Winter Tour 2010

[Harriet]

Show began just a smidge after 7.30 in Margate, finished round about 10.30.  We hung around chatting to the band and getting autographs, made it home to the Medway towns just after midnight!

[Chris]

I'd allow 1930 - 2240.....or 30 minutes later if an 8pm start

[giottoscircle (Robert)]

I'd allow 1930 - 2240.....or 30 minutes later if an 8pm start

Taxi home then by the sound of it!

[Viv G]

no, thankfully.

shame I liked it

[trewin]

Canterbury was our usual venue on the Winter tour, but have seen the chaps in Maidstone (at the Exchange and also at the leisure centre Mote park)  would be nice if they visited Chatham's central Halls or even the Brook which is where Feast of Fiddles are at the end of March.

As this year is the 40th anniversary of the open air concert in Maidstone as featured on the DVD also my 1st fairport gig it would have been nice if they had managed a gig here either on the "Wintour" or the acoustic one.

[folkieboater]

(PS Really ought to mention John Gale - Tewkesbury is always good, but the sound on Saturday was superb)

So he was only a day late then )

[Jim G]

I saw the chaps at The Octagon Yeovil Sunday night. Just got back to London this evening so quick report. I Really enjoyed the set. The Octagon was probably around 80% full - so pretty good crowd. Dream song was brilliant.  New songs interesting - plenty of fiddle work!

If you don't want the set list spoilt then i suggest you don't read the 2010 T -shirt untill after the gig as it seems to list all the songs including the new ones.

[PaulT]

... but it includes 1 song not in the set (not at Tewkesbury, anyway).  Chris mentioned it would be in the set for the Spring acoustic tour though.

[Tim Fletcher]

Pretty Damn Cosmic....

Thank you.

[Jim G]

... but it includes 1 song not in the set (not at Tewkesbury, anyway).  Chris mentioned it would be in the set for the Spring acoustic tour though.

The T shirt actually included the names of two songs that they didn't perform at Yeovil.  

[PaulT]

They didn't do their cover of "Wait & Bleed"?  

[steve-n]

(PS Really ought to mention John Gale - Tewkesbury is always good, but the sound on Saturday was superb)

So he was only a day late then )

Ooops.......

Too many gigs!  John's efforts on behalf of FC were, of course, on Friday, but the sound mixed by Roger on Saturday was indeed superb, albeit for Gigspanner at Cirencester. (see seperate thread).

Looking forward to seeing them both again this coming weekend.

S&J

[tony the roundhead]

Of to the maltings a week Tuesday..

I'll be there.

[Viv G]

Of to the maltings a week Tuesday..

I'll be there.

me too

[GubGub (Al)]

So, just back from the Worthing leg.

I arrived late as a result of not being able to find anywhere to park. I'm not sure where all the car owners were though as the theatre was maybe slightly more than half full. At least the audience was, eventually, quite enthusiastic.

Flossie & Keith were excellent, a bonus as I had not really expected to enjoy them. Still no CDs though which was probably just as well as I have a bit of a history of buying discs by Fairport support acts, playing them once and then never listening to them again. Not in recent years admittedly.

As for the chaps... I think at least one member of the band may have enjoyed themselves a great deal at the folk awards last night! The between songs chat seemed a little laboured at times and they looked a bit tired. This was not reflected in the music however. Highlights for me were storming versions Dirty Linen and John Gaudie/The Bowman's Retreat along with the new medley of classic Fairport instrumentals including Bridge Over The River Ash as you have never heard it before. As with the last two years however the centrepiece was the Babbacombe Lee material. I can really see this line up doing justice to a performance of the whole album should they follow through with that idea. Dream Song was sublime. A slight pity that Ric did not try and emulate Swarb's angular solo from the album, prefering instead something more melodic but he more than made up for it with the new effects driven unaccompanied link piece that led into The Hanging Song.

The evening was of course rounded off with Matty which, in this more traditional reading, made for a refreshing change. Then it was MOTL and a surprisingly emotional farewell from Simon. Affection was passing back and forth from stage to audience and I got the impression that the band really enjoyed themselves tonight, even if they were a little subdued.

So did I!

[Steve with the black dog]

Leamington was also a gig of two halves with the audience rather quiet until after the beer and ice cream break.  The venue came alive more in the second half and as a consequence so did the band.

Just a mention for the Pirates of the Caribean influenced Danny Jack's Chase - a really enjoyable new swashbuckler from Ric.

Like Gub-gub, my highlights included Dirty Linen and John Gaudie.  Thanks to Simon for the straight version of MG.  He says it was not a response to my campaign, but I'll kid myself that I am more influential than I am

MOTL was enhanced by Flossie's lovely rich alto voice and her sparkly evening dress.

For any others who are keen on trivia; I liked Peggy's new 5 string bass. I note he is now playing it through a Laney.  Also liked Simon's diddy acoustic - what is it?

[Dan O.]

For any others who are keen on trivia; I liked Peggy's new 5 string bass. I note he is now playing it through a Laney.  Also liked Simon's diddy acoustic - what is it?

I spoke to Peggy about his new bass at The Dylan Project gig at The 100 Club in December - he told me it was the 1st time he'd used it live. Sounds like Simon's "diddy" acoustic might be his Rob Armstrong Parlour guitar ?

Have found I'm able to get away to the Portsmouth show on Wednesday evening...would love to see any TAWers there.

[Steve with the black dog]

For any others who are keen on trivia; I liked Peggy's new 5 string bass. I note he is now playing it through a Laney.  Also liked Simon's diddy acoustic - what is it?

I spoke to Peggy about his new bass at The Dylan Project gig at The 100 Club in December - he told me it was the 1st time he'd used it live. Sounds like Simon's "diddy" acoustic might be his Rob Armstrong Parlour guitar ?

Have found I'm able to get away to the Portsmouth show on Wednesday evening...would love to see any TAWers there.

The diddy guitar had a triangular A on the headstock so, yes it was his Armstrong.

[steve-n]

Danny Jack's Chase - a really enjoyable new swashbuckler from Ric.

 

................and a tune which keeps coming back to you days after the gig!!!

We were also at Leamington. The seating doesn't get any more comfortable nor the bar less crowded but a really enjoyable evening nonetheless.
Flossie and Keith have completely reworked ther set since last week and are much more "together". The chaps, as always, were great value having really settled in to most of the songs. Highlights... Hens March Medley, a brilliant WKWTTG from Simon and the two BL songs with Ric's PDC link. Oh and Peggy's bass on Dirty Linen was terrific.

Enjoyed chatting to Martin D and Ellen - we've nodded to each other previously but never really spoken  

Very strange to be shepherded from the premises by a bouncer (well, steward really). That's not happened for years but it was after 11  

S&J

[Viv G]

Reading all these posts has made me even more excited about the gig at the Maltings tomorrow Can't wait!!!!