Festival Folk at the Oak is now in full swing and started it's second week with a the Dundonian duo of John Malcom and Stuart McHardy . I have to confess that this was my first ever experience of either of the two but as I waited on the steps of the pub I was assured my fellow oak regular (and also a son of Dundee) Martin Boland, that I was in for a treat. The only question being - was Martin right or was this a case of Tay based favouritism.
The blurb for the concert advertised itself as John Malcom and Stuart McHardy but in a slightly strange twist they decided to do a turn about evening each playing a selection of songs and some tunes with only a few songs performed together. I felt that this was a bit of a shame because for people so used to playing together when they did play as a duo they were almost seamless and the expertly played bluesy style lead guitar of Stuart McHardy contributed eloquently to the practised rhythm playing and confident vocals of John Malcom.
This is not to suggest that the pair were in any way a let down when performing apart. Stuart McHardy played some classics as well as a few self penned numbers, including some startling blues based tunes that demonstrated fully his talents as a guitarist, While John Malcom did a great job of earning his Boland affirmed reputation as “the best songwriter ever from Dundee.”
Though it would be fair to say that this was not the most up beat or exciting performance ever seen in the Oak and I would imagine most of the performances at this years Festival Folk at the Oak gigs will be more energetic than that of Monday night, I have to stress that both men amply made up for the more sedate nature of the evening.
I was in my element as a lover or folk trivia as both Stuart and John delivered (without any of the, more often than not, dry, lengthy and soporific effects associated) what could be considered short essays in the history behind many of their songs. Stuart McHardy has written books on various subjects and both men work with museums to teach young people and children about song writing and folk music and this (as well as the light hearted frankly slightly inebriated Oak atmosphere) gives them the ability to convey what is often dull history in an approachable fashion.
Suffice to say that if you want amusing anecdotal folk history, great song writing and some fantastic guitar in both Folk and Blues styles you will not be disappointed by this pair of Dundee's finest folkies but I have to say though the concert was very enjoyable, the best part of my Monday night in the Oak was in the upstairs bar after the gig. Both performers, as sadly few do, came upstairs after their performance and after a short beer break carried on singing and playing along with Boland and Hunter in the Monday night session. Although it wasn't technically part of the concert it deserves mention and added the last missing piece of the puzzle.
