As always a stunning stiring performance in a very intimate venue. Excellent support from a French lady called Flossie Malavialle. Great to see Phil back from his salty adventures on the high seas. He looked very well for it. Opening number was "Tall Ships" in his honour. Lots of stuff from the new album as well as old favourites like "Cousin Jack". You don't need other folk bands when you have SOH!!

Cara is always good to watch and has a beautiful voice. Good to see her Husband Sam Lakeman as well who plays a mean guitar and piano. Battery on his pick up went phut and very funny interlude with him having to change it. Lost his pick inside his guitar to add insult to injury for him. All was well in the end though.

As usual a great show by the orchestra. Have only seen them at festivals before so it was different to see them in comparativly more intimate surroundings. Very funny covers of Pin Ball Wizard, Teenage Dirtbag and of course Anarchy in The UK.

Tue 26 May – Eddi Reader plus Heidi Talbot
I had of course been aware of Eddi Reader for some time as a result of her days in London with Fairground Attraction. She really came to my notice however about 3 years ago when on holiday on the Isle of Harris. My Wife and I had been watching some Golden Eagles in the hills and dropped into a small arty Cafe for a Coffee. They sold pictures and some folk CD's. My Wife picked up her Robert Burns album which had just been released and thereafter it was no looking…

I always enjoy a Fairport acoustic gig! First time at this venue for me and the band apparently. Very intimate but a bit annoying that it was a stand up concert and most of the audience were over 50 and suffered a bit I think! Also the band played their first set sitting down which apart from making the aforesaid audience envious made it quite difficult for said audience at the back to see them! Good set list including some stuff I hadn't heard before such as the music from Excalibur and the brilliant ukelele bit. A good warm up…

An excellent evening of Jazz vocals and piano.

All in all a competent performance although you could tell it was the first gig of the tour! The sound balance was bad and the band had difficulty in remembering some of the words. Also although I used to love Maddy dancing she now makes me feel like I am watching my Mum at a disco!! Cringe making or what? Keep it up Steeleye but Maddy please don't dance.

To be honest if this gig had been held anywhere else than near to my home town I would not have bothered to go. My wife and I saw Kate several times last year and we know all of the songs on "Awkward Annie" off by heart. This however was a nice surprise for two reasons.
First the replacement for John McCusker, a girl called Anna Massey, who like John, comes from Scotland is a very promising musician. Playing fiddle, guitar and mandoline. I think we shall see a lot more of her.
Second, Kate included lots of material from…

On the whole a good concert although as can be expected the band is getting on in years! Ian's voice lacked it's former range and his on stage antics looked clumsy at times. Great to see Mick Abrahams and Clive Bunker from the original band turn up. Abrahams still gave a great account of himself on lead guitar playing some gritty blues and an overlong but enjoyable rendition of "Cat Squirrel."
The most memorable Tull song was of course "Aqualung" which was as fresh as when I first heard it. Other songs Included "Living in The Past", "Bouree", "Locomotive Breath"…

Have seen The Australian Pink Floyd who I think are nearly as good as the real thing. Would place this band as "a good attempt, but not quite there". Most are very good musicians and the female guitarist/vocalist is very talented. The keyboard player and apparent frontman is well out of place though. Belongs more in a pub band I think. Good sax player as well.

Did a fun version of "Arnold Lane" and a reasonable attempt at "Astronomy Domine".

Would I go and see them again? I think not. Can't wait for Roger Waters at the O2.