| Steeleye Span : Preston Guild Hall |  Venturing over the hills to Preston Guild Hall through the snow and ice heralding the onset of winter meant that expectations of the concert were high. We were not disappointed!
Calmly walking out onto stage, with no introduction given, or needed, the band launched into a wonderful mix of old and new material from their extensive repertoire (somewhere between 200 and 280 songs according to the later repartee).
As usual, Maddy made her customary half-time appearance selling raffle tickets, sadly this time in support of Tim Hart and his worsening medical condition (also to be supported by Park Records imminent re-issue of the Nursery Rhymes material that Tim recorded in the early 80s). She then managed a quick change of costume (in the time it took us to re-seat ourselves) which allowed her to twirl around the stage in familiar fashion during those few numbers where she was not leading with her powerful vocals.
Which was the best of those tracks played throughout the evening?
For the author it was a rousing version of ‘Bonny Black Hare’, subtly different from previous renditions (as were most of the songs).
For one of our friends (who yet again managed to get front row seats) it was undoubtedly “Sheep Crook & Black Dog”.
But neither of these was an easy winner; Maddy’s voice and Peter Knight’s fiddle gave us a the poignant duet of ‘The Silkie’ (which turns out to be a hidden track on the latest CD ‘Cogs, Wheels and Lovers’); the venerable ‘All Round My Hat’ was eagerly received, and accompanied, by both the venerable and younger elements of the audience; a beautiful rendition of ‘I Live Not Where I Love’; the powerful ‘Van Diemen’s Land’; ‘They Called Her Babylon’ which “transported other venues to the North West”; all of these, and more, would be candidates.
Ken Nicol’s guitar playing was exquisite, especially when he selected the right guitar for the number to be played, as was Rick Kemp’s bass. Rick also introduced an interesting song about the borders (although I missed the name of it), with descriptions of how life there maybe hasn’t changed that much over the centuries.
Liam Genockey didn’t say much, to the audience at least, “just” “quietly” played the drums and added occasional vocals.
The enumeration of the various afflictions of the various band members during this long and intensive tour readily explained the presence of the “travelling reserve”, the versatile Pete Zorn, at the back of the stage.
Truly a memorable evening!
- Ken Punshon
|
|
|
|
|
Subscribe to North West Folk
