about sewage disposal into the sea and have written a song about it: https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=8b59G7Uoq-w&si=kH1SsbszFW6Ophnx

Bob Fox was in good form at Launceston Folk Club last night, despite fighting off a virus of some sort. Could hear it a little in his voice by the end of the show, but it was a good concert, with some fun stories between songs as well.

Saw them in Nottingham Sunday night with Pastie Boy and girl! I thought i might be disappointed as I'm not 100% sure of their new album. However they rocked it! Better than their gig last year for me! Yes totally different line up now from when they played Cropredy, apart of course from Will!

I’d love to see them back at Cropredy. Huge energy!

Fabulous singer and very good acoustic player. It's great he is still playing and singing and I always enjoy seeing him perform solo or in various combos.

Went to see Gong + Henge in Liverpool on Saturday. I didn't enjoy Henge so much, but I was definitely in the minority. Gong on the other hand were phenomenal. My mate has previously asked me to go see them a few times but I'm not much of a fan having only listened to Flying Teapot, and although I like it I've never felt the need to investigate further. He recently suggested some songs by the current incarnation plus Master Builder from You and I was converted. The new album (Bright Spirit) is very good, but admittedly I'm approaching with very few preconceptions so if you're a fan of a previous era of the band your viewpoint might be different.

Not exactly a gig

The stage version of I Daniel Blake,  at Northern Stage.

Different from the film but just as heartbreaking.

Saw this pairing recently in Bristol. Agree that Henge was the weaker of the two, but the young folks seemed to reall like them.

Next generation Gong were ok and very proficient, but for me, did not compare favourably with the 'classic' 70s incarnations in spirit.

Not seen Henge but my mates adore them.  "Ok and very proficient" is about as far as I'll go too, I'm afraid.  I like Kavus's other work, so it's not that.  Personally, it's just not Gong-like enough to be Gong.  For me....

Some weeks ago someone sent me a message on FB with a link to a Soft Machine gig in Coventry, at the Albany Club in Earlsdon, about a 10 minute walk from where I live. So I thought it would be rude not to go.

Venue was very busy, with not enough tables/chairs out, and after a bit of chaos the organiser admitted he'd never been so busy and this was the best turnout for the Jazz Club he'd ever seen.

They were excellent, playing a lot of new stuff and some classics, including Facelift, Joy of Toy, and Hazard Profile.

I've got Fairport in Leamington on Sunday, then it was supposed to be Yes at the end of the month, but it's been postponed.
Jethro Tull in May. I notice my local venue has Steeleye Span and a version of Lindisfarne later this year (Last time I saw them it was with the Strawbs supporting them at Birmingham Symphony Hall.

How much of it got played (i.e. just Part One, I'm guessing)?  Probably my favourite Soft Machine track from my favourite Soft Machine album (which normally makes other Canterbury fans guffaw....

There were some odd things going on with this topic, so I split the topic this morning and left this year's contributions.

Let me know of any issues from hereon.

First time seeing Martin Stephenson and the Daintees. Had only known him from the early albums and Best Of, so it was a bit of a surprise that he was so idiosyncratic- lots of non sequiturs and stream of consciousness. Could have played so many more songs than he did! Still, very much a one off and I thoroughly enjoyed the evening. Great guitarist too - Gary Dunn?

Fairport were outstanding in Harrogate, the other night. We had a slightly different setlist to other nights on the tour, with Banbury Fair being dropped in favour of Moondust & Solitude which was aired as a tribute to the Artemis space flight. Didn't mind too much. I like both songs.

Other highlights included Ye Mariners All, Spring Song, Claudy Banks, Flowers Of The Forest and, of course, Sloth, which continues to go from strength to strength. If fairness though, the setlist was strong thoughout & the band was in top form.

Also brilliant in Lytham tonight. Great to hear Chris playing more fiddle than in recent years, have missed the twin fiddle attack. Lovely arrangement of Fotheringay and really enjoyed hearing Flowers of the Forest flyer so long. Good to catch up with Peggy again.

