Dragged the Mrs out a while back to see Fairport Convention when I was going through a bit of an electric folk stage, prompted by a band called Circulus.
After their BBC 4 documentary and gig at the Union Chapel, she was up for seeing them again, but was unfortunately taken ill on the night.
I set off alone for the Maltings in Farnham. It was pitch dark and pouring with rain. As I approached Farnham the police had blocked off the main road and were send us all to the right. I ended up lost in narrow back streets and then in a dead end. After a 180 point turn I somehow found myself in Castle Street and the car took over, whizzing straight to the Maltings car park.
Unable to flog the spare ticket, I took my seat (in the front row!) Dave Pegg appeared on stage sounding terrible and confirming the rest of the band were suffering from the lurgi. I noticed his arm was in a sling. Ulp! Yes, he’d suffered a bizarre dishwasher accident involving a glass, severing a tendon or two. Fortunately, his son is a very adept bass player and had stepped in to save the day (and tour).
Dave introduced support act Edwina Hayes, a Northern lass who, despite claiming her material focussed on misery, proved cheerfully upbeat and was joined by FC for her final number.
And onto the Fairports...
After their BBC 4 documentary and gig at the Union Chapel, she was up for seeing them again, but was unfortunately taken ill on the night.
I set off alone for the Maltings in Farnham. It was pitch dark and pouring with rain. As I approached Farnham the police had blocked off the main road and were send us all to the right. I ended up lost in narrow back streets and then in a dead end. After a 180 point turn I somehow found myself in Castle Street and the car took over, whizzing straight to the Maltings car park.
Unable to flog the spare ticket, I took my seat (in the front row!) Dave Pegg appeared on stage sounding terrible and confirming the rest of the band were suffering from the lurgi. I noticed his arm was in a sling. Ulp! Yes, he’d suffered a bizarre dishwasher accident involving a glass, severing a tendon or two. Fortunately, his son is a very adept bass player and had stepped in to save the day (and tour).
Dave introduced support act Edwina Hayes, a Northern lass who, despite claiming her material focussed on misery, proved cheerfully upbeat and was joined by FC for her final number.
And onto the Fairports...
I could only stay for the first set but ‘twas an hour of sheer pleasure -
Jewel In The Crown - great opener, extolling the virtues of Great Britain with no disturbing nationalistic overtones.
Doctor Of Physick - the wicked Dr Monk in a Gothic tale.
I’m Already There - pleasant song (featuring a vicar called Franklin) of a trek from Canada to Oxfordshire and introduced by Chris who mentioned Banbury to little or no reaction. My maternal roots lie in a nearby village called Bloxham (apparently violinist Ric Sanders lives there!)
Home - a new song.
Theodore;s Song - another charming one from Chris about an Oxfordshire eccentric
Dirty Linen - highlight for me, a boffo jiggy instrumental introduced by Simon Nicol as Dirty Crockery as a tribute to Dave’s accident. So fast and furious, Matt (Dave’s son) had to go for lie down afterward.
Cell Song and Mercy Bay finished a great (if short) evening
Jewel In The Crown - great opener, extolling the virtues of Great Britain with no disturbing nationalistic overtones.
Doctor Of Physick - the wicked Dr Monk in a Gothic tale.
I’m Already There - pleasant song (featuring a vicar called Franklin) of a trek from Canada to Oxfordshire and introduced by Chris who mentioned Banbury to little or no reaction. My maternal roots lie in a nearby village called Bloxham (apparently violinist Ric Sanders lives there!)
Home - a new song.
Theodore;s Song - another charming one from Chris about an Oxfordshire eccentric
Dirty Linen - highlight for me, a boffo jiggy instrumental introduced by Simon Nicol as Dirty Crockery as a tribute to Dave’s accident. So fast and furious, Matt (Dave’s son) had to go for lie down afterward.
Cell Song and Mercy Bay finished a great (if short) evening
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