Recent gigs

[Harbottle (Martin)]

Oysterband last night in Chester on my own (as other half out with a chum).  I'm far from well at the moment, but it was just about doable.  A disappointing crowd...maybe 300-odd (possibly 400) in an 800 capacity theatre, but the atmosphere was still brilliant from the off.  Just everything you want from a folk-rock gig - inclusivity, communitarianism, politics (nuanced but there), audience participation and a lot of talented muscle power and great voices.  There was a sh1t load of energy in the room.  I was in a Fairport tee shirt.  I bought an Oysterband tee.  I'll miss them greatly when they're gone.

I saw them last at Warwick Uni in the small theatre and it was barely half full. Maybe 1/3 full.
They were superb.

[Harbottle (Martin)]

I saw Deep Purple at the NEC a few weeks back. The day before was 10cc in Coventry.

Both excellent.

Interesting to see that the 10cc audience was... old. We are in our early 50s and probably the youngest there.

Deep Purple had quite a lot of younger people in the audience.

Our seats were originally right up at the back on the side, with a terrible view of the stage as it was blocked. Just as the support act supported an usher came up and gave us tickets for the floor area - 10 rows from the front, right in the middle. It was amazing!

[DarrenWilliams]

John Bramwell and the Full Harmonic Convergence at New Century Hall in Manchester last night. It was his 60th birthday and also the last night of the tour. Not a sell out but a healthy crowd. I like his current band, some lovely harmonies and instrumentally tasteful and restrained. John was his usual humourous self.

Spotted in the crowd (in close proximity but not together) - Thea gilmore and Julie Hesmondhalgh (Hayley from Corrie)!

[davidmjs]

John Bramwell and the Full Harmonic Convergence at New Century Hall in Manchester last night. It was his 60th birthday and also the last night of the tour. Not a sell out but a healthy crowd. I like his current band, some lovely harmonies and instrumentally tasteful and restrained. John was his usual humourous self.

Spotted in the crowd (in close proximity but not together) - Thea gilmore and Julie Hesmondhalgh (Hayley from Corrie)!

My other half went with a friend and loved it.  Sadly, I wasn't up to it.

[Will S]

Talisk, supported by Blair Dunlop last night at Exeter Phoenix.

I think this is the first time I have seen Blair playing apart from when he guested with Larkin Poe at Cropredy in 2012, though I have a few of his albums, which I enjoyed.  He played 6 or 7 songs, acoustic, and was very good. I'd happily see him again.

I have also not seen Talisk since they played at Cropredy in 2015 as YFA winners. I enjoyed them enough then to buy the EP which was all they had available at the time, and have picked up a couple of their albums since, but wasn't really prepared for the full-on lights and musical assault from three seated musicians!  They really whip up a storm from concertina, fiddle and guitar (with added synths and drum sounds triggered by Mohsen Amini's feet). I haven't seen a light show like it since The Australian Pink Floyd, I don't think, and this was in a much smaller space (about 500 capacity). We were seated upstairs in the balcony, but they had the downstairs cleared away as standing room, and it was full of a generally much younger crowd than I'm used to seeing at folk gigs.  This was the last gig of the tour launching their live album recorded on home turf in Glasgow in January, but I'd definitely recommend them when they next tour again.

[steve-n]

UFQ, plus guests, at their 15th birthday party at Huntingdon Hall, Worcester. Two and a half hours of incredible energy and superb musicianship.

[davidmjs]

UFQ, plus guests, at their 15th birthday party at Huntingdon Hall, Worcester. Two and a half hours of incredible energy and superb musicianship.

Urban Folk Quartet?  That's a guess...

[steve-n]

UFQ, plus guests, at their 15th birthday party at Huntingdon Hall, Worcester. Two and a half hours of incredible energy and superb musicianship.

Urban Folk Quartet?  That's a guess...

And a pretty good guess....although they became a quintet at times with founder member Frank Moon joining them on bass and oud!

[PaulT]

Wish I'd gone to UFQ last night rather than System 7. Music was fine, but too many middle aged ravers trying to relive Amnesia or similar. I bet there wasn't an E to be found anywhere else in Stroud last night. Mr Hillage is still s very fine guitarist though.

[Will S]

Oysterband last night in Chester on my own (as other half out with a chum).  I'm far from well at the moment, but it was just about doable.  A disappointing crowd...maybe 300-odd (possibly 400) in an 800 capacity theatre, but the atmosphere was still brilliant from the off.  Just everything you want from a folk-rock gig - inclusivity, communitarianism, politics (nuanced but there), audience participation and a lot of talented muscle power and great voices.  There was a sh1t load of energy in the room.  I was in a Fairport tee shirt.  I bought an Oysterband tee.  I'll miss them greatly when they're gone.

I saw them last at Warwick Uni in the small theatre and it was barely half full. Maybe 1/3 full.
They were superb.

Last night at Exeter Phoenix (capacity about 270) was full up, and they are doing a second night tonight (I'd be tempted, if we hadn't long ago booked tickets to see War Horse in Plymouth).  The atmosphere was excellent, with the crowd in full voice from the start, and the band were great too.