Winter Tour reviews and photos

[Pastieboy (Trev)]

Its the only piccie that came out and I diddnt take it --- Cambridge Eagle  ----Good pub . 

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[cathy]

Was a great night in Cambridge last night and it was fantastic to finally say hello to a few  people from this board ,the lovely Mix and Gower Flower  (very wonderful ladies)  hope everyone got back home safely.My face still hurts from the grinning caused by Ric and Chris's fiddle-dueting (which was especially wonderful as it was on the stage area directly in front of where i was sitting with my friend and sister.)

[YaBB Master (Colin)]

Its the only piccie that came out and I diddnt take it --- Cambridge Eagle  ----Good pub . 

I was speaking to Peggy this afternoon. He mentioned you lot. 

[Delfini (Diane)]

Its the only piccie that came out and I diddnt take it --- Cambridge Eagle  ----Good pub . 

I was speaking to Peggy this afternoon. He mentioned you lot. 

oops

[Mix (Mic)]

Got back a little while ago, still beaming from a fantastic time at Cambridge
Fantastic to meet/meet up with delfini, Adrian, Martin, Pastiboy, Mave the Rave  (such a little raver!!! ) Shirl, cathy and peterryb!!!!
Not to mention Peggy and PJ Wright in the Eagle.... set a few ladies hearts a flutter that did Poor Peggy, his wine was corked (I know that cos he asked me to try it...  blearghhhh!!!!) and had to be changed, no big deal until you notice the speed (or lack thereof) of the bar staff. Lovely pub, needs new staff.

The Corn Exchange is a smashing venue, and Shirl and me were lucky enough to be in the front row (in front of Chris and Peggy), it was quite packed but I noticed a few empty seats.
PJ Wright kicked the evening off, and got us going from the first note, he was followed by Ashley's Rainbow Chasers, who were on fine form. During the interval the merch stall was swamped under a happy crowd, but Ashley and his fellow Rainbow Chasers found the time to 'chat' with all who approached them.

At last the moment we had been waiting for....The Chaps were on!!!  You know better than to expect a set list from me, I get far too caught up in the moment (and have no memory of course)   what I can tell you is that the performance was electrifying, they rocked the rafters. In a way it might have been better without seating, because you really wanted to get up and dance and clap along (I got told by the man next to me not to clap, because he came to liste to the music, if it was standing I could have moved away from him)... however, there were some slower songs but mostly the beat was made to move to!
The banter between the chaps was light and happy, they all looked and sounded very upbeat, and there was no sign of Chris's cold, thankfully! It was lovely to see and hear Edwin joining in on Red and Gold, he's a lovely lad, I chatted to him afterwards and he says he's hoping to be at Cropredy again this year!!

I went along fully intending to buy the new CD only, I came away with CD, T Shirt and programme, oops... I must stay away from the bank for a while I'll not be customer of the month for sure.

Can't wait for Cannock and Oxford, are we nearly there yet?

Mic

[Suzanne]

Last night in Leamington Spa was, for me, the best show I've seen so far this tour (I've now seen 3).  Ric has the stinking cold now, Chris seems to be over the worst of it and Peggy was coughing.  But it didn't detract from anything.  the acoustics were excellent, the lighting was very good, the band were all cheerful and the jokes were thick and fast.  Seemed to be a responsive audience too which helped a great deal.

Heavens only knows what Chris L and Peggy thought at the start of the 2nd half when they came on stage to find myself and Chris Bates lying on the floor in front of them!   Don't worry - there was a perfectly reasonable explanation: the importance of getting a head-to-head shot without disturbing other concert goers!

[Andy]

All photos welcomed here!

[Kris]

and there was no sign of Chris's cold, thankfully!

He looked very well until you spun him around in the foyer and complimented him on his pert buttocks    

sorry...

[Hedgehog]

(Hedgehog belatedly hobbles in with last Friday's Yeovil report........)

Early gremlins saw Simon swopping swiftly to leccy then tiddly acoustic guitar for the rest of the gig; hope the little beasts were taken out and shot!!  Lovely to hear Tam Lin again (I love it so much that our Border Binliner bears the same name).  There must have been some dust in the air that got trapped under my contact lenses during "Who Knows.....", can't imagine why else my eyes were leaking!  You can't beat holding hands with yer number one squeeze when that one's on, but Ric was playing at the time so I had to make do with my husband instead ! Apart from the problems at the start, it was the usual superlative performance from the chaps.

I'd been nattering to Chris at the acoustic gig at Honiton last December about a forthcoming major and scary op on my back, and was commiserating with the gip his was giving him at the time.  We were just on our way out to see the guys in the foyer after Friday's show, when a voice from behind me said, "how's the back?".  We turned round and there was Chris, with a very sore-looking nose, so we did a bit of catching up; I was knocked out that he remembered our previous prattle 'cos I had been bricking it to say the least! Glad to hear that his back is much better, and I hope is cold is clearing up now - didn't affect his singing voice that night, mind! I was too busy telling him to get plenty of Vitamin C down his neck to remember to ask how he's managed to grow so much hair in such a short time......

