Recent gigs

[Harbottle (Martin)]

An expedition to the 1865 in Southampton to see a prog-tastic double bill (or so we thought) of Colosseum and Soft Machine, both in their 2025 incarnations.

The venue filled up with, to quote a review of a previous night on this tour, "97% old white men who go and watch 70's bands."

Soft Machine kicked off proceedings : the mighty quartet of guitarist John Etheridge, saxophone and keys player Theo Travis, bassist Fred Thelonious Baker and drummer Asaf Sirkis gave the audience a complete and utter masterclass in progressive jazz-rock. Such a powerful display we were left wondering how Colosseum could follow it.

Unfortunately, they couldn't. Their bassist Mark Clarke came onstage and took the mic to announce that guitarist Dave "Clem" Clempson had been taken seriously unwell, and thus Colosseum couldn't perform without him.

After exchanging a few conspiratorial whispers with the rest of Soft Machine, John Etheridge called a 15 minute intermission and informed us they'd be playing another set for us imminently.

Our disappointment at not getting to see Colosseum was ameliorated by another 45 spontaneous minutes of Soft Machine's musical excellence, and they did not disappoint.

Overall, this was the sort of live gig that inspires and feeds the musical soul, especially when events took an unexpected turn. Hope Clem makes a speedy recovery and is back in action asap...

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.

[John From Austin]

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.

[PJayBe]

The other band we recently saw…I have decided to confess…was The ELO Experience!

The front man, Brian Cummings, was totally hilarious…in fact, his first joke was a bit ‘near the mark’ for me and I wondered if it was going to be like that throughout, but actually he was very funny. However, throughout they showed massive respect to the music and to the work of Jeff Lynne. The lead violinist was especially impressive, taking the solos in Living Thing and singing the operatic parts in Rockaria.

The theatre of around 1500 was sold out with mainly more mature folks, all of whom ended upsinging along and some of whom were dancing in the aisles.

So all in all, and entertaining evening, giving due respect to the originals, whom they clearly held in high esteem.

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.

[Peter Allen]

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

[Peter Allen]

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

[davidmjs]

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....

[PJayBe]

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.

[davidmjs]

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.

[ColinB]

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.  

[Gouty (Gary)]

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

[davidmjs]

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!

[blagden]

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.

[John From Austin]

West Coast Folk Festival last weekend in Blackpool.

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).

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.

[wayne stote]

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.

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.

[blagden]

West Coast Folk Festival last weekend in Blackpool.

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).

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.

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

[Nick Reg]

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.

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.

[Jules Gray]

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

[Will S]

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!

[Nick Reg]

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.