Sandy tribute at South Bank Centre, 1 December

[Sam]

We will, thanks! And surely you mean this forum and not the FCList - this time, anyway! :-)

i meant this from the SD list:

I'm not going, and never had any intention of doing so.
 
Frankly, the idea of hearing "former colleagues and young admirers re-interpret her songs" sounds awful. Apart from Swarb and Jerry D I have no wish to see any of the people on the bill for any reason, and certainly not singing Sandy's songs (Marc Almond!!!). It's 30 years since Sandy died (and more like 35 since I last saw her live) - I've learned to live with the fact that she's gone. I have her albums and my memories, I don't need to hear 2nd- or 3rd- rate versions of her songs.
 
It's like the 'Shining Bright' album - what a waste of time that was. The Lal Waterson tribute gig at Cecil Sharpe House was great because Norma, Mike, Martin and Eliza were there but most of the other performers were dire compared to the original.
 
Sorry if this sounds over-harsh, but the only person I ever wanted to hear singing SD songs was SD.
 
Enjoy yourselves tonight, though.
 

[Jamie73]

Hey there

Yes, I saw that post on the SD list - laughable really.

Tonight will be great - Andrew Batt has conceived the whole thing (with some "peripheral help" from both myself, Philip Ward and Sandy's pal Bambi Ballard) and as I'm sure Chris Bates will vouch, it will be a night to remember which a fresh and interesting spin on things.

Cheers Sam for your words - shame you won't get to see tonight but it is being recorded.  

Jamie

[Tim Fletcher]

Well I'm looking forward to it - and have no idea what to expect, but am confident it will drive the cares of work away. We will be in row D near the front and I've had my hair done specially for the occasion! Must drag myself away from my desk and set off.

[davidmjs]

We will, thanks! And surely you mean this forum and not the FCList - this time, anyway! :-)

i meant this from the SD list:

I'm not going, and never had any intention of doing so.
 
Frankly, the idea of hearing "former colleagues and young admirers re-interpret her songs" sounds awful. Apart from Swarb and Jerry D I have no wish to see any of the people on the bill for any reason, and certainly not singing Sandy's songs (Marc Almond!!!). It's 30 years since Sandy died (and more like 35 since I last saw her live) - I've learned to live with the fact that she's gone. I have her albums and my memories, I don't need to hear 2nd- or 3rd- rate versions of her songs.
 
It's like the 'Shining Bright' album - what a waste of time that was. The Lal Waterson tribute gig at Cecil Sharpe House was great because Norma, Mike, Martin and Eliza were there but most of the other performers were dire compared to the original.
 
Sorry if this sounds over-harsh, but the only person I ever wanted to hear singing SD songs was SD.
 
Enjoy yourselves tonight, though.
 

Oh I do love a good old fashioned reactionary bigot!  The last line is particularly wondrous.  I wonder if they live in Tunbridge Wells?  

[Nuthouse]

Oh I do love a good old fashioned reactionary bigot!

Get back in your cave, Troll

[Neil]

Oh I do love a good old fashioned reactionary bigot!

Get back in your cave, Troll

To the parking lot with the two of you.

[Nuthouse]

There already Neil...  

My comment stands that accusing someone of expressing an opinion of being a reactionary bigotry is trolling

I have suggested that email cajones are tiresome so am happy to 'park' this for now but equally to discuss it face to face some time.

[Brendan]

Hope everyone who went, enjoyed the gig, would be interested in who sang what and if there is any possibility of a broadcast or cd.

[Jim]

Hope everyone who went, enjoyed the gig, would be interested in who sang what and if there is any possibility of a broadcast or cd.

keep an eye on dime, thats the best bet

[Tim Fletcher]

Hope everyone who went, enjoyed the gig, would be interested in who sang what and if there is any possibility of a broadcast or cd.

Just a brief report as it is late! We enjoyed the show and I reckon it was a success. A few variations - Marc Almond & Baby Dee, along with PP Arnold meant that it wasn't all from a folkie viewpoint, and the young singers and performers were all good. My wife was rather taken with Johnny Flynn! Jerry Donohue looked a bit like someone's Dad who had been asked to lend a hand with helping out the youngsters in the band and seemed to be having a good time. Come to think of it he is of course one of the Dads!

