| Fairport Convention at Burnley Mechanics |  Friday, 19th February found us in a packed Burnley Mechanics waiting to see Fairport Convention.
Usually, I am impatient for the main act to begin, but this time was an exception to the rule - The Dark Horse, consisting of Flossie Malavialle and Keith Donelly were very entertaining. Flossie's French/Darlington accent, coupled with Keith's North East sense of humour and spontaneity had the audience laughing from the start.
Their choice of songs equally held my attention, my favourite being Green Grow the Issues Oh. As a neat way of blending the two acts, Fairport joined The Dark Horse on stage to sing Si Tu Dois Partir.
Then Fairport took centre stage and they were really on form and enjoying themselves. Simon Nicol, flawless as usual on guitar, was missing his favourite Santa Cruz. It was, in his own words, ‘In hospital’. He was using his beautiful Rob Armstrong parlour guitar instead. Although this instrument has an excellent tone, it was not ideally suited to some of the songs in the programme. Many guitarists in the audience would have envied his having the opportunity to choose.
There was a mixture of the old and new. The story of the Cropredy Bell and the song Red and Gold always bring back happy memories of being at Cropredy festival (and incidentally what a line up they have chosen for this years event.)
Rick abandoned his violin to accompany Dave and Chris in a three way ukelele medley. Gerry left his drums to don a washboard and join in the fun.
We were treated to some new tunes Rick had composed. Chris sang John Gaudie, penned by himself, in his usual fantastic manner and Babbacombe Lee, which happens to be my all time favourite - Swarbs still has the edge though. Dave also took lead vocal, which was a change.
Now we come to Simon and his voice.... Aaaaaaaaaah. In my humble opinion, perfection in every way. He must have sung Matty Groves and Who Knows Where The Time Goes countless times but he still looks as if he is singing with feeling. I am very biased towards Simon.
Fairport have been around in various guises for about 42 years. As a mere teenager I discovered them, lost them and luckily re-discovered them. Dave might have lost his hair over that time, Simon's long flowing brown locks have been replaced by a silver mane, but the music and sound they still produce has stood the test of time.
Here's to Cropredy 2010, Burnley 2011 and any other time I can get my fix of Simon and ,of course, the others who make up the group Fairport Convention.
- Kath Simmons
 |
|
|
|
|
Subscribe to North West Folk
