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I had heard the name of Seth Lakeman before - I believe people wrote into deeF about his winning a folk award when he is clearly a) young, b) using amplification and c) more talented than them. Even so, I initially skipped over his name when flicking through the festival brochure. K recommended it, so I booked a ticket for him and the concert in the cathedral on Saturday (Humph was sold out). In fact I was lucky to get a ticket - fourth row back. I've been listening to the album Freedom Fields a reasonable amount, having found it in the HMV sale.
The support act was Sid Arthur, adequate I'd say, but they need a personality to fill a theatre stage. It reminded me a little of early Roy Harper, which I mean as a compliment.
Lakeman hit the stage running: heavy on the fiddle, singing at the same time, accompanied by his brother, Sean, mostly on accoustic guitar, Ben Nichols on a big double bass and Andy Tween on cymbal and wooden box, and later a drum kit. The sound mix wasn't the best, but it was very full for just four musicians. Sometimes less is more.
I thought the audience was going to annoy me - you know that habit of audiences to clap along with music on talent shows irrespective of the tempo? It was like that. And no flash photograph includes mobile phones too, please. Grrr. Fortunately they didn't keep it up.
But the music was good stuff, and I need to seek out more - it was also entertaining seeing whether his bow would have any strings left by the end of the set.
Full orchestra tomorrow.
The support act was Sid Arthur, adequate I'd say, but they need a personality to fill a theatre stage. It reminded me a little of early Roy Harper, which I mean as a compliment.
Lakeman hit the stage running: heavy on the fiddle, singing at the same time, accompanied by his brother, Sean, mostly on accoustic guitar, Ben Nichols on a big double bass and Andy Tween on cymbal and wooden box, and later a drum kit. The sound mix wasn't the best, but it was very full for just four musicians. Sometimes less is more.
I thought the audience was going to annoy me - you know that habit of audiences to clap along with music on talent shows irrespective of the tempo? It was like that. And no flash photograph includes mobile phones too, please. Grrr. Fortunately they didn't keep it up.
But the music was good stuff, and I need to seek out more - it was also entertaining seeing whether his bow would have any strings left by the end of the set.
Full orchestra tomorrow.
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