 Have a look at the main picture on Sheelanagig’s website and you get the impression that they’re a bit…well, mental Maybe that’s why they agreed to play a series of short sets amongst the chavs, fast food stalls, pound shops and fat women with tattoos that make up Bolton town centre these days.
The performance was part of an open air day organised by the council which included a climbing wall for children who aspire to become cat burglars and a substance abuse tent. (An area where the danger of narcotics are explained that is – the town’s top brass haven’t acquired a license to trade in crack. Not yet anyway.)
Sheelanagig are fronted by violinist Aaron Catlow and flute player Adrian Sykes, both of whom verge on virtuoso status. Very able back up is provided by John Blakeley on drums and double bassist Dorian Sutton, but the highlight on this occasion was Dave Archer’s understated guitar work.
The music is a mix of folk and gypsy jazz, with a bit of eastern promise thrown in for good measure. You wouldn’t have been surprised to see a snake charmer appear, or a traditional Greek dancing troupe. Not that movement was in short supply as Sutton and Co, swaggered, staggered, po-goed and high stepped around the pavement, even lying down and playing dead at one point.
This is good time music, best listened to on a late summer evening, accompanied by a pint or six of cider. The band has three dates at Glastonbury later this month, where they’ll find audience participation easier than they did here. There was more interest in the Thai boxing display which followed, but then martial arts training is a more of a pre-requisite in Bolton than fine music. After all, those large tattooed women can take some fighting off of a Saturday night.
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