Thanks to everyone who came to play or listen at Loudhailer Acoustic last night. It was a lovely hot summer evening of music and as a result a broad range of knees were on show both on stage and in the (especially appreciative) audience – knobbly, hairy, shaved and meaty.
Rich and I opened up with Weatherbird as a first outing for Rich’s newly acquired Royal 12 string guitar, and then we tried out a couple of new songs. One of them was a bit of departure from normal as it’s spoken word with a piano accompaniment. It started after the My Ancestors were French workshop we did for Refugee Week where everyone wrote poems that I found I had some words on the go too. So, on Sunday morning I figured out a piano accompaniment and recorded a sketch of it on my Walkman. You can hear it here, but we thought it was better live last night as Rich did the vocal.
If was a great welcome back for Jeff Parsons who always gives us food for thought with newly penned originals, but it was really good to hear one of our favourites from last year ‘I can see that now’.
Next up Dexter played a couple of violin tunes – Mattachins and Russia Gopak – with ‘verve and aplomb’ (thanks JP) before we welcomed Geoff (Pink Panther from Gran Canaria) Durham who serenaded us and had everyone joining in with a set of Spanish influenced classics.
It was terrific to welcome Mike Poole with a top rendition of Bruce Cockburn’s ‘I Wonder where the lions are’, and a special mention for the audience who joined in the echo chorus with gusto.
Next up Karl Oakes came up with a fantastic set. We really loved the new songs ‘Kings Town’ and his new murder ballad, excellent stuff. There was time for another round of songs and Karl closed the show with his classic ‘Sailors Blues 82s (From the Ferens to the ABC). We hear he is going to record it in September – can’t wait for that.
Thanks again to Chris, David and the team at the WMC Hall and to everyone who came to play, and to listen. All welcome to the next session, second Saturday of the month as usual, so August 10th, 8 pm start. We really look forward to it, always a great night.
Rich took these portraits, click on the photo to enlarge and scroll through…
