TalkAwhile - The Folk Corporation Forum

I thought these guys were excellent. Great musicianship, varied set, and a charismatic leader who seemed to really connect with the crowd. Good to see Ciaran Algar cropping up again on the fiddle as well. I don't often buy CDs these days, what with Spotify and whatnot, but they scooped my one 'for old times sake' purchase.

Agree, they were lots of fun. Ciaran was quieter than I have ever seen him but musically he was as good as ever.

They were excellent.

They were excellent with great playing, songs and vocals. Loved them

One of the few acts I hadn’t seen and was really looking forward to, given their reputation. They didn’t disappoint. A great set which flew by and seemed very short. Will certainly try to see them again.

Never heard of them, but I rated them as one of the top turns of the festival. I was down at the front for their whole set.
Brilliantly sharp musicianship and really clear vocals.

Blimey how wide is the banjo players hand in that pic? His fingers are covering 6 frets (or maybe it looks extreme to me due to my short stubby fingers  :) )

Great band. A bit Seth Lakeman but I’m a big fan of his so that wasn’t an issue. Would love to see them again in a smaller venue.

I have been a big fan of, and advocate for, Sam Kelly for about three years now, since I first came across him in The Changing Room.  So I had high hopes and wasn't disappointed!  They were excellent and will hopefully have gained a lot of new fans from this.  I was a little worried about how they'd come across on the big stage, but they really nailed it.

Well they gained one with me   ;D

Ok - this is all getting a bit weird now!!

Saw them in a small church just before Christmas and they were wonderful there. Fourth time for me and I would go again tomorrow if they were on. I know a lad who follows them all over the country.

Thoroughly enjoyed the set by Sam Kelly & the Lost Boys and eagerly snapped up their latest "Pretty Peggy" album for signing. Impressed by this since I returned, I have now sent off for the previous "Lost Boys" CD. However, I noticed this also didn't contain a song I particularly liked from the Cropredy performance. Thanks to the following set list posted on www.setlist.fm, I found this is called "Hickathrift" and is on the earlier "Spokes" EP. Although no longer available on CD, I downloaded from Amazon and again highly recommend. These lads remind me of another excellent band- Tarras- who hail from the north-East and reform for occasional gigs.    

Sam Kelly & The Lost Boys Cropredy setlist:-

Crash On The Levee
Hickathrift
The Golden Vanity
If I Were A Blackbird
Spokes
Gwrello Glaw
Sultans of Swing (Dire Straits cover)  
The Keeper
Greenland Whale
The Close Shave
Shy Guy's Serve

Wasn't Dullahan in there too somewhere?

For those who are interested, Gwrello Glaw is on The Changing Room's Picking Up The Pieces album.  Also highly recommended.

Thanks Will. Looking forward to listening to more material from the Sam Kelly & The Lost Boys and will also keep a look out for live gigs. Part of the magic of Cropredy is the variety of styles and material on offer and getting into new bands/singers. Enjoyed the whole three days- saw the whole of every set and was down at the front for a good part of it!

Certainly enjoyed this set, although possibly not quite up to the hype I had heard.

Paul

Yes, very much enjoyed them, and will seek them out in future.

Saw them twice this summer, once at folk by the oak and once at Cropredy. Both excellent performances but Cropredy was better by far - we've had their music playing since we got back. They are clearly great musicians and clearly have the talent for breathing life into folk songs and tunes