December Tour 2004 - Reviews

[mikec]

Leyland - 4 days and counting.

Can't wait after all the positive reviews so far.

Any other board members going to be there?

MikeC

[gower flower (Shirl)]

Thank you Issy - I'm sure your cry of "Please come to Swansea" was heard far away in darkest Maldon.    What lovely news about the 2005 tour going ahead!  Must make a special effort next winter.

Got my Aggie CDs this morning.  Have only listened to one and a half of them, fo far.  Julie and Chris have superb voices - I am well impressed.  I also loved the monologues - A Child's Christmas in Wales - well, I WOULD, wouldn't I, being from Dylan Thomas's home town?  And as for "I sat on your zeppelin".  It must be a true story - you simply couldn't make it up!  Will write my cards tonight, accompanied by the Aggies.

Gower flower

[Ces]

I saw them at the Taleisin theatre in Swansea three or four years ago - excellent (though far from being a sell-out...a situation I think might change if they return next year, as they seem to be - justifiably - growing in popularity by the day ).

Here's hoping, anyway!

Carey

[YaBB Master (Colin)]

I think that you would expect me to be praising St. Agnes, so I'll keep it fairly short.

At the last minute, I did manage to see this tour, at The Mill (Banbury) on Wednesday.

When the St. Agnes scheme was hatched, the whole idea was to take familiar Christmas music and make it sound fresh, with new arrangements, but not moving too far from the original. Plus it's played by brilliant musicians.
They just keep refining the show and it really is a joyous night out. 
(There were two great new songs, the usual diverse readings and a Morris dance sneaked in.)

As from the encore. It's still a secret. (It must be a tricky instrument)

And a big thanks to Sir Bob, for clearing the traffic off the M25 & M40. 
Not a single hold up, there and back.

Not many board members present: Tony, Grace, Anji & Simon Nicol.
Minor disaster. I was driving, so had to turn down a drink from Peggy.  

[Keith]

Although "Comfort and Joy" is the perfect Christmas album, the live shows (and "The Show") do sound a lot fresher. Definitely a live band - especially when CL's in Swarb mode 

[YaBB Master (Colin)]

Although "Comfort and Joy" is the perfect Christmas album, the live shows (and "The Show") do sound a lot fresher. Definitely a live band - especially when CL's in Swarb mode 

I did manage to grab a few more copies if 'The Show', last night. Click here to buy one.
Both 'Comfort & Joy' and 'The Show' will be sold out this year. The original St. Agnes CD, has been re-pressed and will always be available at £9.99.

I will put up a couple of photos later.

Did anybody notice that the angels on the stained glass windows are caricatures of the band?

[Grace]

Did anybody notice that the angels on the stained glass windows are caricatures of the band?

Yes!!

What a great night at the Mill, definately the start of Christmas!  Took the husband and *both* children with me last night.  This was Sophie's (aged 6) first proper concert hall type gig and she behaved very well.  Both children fell asleep half through the second half - Chris had to be carried out and remained asleep on a chair in the foyer whilst we all socialised afterwards!! 

Have yourselves a very Merry Christmas!

Grace

[YaBB Master (Colin)]

Stuff the turkey, it's St Agnes Fountain 

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[jude]

Well - what a lovely evening that was, tonight at the Mill

Truly truly wonderful

Jude

[James SftBH]

I know I've banged on about this before so apologies; I cannot stand this Christmas carol lark, but the Aggies are something else...pleased you enjoyed it JD. I'm still reeling from the show they did over here.

[Sandra]

Great night with the Aggies, and great company.

Nick, Nancy, Chris, David Hughes, Jude, Chris B and lots more - thanks for a great time. Lovely to see everybody and get into the Christmas spirit.

 Got a bit worried about DH at one point but knew the crunch would come, and it did.

One of our party who a) really dislikes the seating in the Mill and b) really hates all things Christmas (the original 'bah, humbug Scrooge), came along with much reluctance and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Encore was brilliant, but won't spoil it for those who have yet to see them.

Sandra

[Amethyst (Jenny)]

Just home from another fantastic evening with the Aggies...  the Regal Theatre was abuzz and the atmosphere was brilliant...

... it's so sad to think the theatre is under such serious threat of closure....

Amy

[rachel]

What a lovely heartwarming evening last night at the Regal. First time we've seen the Aggies, encouraged to go by all the praise on the board, and am very glad we did.

rachel

Modified to remove comments on part of the thread that has been removed - Sandra

[mikec]

Just in from the last night of the tour at Leyland. Sorry I didn't read the thread in the Arms about Amys purse before I went so I couldn't mention it to any of the group.

Did meet Bernie and her sister though. Chris L seemed genuinely well chuffed with the Tibetan Incense Bernie gave him as a pressie. Strangely enough it came all the way from Magaluf  Nice to meet you Bernie, thanks for coming up and saying hello.

As for the performance. Well I think its all been said before. How many ways can you describe excellence. There was a certain 'end of term' feel to the occasion but none the worse for that. The Aggies were simply outstanding. I've been fortunate to see them every year so far and I can safely say this was the best yet. From the re-arrangements of already recorded songs to brand new ones they were on the ball from start to finish.

Their enthusiasm and enjoyment shone through from the first number to the last. I don't think I've seen a band smile quite so much through a whole concert before. Although that might have been cause they knew they were all going home tonight as it was the end of the tour but somehow I doubt it.

I didn't keep a set list (never do really) and there were so many highlights to single them all out but the ones which stick in this chaps memory were.

David Hughes monologue. I'm not a smoker (any more) but it was brilliant. As is his way with words he takes you down one path only to twist you round into another one almost before you know it. Brilliant david.
Away in a Manger was quite outstanding as was O Come All Ye Faithfull. Quite a finish to the evening. well almost.

Now the tour is over I see no reason to single out the encore as one of the best bits of entertainment I've seen in a long time. Whoever thought of unplugged ukeleles (sp again) for Gloria in Excelsis Deo deserves a medal. Quite simply a superb way to finish the evening. The 4 Aggies appeared in froont of the mikes and sang, and played superbly. I think I can safely say that tonight was the first time I has ever seen a ukelele solo (from CL).

All in all a wonderful night. Christmas has certainly begun. If you didn't get the chance to see them this year then don't miss them next year. They are doing it again and miss them at your peril.

Trust messers Leslie and Hughes got home safely as they both had long drives and were leaving tonight. Chris and Julie had a short trip to Southport.

Merry Christmas everyone. What an excellent night.

MikeC

[YaBB Master (Colin)]

Tricky instrument, the ukulele:

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[Amethyst (Jenny)]

Fantastic photo Colin

Amy

[Mike]

Excellent evening at Worksop. Thank you to all.

[Chris]

Well - what a lovely evening that was, tonight at the Mill

And I've just come across the photos.....

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[Cocker Freeman]

I've been sitting here waiting for them!

Nice pics, Chris. Very nice. 

[leahdon (Donna)]

Hey, its the Ukelele Christmas Orchestra of Great Britain 

(Ok, it's August, so I'm a  bit late posting this, but I wasn't on the board back then.  But as so many others said, a really great night.  I took an Aggies virgin along, who was dreading it, and he loved it.)

D
xx