Winter Tour 2007 - Your reviews & comments

[gower flower (Shirl)]

Following  a drink and chat with Bridgwit and her husband in the foyer, I made my way to a  great second row stalls seat at St. David’s Hall, in front of Simon.

Was pleasantly surprised to enjoy Tiny Tin Lady’s set –  though sadly, they were minus Tiny Tin Kat on this occasion, but they rocked the place with their opening number “Pretty Eyes” oozing confidence all the way. The girls were accompanied by Ric, Gerry and Chris for “Darling” (I think that’s right. Someone will no doubt correct me if I am wrong). Their set was well received by the Cardiff audience.

FC opened with the foot-stomping “Widow of Westmoreland’s Daughter” which set the tone for a fast-paced set.

Obviously, tracks from SoO were greatly in evidence, as in previous reviews of other gigs, these included Keep on Turning the Wheel, The Bowman’s Return, South Dakota to Manchester, Edge of the World, and a rocking Hawkwood’s Army. Good to hear some “oldies” such as The Deserter, Sir Patrick Spens and Crazy Man Michael.

We were treated to Tam Lin – accompanied by TTL’s “Elfin Dance”. I have to say that the prospect of his had filled me with, um, trepidation…..BUT the girls pranced daintily across the back of the (large) St. David’s stage without distracting from the music in any way. Phew! I think it was from Tam Lin that Faiport seagued into Matty Groves. Wonderful stuff! All were in fine voice and it was great to see Simon playing electric guitar too.

Plenty of humour from the chaps, as at Brum. I won’t repeat the jokes! (You’ve probably heard them all before anyway. Bless.) Ric’s sales pitch for the merch opportunity (aka “the interval”) never fails to make me chuckle, though.

More from SoO – Galileo’s Apology, Untouchable, Polly on the Shore and of course Best Wishes.  On WKWTTG again, young Beth sang the second verse of this song. Taking nothing from Beth’s performance, I think I prefer a more subtle rendition of this song – Beth has a rocky sound and she acquitted herself very well, and of course the girls joined in for MOTL.

All in all, a most enjoyable evening. The chaps were much in evidence during the interval and at the end of the gig. I think they enjoyed it too.

[Amethyst (Jenny)]

Thanks for the review Shirl.. so pleased you had such a great time in Cardiff  

[Ollie]

 I think it was from Tam Lin that Fairport segued into Matty Groves. Wonderful stuff! All were in fine voice and it was great to see Simon playing electric guitar too.

Lucky You!! I wish they had done that at Cambridge. Two of my fav Fairport songs of all time together!! Fantastic. At Cambridge, they segued from Hawkwood's Army into Matty Groves. Really enjoyed Matty, the Rutand Reel and Sack the Juggler ending is growing on me. Before the gig, I did prefer the Dirty Linen ending, but it absolutely ROCKED!!!!   Brilliant. Simon should play his electric more often, although not as much as Ken Nicol from Steeleye. Sometimes, he plays it a little too often and ruins songs.

[gower flower (Shirl)]

It might have been Hawkwoods Army into Matty Groves, Ollie! Either way it was most enjoyable I think at this point in the evening it was all kind of blending together anyway, so much so that you couldn't see the join!

[Chris]

Unless the second set consisted of just Tam Lin & Matty Groves, with the encore....I'd definitely say it was Hawkwood's Army in Matty! Did you sleep through the rest of the set, Shirl? :-))

[gower flower (Shirl)]

Unless the second set consisted of just Tam Lin & Matty Groves, with the encore....I'd definitely say it was Hawkwood's Army in Matty! Did you sleep through the rest of the set, Shirl? :-))

How very dare you! Course not!

[PLW (Peter)]

Weston Super Mare last night, very enjoyable evening and didn't Beth from TTL do well on a verse of Who Knows Where The Time Goes,  a well deserved round of applause ensued.

Beth sang on Who Knows Where the Time Goes? How wonderful. She did a verse of MOTL at Birmingham - is that what you mean: or is she edging her way further into the band? Whatever she sang she does have a lovely voice.

How wonderful. There's a real lift when a female voice leads that band.

Yes Beth sang a verse of WKWTTG for the second time at Croydon last night, absolute magic, and another spontaneous round of applause one
of those moments that will stay with you forever. The TTL Elfin dance routine to Tam Lin was quite memorable as well ! There was a small groan
from the audience when Simon announced the encore was not as we might expect but all was well and everyone went home happy with a new
song to learn for August. A great night, thanks to everyone concerned.

[Jan_]

St David's Hall was tonight's venue. Met up with Gower Flower and also saw Katy's Mum and Katy. Any other TAW's there?

Katy's Dad but I don't know if he counts as a TAW as he has never posted. (Man of few words/strong silent type  )

Nice to meet you Bridgwit, oh, and of course, Gower Flower who had two mentions from Dave Pegg.  