John Bramwell in Thornton Hough yesterday afternoon.

Exactly as he always is - engaging, fun, moving and utterly bloody brilliant (hugely underrated acoustic guitarist)

Fairport in the magnificent Guildhall in Derry last night. As good as ever. I was only disappointed after reading on here and expecting it that there was no Sloth or Flowers of the Forest...but hey, there was more than enough there for me. (Oh, and no support - I was looking forward to Jen.)

No harm on Peggy, but from the hundreds of instrumental sets at their disposal, I don't understand why they keep doing Bankruptured for so long...It's beyond time for a change. But hey, minor quibbles, a great night. WKWTTG got a standing ovation of it own...

I took a friend with no real knowledge but an open mind and he gave them 8 out of 10, which if you knew him really translates as an 11. Proper order

Steeleye in the Lowther Pavilion in Lytham. Good solid set, mixture from throughout the band’s catalogue. Only knew Maddy P and Julian L, but rest of the band fitted in well. (Liam apparently recovering from an op so new drummer sitting in). Missed Thomas the Rhymer but enjoyed Cold Haily Windy Night and an excellent Tam Lin, so overall a very enjoyable evening.

A few excellent shows within walking distance of home, over the last few weeks:

1. Lindisfarne were fantastic . Nicely balanced setlist. All the songs you'd expect but plenty of strong album tracks from across their/Alan's career too. Also good to see Nineties touring bassist, Steve Cunningham, back in the fold.

2. Dark And Twisties, a new-ish Swansea-based contemporary folk band, featuring former members of The Rag Foundation and Lost Tuesday Society. They managed to easily replicate the intricate arrangements and sublime harmonies of their debut album, Ungrateful Women and also threw in an invigorated version of CSNY's Our House, for good measure. Brecon's own premier folk-rockers, Enw, played a terrific opening set too.

3. Liz Jones & The Broken Windows, from Edinburgh had a great rapport with the crowd and if I wasn't as sold on the sonwriting as most of the atendees, I still had an enjoyable evening.

4. Nadav Tabak, a New Zealander now based in France, on his first UK tour. He uses guitar, electronic percussion and looping pedals to creat amient/trance soundscapes. I would have told you that wasn't my bag but I had a splendid evening.

Brown Horse at The Church in Ipswich - one of a network of local venues maintained by Brighten the Corners, a local arts enterprise who have breathed new life into the town’s original music scene. Back to the gig, BH are a Norfolk-based alt-country/Americana band garnering four star reviews and nine out of tens across the board and are shortly off to tour the states. I guess it’s me then, because I thought they were the most profoundly average band I’ve ever seen. Not poor, not great (the penultimate songs was quite the epic, I will say) but so thoroughly unmoving that I almost felt bad about myself for what I must have been missing.

Never seen Brown Horse live but I thought their debut album, Reservoir, was a good listen. They haven't reinvented the country-rock wheel but the songs were pretty enjoyable. Shame that didn't come across on stage.

Intrigued by this review...as I have been by all the glowing 4/5 star reviews over the last few years. I've tried to find what it is that's so brilliant about them but so far singularly failed. Maybe I'll stop trying now.

It's also my favourite SM album along with Third. They just did part 1, but it was altered quite a bit from the album.

An excellent evening in the company of John Kirkpatrick, Sue Harris and Benji Kirkpatrick at Menter Rhosygilwen, Cilgerran.

Legendary talent on display and a lovely venue.

Also picked up Benji's Hendrix Songs and John & Sue's Live at Wyeside CDs.

What's that instrument that Sue is playing, Andy?

Jules

Not a music   gig, but To Kill a Mockingbird at the theatre.   Excellent.

Hammered Dulcimer.

Ah yes, that makes sense. Thanks, fella.

Jules

Mrs. J From A gave me a hammered dulcimer for my birthday some years ago. Not only can I not play it, but I can’t even tune it.

Don't try an autoharp, then!

