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Post by fatfingerjohn on Feb 19, 2014 15:54:13 GMT
Hi,
Went to see Fairport at Chesterfield last night (second time in 9 months so you'll see I'm a fan). Here's a quick review for anyone wanting to book, as the tour has another 12 or so nights to go.
Support act was Edwina Hayes who had a simple guitar style and lovely voice; sang a few of her own songs and also Waltzing For Dreamers (Thompson). She came back late in second half to sing with FC on Who Knows Where the Time Goes, lovely. Surprise of the night was that bass player Dave Pegg had broken some bones in his hand and couldn't play; his son, Matt, stood in and was excellent. Dave joined in some of the vocal harmonies; Farewell Farewell excellent.
Overall it was a great show, with perhaps fewer of the better known songs than usual as they were showcasing some new songs from an album they will be recording in April. It was good to hear the new stuff and amazing that after 45 years they are not prepared to sit on their laurels and rehash the favourites. Perhaps the overall set was a little bit weighted towards Chris Leslie's stuff although he is a brilliantly versatile musician and writes/adapts songs very well.
Once again the sheer infectiousness of Ric Saunders on the fiddle was the highlight for me and I think many others. I saw Ric a few weeks ago with his trio and he is worth anyone's few quid to see.
Highlight song? Apart from WKWTTG per above and the obligatory Matty Groves and Meet on the Ledge, I heard for the first time a rarely performed song which was not actually written by a FC member but a schoolteacher called Stuart Marson. The only youtube FC video I can find of it is attached below with a younger Simon Nicol accompanied by Dave Swarbrick. Have a listen; I'm desperately trying to learn the melody, arrangement and lyrics already.
The show started at 7.30 and didn't finish until 10.45; FC never short change you. Loved it.
John
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Post by ocarolan on Feb 19, 2014 21:17:18 GMT
Great post FFJ - I'm a (very) long time Fairport fan too. Ever since they started in fact. Will be seeing Fairport in Weston v soon - usually catch them there each winter.
Love Too close to the wind, learned it way back from the LP pictured at the start of the vid you posted. If you dig around you'll probably find my effort at it on octave mandolin somewhere in the Plucky Duck! In fact I sang it last Friday at a local gig.
Keith
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Post by sigmadel on Feb 21, 2014 3:36:07 GMT
Great review FFJ . You really can't beat a good gig /show.
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Post by ocarolan on Mar 2, 2014 0:30:07 GMT
Just got back from seeing FC at Weston super Mare Playhouse Theatre.
Basically what FFJ said, though, sadly, they didn't sing Too Close to the Wind, and Edwina didn't sing Waltzing for Dreamers. Found her to be a bit uninspiring on her own despite the lovely voice, but when she sang Who Knows Where the Time Goes and Meet on the Ledge with FC I found it all quite moving. Magic moments.
Simon was suffering from a cold, but soldiered on extremely well in spite of it. That man is just so supremely and understatedly good - he deserves a medal, and more, for being an original member present for most of the band's history, and for holding the band together throughout a lot of ups and downs and personnel changes. Matt Pegg also did a great job, even managing the jigs and reels on the bass just like his dad, though played with fingers rather than a plectrum. Gerry Conway drummed away genially and effectively, working well with Matt. Ric Saunders played as maniacally brilliantly as ever and did his usual wandering round in a world of his own as well - always entertaining to watch. Chris Leslie is a superb singer, writer and multi-instrumentalist and I especially enjoyed his fiddle duetting with Ric. Peggy put in a few appearances despite being handicapped as FFJ mentioned - Kazoo was the least of his contributions, far outshone by his vocal harmonies and dry humour.
Really enjoyed the evening, as did No. 2 daughter (who was infected long ago by my liking for FC) and her friend, who had never heard them, or even of them before.
Looking forward to the next winter tour. Would love to do Cropredy Festival again some time - only been once, which must have been early 1980s I think - its grown a bit since then!
Keith
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Post by fatfingerjohn on Mar 2, 2014 11:38:32 GMT
Glad you enjoyed the show Keith. Was it a sell out as I think you mentioned a while back that on their last visit it was barely half full? Chesterfield was jam packed. Its surprising that they change the repertoire from one venue to another and its a pity they didn't do Too Close to the Wind as this was my highlight at Chesterfield.
I think that Edwina Hayes' performance was a classic of why just a very, very, few people really make it beyond being 'entertaining' and I'm not decrying her in the slightest as I enjoyed listening. Her voice is lovely, her guitar playing OK if nothing special and she seems to have a nice easy personality. So why is it that she has not got beyond this when her basic credentials are as much there as say Kate Rusby (who I love deeply......  ) and who's voice is lovely, her guitar playing etc etc. It simply has to be that little bit of magic that you can't describe that elevates someone above the rest. Wish I had even a tiny sprinkle of it. But then I'd hate to be rich and famous and play to huge audiences etc..................
John |
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Post by ocarolan on Mar 2, 2014 13:55:24 GMT
Downstairs was full, as usual, and upstairs was much better than the last few years at maybe 2/3 full.
Agree entirely re Edwina and Kate!
Keith
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) and who's voice is lovely, her guitar playing etc etc. It simply has to be that little bit of magic that you can't describe that elevates someone above the rest. Wish I had even a tiny sprinkle of it. But then I'd hate to be rich and famous and play to huge audiences etc.................. 