Then to the usual pleasantries and hugs before going-home time.  Great to see Peggy back on form (the bottles of water he brought on stage instead of the usual glasses of ale didn't go un-noticed, and now I know why I can do nowt else but wish him continued good health).  I suspect that he may come to regret mentioning his new venture in France as we're already making Cunning Plans....  Ric was sitting down so we nearly missed him in the throng, but he was able to show off his socks to interested parties.  Gerry was the chattiest I've ever seen him, we're winkling him out of his shell at last!  Still off the tabs too, cheers cheers!!!  And of course, Mr Nichol was the consumate charmer as ever; has this man got a picture in his attic a la Dorian Gray?

Just counting down the days to Cropredy now.  ATTENTION ANNA!! - the usual Big Red Van will be in attendance, hopefully with hot running water and a shower installed!!!!! 

[Anna]

HEDGEHOG!!!!!

I'll IM you when I get a minute - Jez lost his phone and your number, long story...  Catch you later!

[Mix (Mic)]

and there was no sign of Chris's cold, thankfully!

He looked very well until you spun him around in the foyer and complimented him on his pert buttocks    

sorry...

I did no such thing I wouldn't dream of being so personal!

Mic

[David W]

and there was no sign of Chris's cold, thankfully!

He looked very well until you spun him around in the foyer and complimented him on his pert buttocks    

sorry...

I did no such thing I wouldn't dream of being so personal!

Mic

I'm fairly sure you would "dream of being so personal!", or if you wouldn't Amy certainly would 

Jackdaw

[gower flower (Shirl)]

Its the only piccie that came out and I diddnt take it --- Cambridge Eagle  ----Good pub . 

I was speaking to Peggy this afternoon. He mentioned you lot. 

In glowing terms I trust, Colin

[Chris]

Alas, the photos from last night are still on the camera , but here's one of the aforementioned sandals that Ric wears. They're not black studs, but holes to let the pong out....

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[gower flower (Shirl)]

A late review of the Saturday gig at Cambridge. Late but not least, I hope.

Wonderful to meet up once more with good mates like Mix, Pastieboy, the fragrant Mave the Rave, Delfini and Adrian. We were joined by Peterryb - which I considered very brave of him, because we were quite boisterous by now. I guess Pastieboy's Flashing Fez badge gave the game away......

I spotted Martin Driver looking out for us from inside the pub. I waved, and when he emerged onto the patio, I realised that he was in the company of the lovely David Pegg and Mr P J Wright. Ooh what a treat...... Things got better when Peggy sat in the vacant seat next to mine. We all spent a happy half hour or so. Peggy and PJ happily doling out autographs; anecdotes about the time Peggy was mentioned in Viz magazine as a "celebrity scrounger",etc. Our boisterous party attracted the interest of others in the Eagle, mainly due to the presence of two fez wearers. I asked Pastieboy to stop "flashing" but would he listen?  Really Mave you should take the boy in hand.....

Okay, okay THE GIG

I felt thrilled to bits because (a) I had a front seat which I wasnt expecting cos the row number was H. Hurrah! and (b)  WE HAD THREE STAR TURNS FOR THE PRICE OF TWO!

P J Wright, also of Little Johnie England and Dylan's fame opened up with a solo spot. "Wait for the Whistle to Blow" and "Random Acts of Kindness" sticking out in my memory.

He was followed by "The Guvnor"  and his proteges, the Rainbow Chasers. What a fabulous tight- sounding set they played."Given Time" a song dedicated to the memory of the late Nick Drake was a favourite for me. Fabulous singing and musicianship! Key to all of the above so far was the clear enjoyment displayed by all performers.

At last it was FC's turn and as has been said many times now THEY ROCKED!!!

The set list was almost certainly different from those gigs prior to Cambridge because as I said, we got three bands/artistes for the price of two. However, for those who really want to know, I believe Delfini can help you out.

Lots and lots of duelling fiddles, always something I enjoy. John Gaudie - a great favourite of mine - had me bouncing in my seat Simon sang a wonderful Crazy Man Michael and Tam Lin, Gerrry played like a man possessed, and how Chris can remember which instrument to pick up for which  number and when is a miracle to behold! yes, I am sure he has it written down, but some of those mid-number changes are pretty fast.

Peggy caught my eye once or twice, me being seated so near him. I could have sworn I heard him mutter to Chris at one point..... "Oh gawd, it's the mad Talkawhilers I met in the Eagle"

Well done, chaps, and thank you.

[Delfini (Diane)]

A late review of the Saturday gig at Cambridge. Late but not least, I hope.

    That says it all - thanks GF

 I can't add to it (except I've got Ric's set list )

[NeilR]

A couple of pictures from Leamington....

[NeilR]

.....and a couple more.

Enjoy

[AdrianW]

I've little to add to the glowing reviews of the Saturday Cambridge gig other than:

Wearing a fez in public certainly helps you get noticed, talked about, and may have helped get a table in a crowded pub. The application of alcohol soon removes any embarrassment from the wearer, but maybe not from companions.

Mix's beer quaffing party trick apparently put a couple of local youths into shock.

Some of us were risking getting ourselves and FC locked in to the Exchange. Come to think of it, maybe that was the aim.

[Kris]

Wearing a fez in public certainly helps you get noticed, talked about, and may have helped get a table in a crowded pub. The application of alcohol soon removes any embarrassment from the wearer, but maybe not from companions.

Many a time before a Fairport tour have I looked on Ebay and nearly bought one.... never plucked up the courage though!