Great evening at Katalin in Uppsala, Sweden. Me and Lena were at Cropredy this year so it wasn’t that long since we last saw Fairport. But this of course was the total contrast to the 20.000 people Oxfordshire mega-multi-old-and-new-Fairport weekend.
The Scandinavian tour sports six dates in Denmark, two in Sweden and four in Norway. Only two in Sweden?! Maybe Stockholm and Mellerud next time?
Katalin, smallish but cosy place. A listening audience. Lots of nice talk from the band, explaining and joking between the songs. And no drums! Just electronic drum pad and live percussion. Visual its looks a bit odd and stiff but soundwise it’s ok. Once again, and as usual, I was really impressed by the playing and singing – such great musicians all of them!
Sometimes Fairport – and well, lots and lots of bands – tend to emphasize a bit too much on 1) the latest album and 2) vintage classics. So it was nice to hear
Around the Wild Cape Horn, and a great version it was. Made me play the album
Festival Bell again during the week and for me it’s one of the stronger albums post-70’s, kind of overlooked.
John Condon is another newer tune that works great with the serious introduction from Simon.
Quite fantastic versions of
Now Be Thankful, Farewell Farewell and
Hiring Fair, beautiful goosebumpy stuff. And
Sir Patrick Spens always make me happy, the ultimate Fairport song in a way.
So great to see the band in Sweden again. Funny anecdotes, history lessons and references to earlier members of the band, often with that British self ironic twinkle in the eye. And with the singing, the songs and the playing it makes an evening like it always should be – relaxed and spot on.
