TAMWORTH FOLK CLUB GUEST NIGHT REVIEW
September 2005

Last Nights Fun

As I walked into the Gamecock folk club room this evening, I knew there was going to be a different feel to the night as the entire room had been laid out in concert form with no tables. Either the audience were expected in droves, or were not expected to drink. As it happened all the chairs became quickly filled and pint glasses were secreted under the chairs. Anyway, the room was a sell-out and Malcolm’s face was a delight to behold as all his advance advertisement had not gone un-heeded.

After the lights were extinguished ( more on this later) the two Steve’s, Edkins and Swoffer took up their positions and gave there all with some really good songs and not forgetting Swoffs jokes with the audience holding there tongues in their cheeks.

Those who had not seen our main guests, and I confess I had not, were in for a real treat. Last Nights Fun, described by Irish Music Magazine as “the most exiting and entertaining traditional Irish music band in England ”.
They certainly got of to a rousing start with a traditional Irish tune which had all our feet tapping and under seat beer glasses rattling.

Chris Sherburn on the concertina is regarded as being one of the best in the world and his loveable line in patter had us all laughing loudly.
Nick Scott is a superb uilleann pipe player who takes in the beauty of his music which is revealed in his serene straight facial expressions.
Denny Bartley, the guitarist plays an unparalleled style in traditional music and his singing makes any song his own.

The music and songs flowed, and the audience were held in their seats. It was not until the interval that they could get up to re-replenish their glasses.
The usual raffle followed with a tremendous uptake in the ticket sales, the members of the audience who were not regulars, must have been under the misapprehension that there were terrific prizes to be had.

The second half started without the benefit of Stephen and Steve but got straight back into the music and craic with Sherburn, Bartley and Scott ( put that way it sound like a firm of solicitors). They continued with much more of there great sounding music which incidentally sounded perfect due to the fact that the P.A. was controlled expertly by their sound engineer.

I wish we could have employed as good a lighting technician. As they were nearly at the end of their final piece of haunting melody, with all the feeling put in by Nick’s pipes, the room was plunged into total darkness, at first I thought it was a special effect to embody the rich tapestry of the Celtic music, only to find out that Nigel had leaned on the switch, and his attempts to right the matter resulted in the lights going on then off again in successive movements. Last Nights Fun never before ended on a disco theme.

The whole night was a great success and I think all the audience who stayed right to the end left with a tremendous uplifting experience.
Thank you once again to our committee for providing a great night out. Long may it continue.

RDC 2005