Maybe a sober dulcimer would be easier to play.  ;D

Even if you're hammered.

Jules

Lindisfarne on Saturday night in Exmouth. As was mentioned recently, nothing new (their last album was released 24 years ago, I think), although there were a few Alan Hull solo songs I didn't know, but well played and most of the classics were played, providing a good evening's entertainment. I wouldn't be in a hurry to see them again, but then the last time I saw them was in about 1985, and if they should turn up at Cropredy I'd certainly not complain.

Melissa Etheridge, last night at ACL Live!

Mrs. J From A and I discovered Melissa some years into her career, when she released "Yes I Am" and opened for the Eagles on the Hell Freezes Over Tour in 1994. We vividly recall her performance in San Antonio, with this huge voice absolutely filling the massive Alamodome. Not coincidentally, that album provided her commercial breakthrough, with at least three all-time classics ("Come To My Window," "If I Wanted To," and "I'm The Only One"). Her set was punctuated with long, sustained notes that repeatedly brought the audience to their feet.

I perceive that her voice has lost some power since then, but the quality of her songs and her stage presence remain undeniable. One of the best songs was the title cut from her latest album, "Rise." Her fans are positively rabid. At the conclusion of the show, she stepped into the audience and continued singing while embracing several of the women who surged forward. It was a lovely evening with an artist of rare talent.

Sunny Afternoon, the Kinks musical, at the Grand in Blackpool. Originally saw the first End run some years ago and this is an excellent revival. The cast who play the Kinks are all great, especially Ray D. They could easily do a tribute act tour. Pleased that they use not just the hits but also some of the lesser known tracks. All reinforces what a superb songwriter he was/is.

I'm a great  Melissa fan. She did a session i heard on the radio in the 90s. I've enjoyed all of her albums  though i don"t care for the production on all of them.
Haven't got Rise yet.  

The Unthanks with their big band last night at Lancaster's Grand Theatre.

The first few numbers were as a 4-piece of Rachel and Becky with Adrain McNally on piano and Niopha Keegan on fiddle and harmony vocals. The three of them singing together was just beautiful. Niopha then joined three other string players and one highlight was hearing The Testimony of Patience Kershaw with the string quartet backing.

As MrsB commented, they do like having a lot of trumpet solos and while Lizzie Jones is certainly a very good trumpeter, it did get a bit excessive during the first set. We both enjoyed the second set more which included Magpie / The Scarecrow Knows, The King of Rome and The Great Silkie of Sule Skerry.

Throw in a bit of clog dancing and they got a standing ovation at the end though the encore was spoiled a bit when the lights on the stage were directed right in our faces up in the circle. The lights had been very effective earlier when they shone on the theatre ceiling but the encore rather took the shine off things, so to speak.

The expanded line-up plays in Bristol tonight and then the four of them carry on with the rest of the tour.

It's been a roots music extravaganza for me this weekend.

Friday, Los Lobos at the Paramount! The Lobos played a typically brilliant set, including covers ("Feelin' Alright?" and "Dear Mr. Fantasy" for Dave Mason, and "She's About a Mover" for Augie Meyers) dedicated to recently deceased musical heroes. Long may they wave.

Last night, Rhiannon Giddens at Bass! She may be the most prodigiously talented performer I've ever seen. Rhiannon plays banjo and fiddle with virtuosity, sings with operatic dexterity and range, and even danced for us during a Louisiana-inspired Cajun number. She also deeply explores the roots of American music, playing 18th- and 19th-century traditional songs, gospel, blues, and early 20th-century jazz.

These great artists are worthy of your time, if you get the chance to catch them live.

Thanks Colin.  Looking forward to seeing them for the first time in a couple of weeks' time when they close the Bude Literary Festival.

Back on topic, John Jones, Chopper and Al Scott were very good on Sunday night in Exeter.  A lot of old Oysters songs (although surprisingly to me, most not from Chopper's time in the band), going all the way back to Hal-An-Tow, as well as a few from John and Chopper's solo albums.

