The more turned out to be a weekend (two night) break at the White Lion, wrapped around the Young’uns Saturday Night gig at the Jubilee Hall. We could have easily travelled up to Aldeburgh specifically for the concert but it is pleasant to be able to combine it with short break. Lucky and/or smart enough to be able to do so I guess…
Music
Shades of Blue – Where Art Thou???
R&B Update….. Just recently I have reinstated the editorial section of the R&B Primer, but only to include the series of articles by Steve Bellamy, originally produced in 2007!! They were always worthy of publication, but I was initially concerned by authenticity. Having revisited them at the behest of a reader, I have decided to make them available with the warning caveat emptor. Hopefully, they …
Brudenell and Beyond
As we’d booked the Barb Jungr gig a while ago, decided to augment the concert with a two nighter at the Brudenell in Aldeburgh…
The Wilsations at the Wolsey
Would be surprised how many pundits even remember Mari Wilson, but we spent last night at the Wolsey, largely based on hazy recollections of a couple of 80s hit singles and the very fine album “Rhythm Romance“, which I bought when it came out in 1991!!….
Snape 2019 – Gigs Three and Four
The last two gigs of this year’s Snape Proms (for us I should add) consisted of two contrasting bands from the folkish side of popular music; and it’s not giving too much away to confide that it was as usual a very fine way to enjoy both the new and familiar through these Snape performances. Although it is , as we shall see, always good to finish with the best of the lot.
Gilbert O’Sullivan (Snape Proms 2019)
This was the Monday gig that worried me. I had always had a sneaking regard for Gilbert O’Sullivan’s early releases (‘Alone Again Naturally’, ‘Nothing Rhymed’ etc.) but given that they were recorded at very start of the 70s, that seemed a very long time ago and I will freely admit to knowing little of him or his material post late 1970s (at the latest)…..
Maverick 2019
Spent Saturday at the by now well regarded annual pilgrimage to the Maverick Americana festival. As usual, took up our accustomed position in front of the Southern Sounds Stage for the afternoon session. It’s long been the case that even when not familiar with some of the lesser known (to me) artists the performances are never left that enjoyable and 2019 proved no exception.
London
…..and then what?? Well, following the Seville trip and a measly four or five hours sleep, a quick pack and we were on the train to London for a three night stay. Originally set up before we managed to squeeze in the Seville break, hence the short turnaround time between trips. As we were at the Albert Hall the first night, we decided to try the delights of the Gore at Kensington….
Skerryvore at the Apex
Skerryvore last night, at what proved to be the third in an excellent series of recent folk rock gigs, all of which were surprising and excellent in equal measure. I first heard the band with the release of their eponymous CD in, I think, 2010. So eight years or so later, finally got to see them in a live environment….
Oysterband at The Apex
Back to Bury after our excursion to the Maltings, and to what proved to be a fantastic night of folk rock from the Oysterband. Following on from the delights of Merry Hell, I’m definitely on something of a roll with Mrs. No Name. Only the second time for the full band (remember the ill fated Rhythm Festival in 2011) and a couple of years after The Oysters 3, the gig proved that those who are, sadly, of our generation can still singularly delight with the right environment and a stellar back catalogue…
Merry Hell at Snape
Realised that this was our first visit to Snape for a music gig that sat outside the annual Snape Proms festival; and coupled to that, it has been many a year sice I first expressed seeing Merry Hell in live performance. I’m a long time fan, having long enjoyed their rather singular take on the folk rock genre…
The Prom Trio
The final three in this year’s proms were completed last night. The concerts were supposed to be post ablation celebrations but that never happened, although it got pretty close!…..