Just to give a flavour and not picking out highlights: The show opened with Mary Epworth doing Come All Ye, Matty made an appearance with Jim Moray, Kristina Donohue did a couple and Marc Almond did 3 songs, before Baby Dee did a couple (interesting!). After the break Lisa Knapp was preceded to the stage by a gentleman with a fiddle who accompanied her and then he did a couple of numbers and got possibly the biggest cheer of the evening, she returned to do Reynardine, and so it went on with the band (not-Bellowhead)  playing jolly well and PP Arnold lending a different tone to things. The finale was some song that momentarily escapes me - you know that one ...

No doubt others will give a much better review and list all the songs. We knew about the absentees in advance of course, but Martin Carthy was also missing - but present in the programme. I didn't see any cameras despite signs about filming - but hopefully it was recorded as it would be nice to have a memento.

[Sam]

great stuff i would love to know what marc sang.. he does a good emotive torch song does marc

[Sam]

Yes !
 
apparently marc did:

Northstar Grassman
Next Time Around
and
All Our Days

i am very very jealous
 

[Jamie73]

Hey all

Set list:

PART ONE:

MARY EPWORTH
Come All Ye
Listen, Listen

JIM MORAY
Late November
Matty Groves

KRISTINA DONAHUE
Nothing More
John The Gun

SAM CARTER
Bushes and Briars

MARC ALMOND
The Northstar Grassman and the Ravens
Next Time Around
All Our Days

BABY DEE
The Lady
No End

INTERMISSION

PART TWO:

FOOTAGE OF FOTHERINGAY "GYPSY DAVEY"

LISA KNAPP
The Quiet Joys Of Brotherhood

DAVE SWARBRICK AND KEVIN DEMPSEY
It Suits Me Well
One Way Donkey Ride

LISA KNAPP
Reynardine

P.P ARNOLD
I'm A Dreamer
Like An Old Fashioned Waltz

JOHNNY FLYNN
Stranger To Himself
It'll Take A Long Time

MARY EPWORTH
Solo

KRISTINA DONAHUE
No More Sad Refrains

EVERYBODY
Who Knows Where the Time Goes

What a night!


Jamie

[Godzee]

You should be... Marc was the absolute highlight of the show for me. I don’t really know much about him other than *that* song, but I was really taken by him – but sadly can’t find any decent words to sum it up – other than WOW.

The rest was mainly some very competent if slightly staid cover versions of Sandy songs, with the predictable sickly sweet rendition of “Who knows…” at the end. The sheer diversity of the musical accompaniment from the Bellowhead (+ Jerry, whose beautiful playing just seems effortless) must be applauded. Mention must be made of Johnny Flynn who was extremely good, but also the only person who seemed to be really happy to be there – most other people seemed to have their “serious” faces on and refused to crack a smile if they could help it.

As previously mentioned, Swarb got the biggest cheer of the night but for me perhaps his set brought the biggest disappointment… His version of “It suits me well” from his solo album (I forget which one) was one of those songs that really struck a chord with me from an early age (I’m 25 now), and I then went on to discover its roots in Sandy. I was really looking forward to getting the chance to hear him do it – but in my opinion, with some help from Kevin Dempsey, he murdered the song (and I don’t use that word lightly).

That was a pity as I guess I had such high expectations of it, but over all it was a most enjoyable evening – Congratulations to all those who help organise it.

(Back to lurking mode for me now!)

[Chris]

Can I just add my hearty congrats to all those concerned in its organisation? Andrew (Batt), that was simply stunning - to pull that off without a visible hitch on a first attempt at a major gig should be acknowledged - I hope you have come down from whichever cloud you rightly ended up on last night.....

I'll leave someone better at it than I to write a decent review....but just to say, from someone who watched the whole thing come together, respect, man!

[martin driver]

Let me add my congratulations to all involved in this event.
Highlights for me included,

Jim Moray, "Matty" a refreshingly gamboling rendition  
Mary Epworth, "Solo" sent shivers down my spine.
P.P. Arnold's voice
Kristina Donahue,  "John the Gun"
Sam Carter, Bushes & Briars
Kev Dempsey, One way Donkey Ride
The NOT Bellowhead house band were excellent throughout.