The Claire Hamill  Band.

Playing a rock set to a small audience in a small venue.  Claire has had a long and varied career , including work with Wishbone Ash. Her voice is as clear as ever, and the band were  very good. I was in 2 minds about going, and i'm glad i decided to.
Her debut album One House Left Standing, has just had a  55th  anniversary reissue.

Two gigs on successive nights at the same venue (Theatre in the round, Newcastle). Albert Lee , playing as good as ever but voice slightly fading . The mini set at the piano was just sublime.
Second night Blockheads, stormed the place . Due to the layout their was much interacting between band and audience and both were loving it. Never seen so many pensioners screaming out Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll. Reading his bio , had doubts about the new singer, but he fitted great. Any band with Mickey Gallagher has a massive head start.

I saw Albert Lee on Saturday in Manchester. I thought his voice was quite strong especially for an 82 year old. I'm sure when I last saw him he played Too Young Too Die on guitar, but like you I enjoyed the piano set.

My turn for Albert Lee tonight in Lytham. Agree his voice is not that strong but he is in his early 80s after all, and his guitar playing more than makes up for it. I first saw him with Clapton in 1980 and he is still wonderful.

Last night something completely different- the Sound of Springsteen in Blackpool. If there is a better tribute band around, I have yet to hear them. Bruce is unlikely to be over this year so this will do just nicely in the meantime.

I've had an unusual (for me, at least) 3 gigs in 5 days. All good, and quite different.

Steeleye Span in Exeter on Wednesday night were excellent - it's the first time I have seen them with Athena on violin.

On Friday evening we went to see Gilmore & Roberts in the tiny Church House in South Tawton - an ancient stone building with probably no more than 50 of us packed in for a totally acoustic concert. No amps or mics. They did a great job.

And then last night we went to see The Unthanks (4 piece version) in Bude.  Despite a piano that was going out of tune as the concert went on, they were excellent as well.  The first time I've seen them but won't be the last if they make the long trip down here again.

Can't imagine Adrian was very happy about that!

He held it in, but you could tell he wasn't really. They ended up switching out one song because he didn't think the piano could cope with whatever they were planning to play and we got Here's The Tender Coming instead (I wasn't unhappy about that).

I must agree with you David, I have also seen them many times and have never failed to be enthralled.

I will be seeing them this Thursday headlining the Woodland Stage at Bearded Theory Festival and am genuinely excited.
I believe King of Rome is back in the set which could be embarrassing for me as whenever I have seen them play it I have started bawling my eyes out!!  :)

Yes, they played King of Rome at the end of their set.  Wonderful!

That's the pigeon one, isn't it?  Beautiful song.

That is rather wonderful.  Nice to see again.  Thank you.

Antigen Records’ anniversary party at The Baths in the heart of swinging downtown Ipswich featuring Earth Mother f****r and Poundland. One of the best and worst bands I’ve ever seen on a single bill.

Which was which?  Tell us (much) more :)

Poundland could, I suppose, best be described as Hawkwind at their most witless being fronted by (say) one of the less likeable characters from The League of Gentlemen TV series. If you ever hated The Fall or Captain Beefheart, they embodied everything that drove you to that conclusion. Even if you did like The Fall or Trout Mask Replica, there would be something to take away from their performance to lead you to reappraise your opinion.
EMF on the other hand embodied all the best of The Stooges meets Joy Division in an exhilarating and self deprecating (“We’re the face of Ipswich’s City of Culture bid - it’s us, Jah Warriors, Extreme Noise Terror and Ed Sheeran. We love CoC!”) cavalcade of noisecore, riffage and sonic road movies. “We were expecting a bigger audience” they opened with, “And better looking. But we’ll work with what we’ve got”
The Baths is part of the impressive regeneration of the Ipswich music scene by Brighten the Corners in that they now run four or five venues of various sizes in the town and - trivia buffs - was host to the fourth ever live performance of Stairway to Heaven.