Tempted with the Hay-on-Wye gig.

Last time I saw her in concert was back in the Nineties at Nettlebed, in a  trio. It was all a bit too jazz for me that night so I would hope for something a bit folkier this time round.

"Permanently"  

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.

Playing my way through the  new Strawbs BBC  boxed set,  Glimpse of Heaven.

Fans who have the excellent 2005 boxed set Taste of Strawbs , and the 2010  BBC Live/Sessions CDs will have some of this material already,  but it sounds pretty good here,  and  the  box is supposed to contain  everything from the archives 1966- 84.


There's a a blu ray disc included for  those who want such things.

Another mix this week and another dedication this time to Andy Kershaw with some music from around the globe. On the playlist are...

Ted Hawkins, Bob Dylan, Billy Bragg, Spiro, Jon Boden, Coral Rojo, Robyn Hitchcock, This Is The Kit, 17 Hippies, Piers Faccini & Ballake Sissoko, The Tiger Lillies, Alison De Groot & Tatiana Hargreaves, Bukka White, Bhundu Boys and Miriam Makeba

Tune in to Ginger Feather online radio at 8pm on https://www.internet-radio.com/station/gingerfeatherfm/

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.

Even if you're hammered.

Jules

Maybe a sober dulcimer would be easier to play.  

Don't try an autoharp, then!

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.