Sandy Denny anniversary tribute, The Troubadour, 20 April

[DaviD J (was geriatrix)]

I just wanted to say that it was a wonderful evening, and a big thanks to everyone who arranged and helped arrange it, and to all the folks on stage as well. I now know that I have to see Linde, Lisa, and Kami again some time!

And to find us sitting with Joe Boyd on one side of us, Linda Thompson on the other, looking up at Martin Carthy singing like a man possessed is something that normally only happens in dreams.

Thanks.

[billy]

There was one more song-a group version of "I'm a Dreamer" with Vicky Kamilla and Linde on vocals Lisa on backing vocals and Martin,Kamillas band and Lisa and Linde's accompanists playing.  

thanks.i think we made the right move,it was a bit close for comfort down there.i thought Linde was marvellous and it was a bit unfortunate that Karl Dallas spoke after her performance and made  a crack about copying Sandy.

i also think Martin Carthy should have chosen four "proper" Sandy Denny songs  or performed those he did in the way that Sandy did them instead of banging on about obscure folk singers and singing completely different lyrics.

sorry for moaning ! it was a great night - and all for £8.

[billy]

sorry,i mucked that up..............




thanks.i think we made the right move,it was a bit close for comfort down there.i thought Linde was marvellous and it was a bit unfortunate that Karl Dallas spoke after her performance and made  a crack about copying Sandy.

i also think Martin Carthy should have chosen four "proper" Sandy Denny songs  or performed those he did in the way that Sandy did them instead of banging on about obscure folk singers and singing completely different lyrics.

sorry for moaning ! it was a great night - and all for £8.

[davidmjs]

I just wanted to say that it was a wonderful evening, and a big thanks to everyone who arranged and helped arrange it, and to all the folks on stage as well. I now know that I have to see Linde, Lisa, and Kami again some time!

And to find us sitting with Joe Boyd on one side of us, Linda Thompson on the other, looking up at Martin Carthy singing like a man possessed is something that normally only happens in dreams.

Thanks.

Can't help feeling it's a pity Linda didn't sing...after all, she is singing in public again, isn't she?  Anyway, sorry I missed it.... Grrrrr.

[Edthefolkie]

What a very enjoyable evening - well worth the train trip and the hotel overnight.

I thought Martin Carthy (especially The Deserter), Lisa Knapp (especially Quiet Joys) and Kamila Thompson were standouts.

It was BLOOMING hot down there - the missus flaked out for a bit and had to sit down, but encountered Mr. Carthy; I believe they exchanged tips about May Day in Padstow!

I was so knackered after weeks of worry about my Mum that I'm afraid I had one too many large coupes de rouge    , but managed to avoid spilling any down the back of Clinton Heylin's neck. However, some other rioter managed to chuck the contents of their glass over my nice Italian jacket - off to the dry cleaners now, let's hope it's not ruined. One does like to keep in the spirit of the seventies though doesn't one?

Anyway, hope I wasn't too incoherent Philip, and thanks a million to you and Andrew for organising it. Looking forward to seeing Chris Bates' shots.    

[Chris]

However, some other rioter managed to chuck the contents of their glass over my nice Italian jacket

......and thanks a million to you and Andrew for organising it.

Ditto to both Andrew & Philip - a well organised event. I think that hack was from the INdependent, so there might be a review tomorrow.

[rogthedodge]

As above thanks to all for organising. Moving to see such interest 30 years on.

High points were Linde and Lisa - both stunning and entirely in keeping with the mood and the reason for being there. Shame Lisa only did 2 songs.

Martin Carthy came across like some vengeful Folk-Nazi banging on about the 'proper' versions of the trad songs Sandy sung. Doing Seven Yellow Gypsies was just odd and I was considering reaching for the ipod to hear Nic doing it properly

Kami & band were OK.


Overall a fantastic night and well worth the money Thanks again

[Philip W]

Review of the gig in today's Independent. Four stars!
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/sandy-denny-tribute-the-troubadour-london-813252.html

[David W]

As above thanks to all for organising. Moving to see such interest 30 years on.

High points were Linde and Lisa - both stunning and entirely in keeping with the mood and the reason for being there. Shame Lisa only did 2 songs.

Martin Carthy came across like some vengeful Folk-Nazi banging on about the 'proper' versions of the trad songs Sandy sung. Doing Seven Yellow Gypsies was just odd and I was considering reaching for the ipod to hear Nic doing it properly

Kami & band were OK.


Overall a fantastic night and well worth the money Thanks again

Whilst I can accept Mr Carthy may be a folk reactionary I feel the, even possibly humourous, use of the word Nazi inappropriate in almost every sense.

Sorry but thats the way it is.

David W

[Big Dave]

Agree with David W.  Too strong and for me bordering on a personal insult.  

[billy]

is it OK to say that in my humble opinion Martin Carthy took a diabolical liberty ?

[David W]

is it OK to say that in my humble opinion Martin Carthy took a diabolical liberty ?

Absolutely - I must admit to wondering why he was there when I heard about it. I have never really been aware of him having any particular link with Sandy other than via Swarb.

David W

[Neil]

Carthy must have been on form, alternately described as stunning, reactionary and diabolical and superb, good to know folk music is still controversial or at least Martin Carthy is.

