|
 Concert
at the Royal Oak, Edinburgh (May 2007)
See royal-oak-folk.com
See tomfairnie.com
Review by Jack Foster
With regular Foakies host Tom Fairnie absent
(he's apparently in a caravan in the highlands writing songs),
it was left to Mark Barnett to host the evening's antics
- and if I may say, what a fine job he did. Mark opened
the evening with a few originals including 'Closed For Prayers',
a particular treat - as guesting with him was Steve Rutherford
on mandolin. Barnett apparently met Rutherford whilst rolling
home drunk one evening in his stairwell - and this was his
first ever public performance. I think this is the first
time I've seen an instrument other than a guitar feature
at Foakies (though I have missed a few), and it really added
to the sound - an excellent start to the evening.
Up next was Ken Hastings. If you've ever
read any previous reviews by myself - you'll know I'm not
Ken's biggest fan, but I was subdued this time by a more
personal number from Hastings, dedicated to his wife on
their 37th anniversary - thanking vintage Calypso singer
'Si Grant' (I may have that name wrong) for bringing them
together. This was a pleasant departure from his usual "funny"
songs, it was heartfelt and it meant something. The "funny"
songs were not ruled out entirely though, 'Carnage at the
Folk Club' commented on the large amount of deaths in folk
songs, essentially a list of folk songs in which people
die. He certainly got his point across.
At this point I must praise Barnett's decision
to extend the breaks slightly, so they were slightly more
smoker friendly, and allowed for the social aspect of the
evening to blossom a little more than normal.
Bill O'Dare started off the second set
with a song he learned from Ralph McTell, a Big Bill Broonzy
song ' Come Home Robert Johnson', my notes read "good,
but not folk". His 3rd song was much more in the folk
tradition 'The Day That All The Lights Went Out, and 47
died' (perhaps one for Ken Hasting's reportoire). A fantastic
song, which I am told we can expect to be able to hear on
an album to be released soon.
Mike Dillon took to the stage after Nancy
Summerville's poetry readings on a multicultural Scotland.
Mike is apparently working on a Tolkienesque novel at the
present time and of course has been heard on the Garden
Sessions in episodes gone by. As a pre-curser to the Scottish
elections, Mike opened with a poem entitled 'Bastards' -
I'm always wary of this one size fits all mentality regarding
politicians (as it can only give them license to misbehave),
but I was comforted by his closing line "...at least
this time, they're our bastards."
Whilst I found Dillon's poems extremely engaging, they were
difficult to follow - a handout might not have been a bad
idea. His attack on middle/upper class students of Edinburgh
University (or "ya's") 'No Wee Marys' added some
much needed social commentary to the evening. By this point,
Dillon was certainly the most popular with the audience,
and was undoubtedly the best all round entertainer. I wish
though, that he could sing in the style he employed for
his acapella number, natural - folkie and powerful - instead
of what he seems to prefer, which sounds quite different
- almost a carbon copy of his american name sake Bob Dylan.
I moan, but I really like Dillon's songs - the lyrics mean
something, and I think that most people could identify with
his final song, with lyrics such as "...too long at
the diggars, too long at the bar, too long at the eighty
shilling, time won't stretch that far."
The headlining act was Rachel Dawick, who
used to sing with the all female band 'Ruby Blue', she is
a New Zealander who's been living in Scotland for some time
now. Her first song was unnacompanied - 'St. James Infirmary',
it showcased a very powerful voice and was certainly the
most folkie of her set. Dawick is reminiscent of english
singer/songwriter 'Kate Bramley' and has something of the
Mama Cass about her (her voice, that is). 'Time Travellers
Wife' was a song which caused me to retreat to Pedant's
Corner though - the song talks of a woman who is constantly
waiting for her time traveller husband - now, call me crazy,
but I thought one of the main advantages of time travel
would be that you'd never have to keep anybody waiting ever
again!!? Outwith my pedantry though, I did thoroughly enjoy
Dawick's set - specifically 'Shadows', which had some beautiful
guitar (possibly in the infamous DADGAD tuning) - a haunting
yet energetic, moving song which verged on the anthemic.
The next Foakies will be on the 5th June
at The Royal Oak on Infirmary Street, Edinburgh, entry is
a very reasonable £3
<< Back to REVIEWS
page |