Great gig.  I can't really add anything to what has been said except to say that the album songs and tunes were even better live and we all really enjoyed it. Looking forward to Cropredy.  Tickets already bought!

[peterwales]

Just got back from another great gig tonight (or rather last night now), this time the slightly seedy but oddly romantic Victorian seaside town of Cromer on the North Norfolk coast. I did the usual things one does in Cromer- i.e. a walk on the beach and ate some brilliant local fish and chips. A very wet and windy early evening curtailed the walk on the beach, in favour of a visit to a local hostelry where I watched one London football team dramatically beat another London team on a big screen thing. A move to another bar, all fading Victorian grandeur inside, was highlighted by the presence of a Tiny Tin Lady in the corner.
The odd Fairporter could also be seen, huddled against the wind in the little old fishermen's lanes, on his way to the Pier Pavilion Theatre.
The Pavilion Theatre is a great little place, and it was a highly enjoyable night of music. Tiny Tin Lady played a powerful set of original and upbeat songs. Initially seemed nervous but then all three played with a youthful passion.
Fairport's set was a good mix of old and new, and didn't feel too much like an advert for the new album. All looked relaxed and in good humour.
I particularly liked Beth from TTL singing WKWTTG; in my view she puts her own "sound" and "voice" onto this classic song, yet for one uncanny moment she did look just a bit like a young Sandy Denny.
A signed copy of a limited edition of a Fairport EP, only available tonight in aid of the local lifeboat (although I understand unsold copies will shortly be auctioned off on the net, again in aid of the Cromer lifeboat?) rounded off a fine evening on the North Norfolk coast. Tickets already bought for Cropredy and looking forward to it!

[Anna]

It seems I might well have one spare ticket for St Albans tomorrow - anyone interested please IM me...

A friend does have first dibs but it's fairly unlikely she'll actually want to come.

[robbo]

There's a review here of the Edinburgh gig by someone who apprently wasn't there or maybe was just incredibly disinterested. It's difficult to tell.

And this one from someone who seems to have actually been there http://living.scotsman.com/music.cfm?id=303402007

The 2nd one sounds much more like the gig I went to at the Queens Hall last week. The chaps were fab and TTL were better than I expected. A cracking night.

robbo

[AdrianW]

Who is going to Chipping Norton, and where are we getting drunk socialising?

[Bridgwit (Bridget)]

Here's a pic taken at Cardiff on my mobile, so it's not brilliant, but I'm posting it for the strange aura that seems to be possessing Peggy - has he been eating Readybrek or something?



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[Ancient Muse (Andy)]

Oooh I se what you mean ... maybe something to do with the reflection off his head?

[davidmjs]

Oooh I se what you mean ... maybe something to do with the reflection off his head?

It brings a whole new meaning to the annual 'pilgramage' to Cropredy....

[Nick]

Who is going to Chipping Norton, and where are we getting drunk socialising?

We are!

but no idea about the socialising bit. Usually when it's the Theatre we end up around the corner in the bar next door (Chequers?) This time, no idea what's close to the Town Hall. If it's walkable we'll probably end up in Chequers again as it's somewhere we know.

Cheers

Nick

[gower flower (Shirl)]

I think I'm right in saying that the Town Hall is actually very near to the theatre - so the Chequers might still be be your venue of choice for a swift half

[Sandra]

the Chequers is indeed very near to the Town Hall, so I second, or at least third, the suggestion that we meet there. I will be wearing a light brown overcoat and a red carnation and be carrying a rolled up copy of War and Peace (abridged version)

[AdrianW]

Chipping Norton: Looks like we meet at The Chequers.

Peggy's glow: Maybe something unfortunate had happened to his volume meter shirt. Wearable electronics might have its down side.

[Malcolm]

St Albans last night.

TTL were great, Cat's violin adding greatly to the balance of their work. They have come a long way since Cropredy 2 years ago. If anyone should think they are a girlie novelty act, sit up close and watch the guitar and bass fingerwork.

FC looked happy and relaxed and obviously satisfied with their tour and the way the new material has been received. Sitting in the fourth row, for the umpteenth year on the trot, the sound was a bit distorted during the early numbers and maybe we will book a bit further back next year, although it improved mostly as the set went on. Good rocking stuff. Bought the new album and looking forward to playing it. For those in the audience who are not on TaW, Beth's quiet and unannounced arrival on stage to do the 2nd verse on WKWTTG must have been a huge surprise.

Gerry on vocals and Ric singing along on the chorus of MOTL, sharing Cat's mike but still singing!

The chaps and TTL gel so well and the influence of their young (and high) spirits on the tour has added to the upbeat impression the evening conveyed.

Glad to have met Chris Bates at last, Clive and Rebecca and saw Anna in the distance.

Countdown to Cropredy starts now