Seems like Carthy was the only near contemporary performing at the event and as a pivotal member of the folk scene then and now an appropriate addition.

So without the invective what did he do to offend on the night?

[Chris]

Failed to sing Sandy songs in her style, it seems.

It is really rather pathetic, because he was definitely on Carthy-esque form!

[billy]

if Carthy had spent a bit less time tuning his guitar and banging on about unknown Irish singers we could have heard a couple more songs from the girls................

[Philip W]

i also think Martin Carthy should have chosen four "proper" Sandy Denny songs  or performed those he did in the way that Sandy did them instead of banging on about obscure folk singers and singing completely different lyrics.

You don’t tell someone of Martin’s stature what to sing. I approached his agent, who reported back that Martin was keen to be part of this event; he doesn’t do Sandy’s own songs, the gent explained, but he’d like to perform several of the trad numbers in their common repertoire. I admit Martin’s versions are some way from hers – quite a long way in the case of ‘Seven Yellow Gypsies’/’Gypsy Davy’ – but still pretty darn interesting. In fact, on the night, quite unexpectedly – and no one has mentioned this – he accompanied Kamila Thompson in a beautiful version of ‘Stranger To Himself’, for which he came up with an artful new guitar part in the afternoon rehearsal. I take my hat off to him.

Yes, her contemporaries were talking rather than performing – Joe Boyd, Linda Thompson, Karl Dallas. We’d hoped up to the last that Linda would sing. That was the reason for climaxing on ‘I’m A Dreamer’, the Sandy song that Linda used to do. But I believe she found it too emotional and so couldn’t take the stage. Also, the anniversary happened to fall in high season for touring – FC, Swarb, John Renbourn, Dave Cousins, Robert Plant (in your dreams!) and other patriarchs were all tied up. One consequence is that we gave more prominence to young artists, like the excellent Lisa Knapp – who are the future, after all.

I don’t regret how it turned out.  

Philip

[Neil]

Sandy came from the folk tradition, she definitely stepped outside of it after leaving Fairport but it seems appropriate to acknowledge her roots and I can't think of anyone better than Martin Carthy to do that.

Martin Carthy must have an affection for Sandy's body of work in order to appear at the event, he does not seem to be a person who would appear for the cash and he does not need the exposure so it can only be admiration that compelled him to perform. He also has not in any way in his work been an advocate for not moving the folk tradition forward so he cannot have been offended by the liberties Sandy took with folk song, at the end of the day though who knows he may have changed his mind since being involved with the Imagined Village project.

Where the other performers recreating Sandy's songs or interpreting them?

[billy]

i also think Martin Carthy should have chosen four "proper" Sandy Denny songs  or performed those he did in the way that Sandy did them instead of banging on about obscure folk singers and singing completely different lyrics.

You don’t tell someone of Martin’s stature what to sing. I approached his agent, who reported back that Martin was keen to be part of this event; he doesn’t do Sandy’s own songs, the gent explained, but he’d like to perform several of the trad numbers in their common repertoire. I admit Martin’s versions are some way from hers – quite a long way in the case of ‘Seven Yellow Gypsies’/’Gypsy Davy’ – but still pretty darn interesting. In fact, on the night, quite unexpectedly – and no one has mentioned this – he accompanied Kamila Thompson in a beautiful version of ‘Stranger To Himself’, for which he came up with an artful new guitar part in the afternoon rehearsal. I take my hat off to him.

Yes, her contemporaries were talking rather than performing – Joe Boyd, Linda Thompson, Karl Dallas. We’d hoped up to the last that Linda would sing. That was the reason for climaxing on ‘I’m A Dreamer’, the Sandy song that Linda used to do. But I believe she found it too emotional and so couldn’t take the stage. Also, the anniversary happened to fall in high season for touring – FC, Swarb, John Renbourn, Dave Cousins, Robert Plant (in your dreams!) and other patriarchs were all tied up. One consequence is that we gave more prominence to young artists, like the excellent Lisa Knapp – who are the future, after all.

I don’t regret how it turned out.  

Philip

it was a great evening.thanks to you and the others for providing it.just expressing my honest opinion re Martin Carthy.i hardly know anything about the bloke.what i have heard doesn't grab me.first time i heard his name was on the liner notes of Bob Dylan's Freewheelin' album.i bought a couple of his CDS but his voice does my head in..........

all the ladies were great,perhaps Vikki Clayton a bit less so.i thought Linde was wonderful both in her choice of songs and what she said.

[rogthedodge]

Fair enough, you're right - too strong a word.

I just felt his attitude was wrong, condescending almost.

I was there to think about & celebrate Sandy not to hear him holding forth on the 'proper' versions of songs she should have sung.

 

[Bryan]

 In fact, on the night, quite unexpectedly – and no one has mentioned this – he accompanied Kamila Thompson in a beautiful version of ‘Stranger To Himself’, for which he came up with an artful new guitar part in the afternoon rehearsal. I take my hat off to him.

Yes Philip I agree that was certainly an unexpected treat for me as well. Can I just add my thanks to yourself and all
involved in organising a wonderful evening and thanks for that early warning on here I was so pleased to to be in time
to get a ticket

Bryan