TAMWORTH FOLK CLUB GUEST NIGHT REVIEW
September 2004

William Pint and Felicia Dale

The Internet is a great boon to anyone wishing to research a subject and in writing reviews on a particular artist, one can gain a lot of background information.
I tried this technique with our opening act this night, and you would be surprised by the amount of facts came up. OLD CASTLE BAND. OLD...." aged, having lived or existed long, belonging to an earlier period" with links to zimmer frames, meals on wheels, OAP passes etc. CASTLE...." fortress, built for strength , many in ruined state. BAND...." used to bind, a range between two frequencies, a company of musicians " At last ! I thought, a phrase which comes closest to what I had been watching, but still no website on the actual artists. Never mind I will just have to make up something.

But I jest dear reader, you all know and love our resident "company of musicians" and when viewed from the front with backlighting, their name just suits them. I had it on good authority that they had practised new songs, and the first opener was very suitable " I'll never get home"
With jokes and good humour, I have rarely seen them put on such a polished performance.

At the end of their set, Bob introduced our guests, William Pint & Felicia Dale. Now they do have a website " pintndale", although I thought it was aligned to a brewery. Their music ranks amongst North America's finest sea based traditions of the British Isles and France, unconventional but spine - tingling.

Mostly nautical music, music of the sea. Whether they be contemporary songs, or shanties, the traditional work songs sung aboard the tall ships to organise the crew. The main instrument played by Felicia is the unusual hurdy - gurdy, an instrument that dates back to at least the 12th century. It sounds a bit like the bagpipes, but is actually a type of mechanical violin. The handle on the end rotates a wooden wheel which causes the strings to vibrate. Keys press the melody strings to sound different notes, while other strings play the drone notes. Controversy remains over it today. Was it developed first for music or as an instrument of torture. I thought their varied repertoire interspersed with stories was interesting and delightful to listen to.

The first half finished and the break gave way to the usual raffle with the promise of some of the finest wine that can be purchased from Aldi to be won.

The Old Castle Band took up their positions once more to start off the second half, it always amazes me how many artists together with Mikes double bass can be squeezed into such a small space. More songs, with indeed a few new ones and even an old type of boy band gyrations, or it could just be the bladder needing attention, went down well, and at the end they sank on to their seats for a well earned rest, with much applaud.

Pint and Dale back up for their final set and Felicia showed us her skill not only with the hurdy - gurdy, but also on violin and whistle, with William accompanying on guitar and mandolin. There version of Cape Cod was without doubt one of the best I have heard, and also Ride the White Horses was superb.

Altogether a great night, with a suitably comfortable amount of audience for a land locked Birchmore.

RDC 2004