Marc Almond, was interestingly theatrical

One complaint; The phalanx of camera owners, I assume some had blagged photo passes, annoyingly persisted in moving in front of the stage thoughout the entire evening.  

[Chris]

On my part, I apologise.

I had arranged with the organisers to be seated in the front row, thereby having a fixed place from which to capture the whole event. Something went amiss with the communication between organisers and the South Bank management, and my seat was sold to the public.

This was only discovered late in the afternoon when the guest seats were being enveloped up, and it was obviously too late to arrange other seating. Fully aware of likely intrusion, on occasions I did remove myself to the sound desk.

The remaining press corp were given the first three numbers in each set, rather than just the first set as is usually the case, to enable them to capture more than one guest. Why the house stewards failed to remove them after these numbers, I know not - frankly one or two took the proverbial p*ss by remaining....they are pros and know the ruiles full well. I was there at the invite of the organisers to capture the whole event from rehearsal to break down for posterity.

[DaviD J (was geriatrix)]

A superb evening. Thanks to everyone involved. Am unexpected highlight for me was Marc Almond's contribution, which I really didn't expect to like at all, but actually was totally captivated by. Johnny Flynn, a new name to me, was pretty cool too, as was the wonderful Kristina Donahue, whom I'd quite like for Christmas, please....

I hope that this was recorded in some "proper" form. Certainly I didn't see any professional looking video recording gear in evidence though. Now looking forward to the Thompson family evening!

[Chris]

It should appear on the Bob Harris show, sometime this side of Christmas!

BBC4 are also preparing a 3-part documentary on the history of British female singers, of which Sandy will be part (naturally). Some interviews were done yesterday, so there was a camera(s) in the building.....

[Sam]

You should be... Marc was the absolute highlight of the show for me. I don’t really know much about him other than *that* song, but I was really taken by him – but sadly can’t find any decent words to sum it up – other than WOW.

The rest was mainly some very competent if slightly staid cover versions of Sandy songs, with the predictable sickly sweet rendition of “Who knows…” at the end. The sheer diversity of the musical accompaniment from the Bellowhead (+ Jerry, whose beautiful playing just seems effortless) must be applauded. Mention must be made of Johnny Flynn who was extremely good, but also the only person who seemed to be really happy to be there – most other people seemed to have their “serious” faces on and refused to crack a smile if they could help it.

As previously mentioned, Swarb got the biggest cheer of the night but for me perhaps his set brought the biggest disappointment… His version of “It suits me well” from his solo album (I forget which one) was one of those songs that really struck a chord with me from an early age (I’m 25 now), and I then went on to discover its roots in Sandy. I was really looking forward to getting the chance to hear him do it – but in my opinion, with some help from Kevin Dempsey, he murdered the song (and I don’t use that word lightly).

That was a pity as I guess I had such high expectations of it, but over all it was a most enjoyable evening – Congratulations to all those who help organise it.

(Back to lurking mode for me now!)

i don't know whether to shake your hand for acknowledging marc who i have loved to death since i was 12 ( and i also painted his studio in ladbroke grove with skulls and divas.. and i own his doctor martins haha but that is another story ).. or give you a slap for dissing my main man swarb
i am sorry swarb  didn't hit the spot for you .. i cannot imagine him murdering anything tho personally he is fab
most people know marc as a camp twirler from soft cell but he really is a brilliant torch singer and his covers of jaques brel and billie holiday songs are superb live. he is a long time sandy fan and as a gay man is a typical admirer of strong and stroppy female singers lol.. this is not the first time he has covered sandy live. i am pretty sure that in my collection of marc boots i have him doing john the gun, farewell farewell and some others

marc has suffered a lot from being tagged due to his sexuality and for having a big mouth and not giving a s**t what others thought.. but i am SO happy to hear you guys ( FOLKIES ! ) saying that you rated his performance. he is so worth it. i am not so into his dancey stuff, i adore his dark and desperate ballads and sea shanties...

cheers for the reviews