TOM McCONVILLE & MICHAEL BIGGINS Baston Folk Club 25 April 2024

On the way to tonight’s Baston gig I was listening to a programme devoted to The Pet Shop Boys, described as the country’s premier duo. Having seen Tom McConville and Michael Biggins tonight, I would challenge that assertion. Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe may be world-famous multi-millionaires but our two guests tonight run them pretty close in the talent (if not financial) department.

 

Tom is a long-established performer on the folk circuit. In fact he informs us that he has been performing since he was four years old, standing on a table in his father’s pub, singing for the locals. No standing on tables tonight but he certainly entertained the locals. Tom is a consummate professional – he very quickly engages the audience with his quiet, north-eastern wit and charm – but don’t be fooled, it takes years of standing on stage to appear so composed and in command without ever seeming over-bearing. He makes great use of the microphone with his witty asides and throwaway comments, mainly about those characters (mainly Irish) who he has met on his travels. He’s been to Baston before, in March 2009 – was it really that long ago?

 

Tonight Michael is the silent partner – he barely says a word all evening but lets his fingers (and Tom) do the talking for him. There is no need for him to banter unnecessarily and, in truth this is a blessed relief. Too many performers today natter for the sake of it and aren’t always funny!

 

Midway through the second set Tom announces that Michael is going to give us a solo spot. What followed was a riveting five minutes of sublime keyboard playing. If Baston Folk Club ever releases a 20-Years Greatest Hits album, this would surely be on it. Michael’s fingers fly and float across the keyboard. His virtuosity is clearly evident, surely classically trained. His short spot was spellbinding.

 

There are many highlights tonight. In truth every audience member will underline different songs and tunes. Mine were Tom Waits’s Shiver Me Timbers, Jeannie’s Waltz and Clementine closely followed by Old Turf Fire and Foxy, not forgetting When the Boat Comes In. The encore, The Knife Grinder, was a gentle reminder to us all that Tom is not just a top-class folk fiddler but also an excellent proponent of Stéphane Grappelli-esque gypsy jazz.

 

So what did I take from tonight? I concluded that Tom’s voice is sensitive, emotional, wide-ranging and still one of the strongest on the circuit today. I concluded that his fiddle playing is clear, confident and, on occasion lark-ascendingly beautiful. I concluded that Michael’s fingers are truly blessed and that his keyboard playing is very special indeed. Finally I concluded that Baston is lucky to have Graham on sound – the balance tonight was superb and really enhanced the whole experience.

 

BANTER Baston Folk Club 28 March 2024

Recently I have thoroughly enjoyed the exploits of Ted Lasso, a humorous Apple TV show about the ups and downs of fictional football club AFC Richmond. The club are sponsored by a fictitious dating website called Bantr whose name is proudly emblazoned across the front of the team’s shirts.

 

Tonight’s Baston’s guests are Banter, as far as I am aware not a dating website nor fictitious. In fact Banter are very much real as they demonstrated this evening as they skilfully crammed onto Baston’s tiny stage, complete with large drum/percussion kit, a rarity at the Barn.

 

Banter are: Simon Care on melodeon, Nina Zella on keyboards & vocals, Tim Walker on drums, percussion, brass, vocals & dance calling and Mark Jolley on bass, fiddle, guitar & vocals. Immediately they established an ease with the audience. All four are accomplished talkers, none more so than Tim who, as presenter of BBC Radio Lincolnshire’s Folk Show, is ideally placed to know how to communicate with punters as well as knowing what goes down well with Lincolnshire folk.

 

All four band members are adept and proficient. For me Nina’s voice is a stand-out, closely followed by Tim’s trumpet playing (which surprisingly works really well in the context of a small village hall!). Mark is extremely versatile and the quietest of the quartet is melodeon-playing Simon, the band’s glue and the chap who brings with him vast experience and musical knowledge.

 

Banter were here tonight mainly to promote their upcoming album Heroes which not only celebrates musical heroes and influences but also says ‘thank you’ to those ‘ordinary people who have played a part in the band’s development, both individually and collectively. 

 

We are treated to many a familiar folk classic, most memorably Pete Coe’s Rolling Down The Ryburn, The Oak and The Ash (beautifully sung by Nina) and John Tam’s anthemic Lay Me Low.

 

I particularly enjoyed Nina’s compositions and arrangements of traditional songs, especially Picking A Ship and The Lass of Richmond Hill. Sets were interspersed with instrumentals such as Morgan Rattler and Seneca Square/Soldier’s Joy.

 

It’s always a nice surprise to hear, and learn about, a singer hitherto unknown to me. Consequently it was a pleasure to hear Tim talk about and sing Torn Screen Door, a song by Scottish/Canadian singer David Francey – I shall investigate further.

 

They leave us by singing Rolling Home as they walk off stage, the last act to do similar was Sid Griffin and the Coal Porters in September 2015 who walked off stage whilst singing Dylan’s You Ain’t Going Nowhere.

 

Banter are a Festival act in their own Festival. They are equally comfortable on a large Festival stage or playing a marquee at a small village festival in late summer. Come to think of it, Banter are ready to do just that – appearing at their own Banterfest in mid -September. At the time of writing all tickets are, you’ve guessed it, sold! No surprise.

 

CHRIS SHERBURN, DENNY BARTLEY & EMILY SANDERS Baston Folk Club 22 February 2024

There are some occasions when I find writing a review tricky. How can I tell the act that I couldn’t hear what they were saying? How can I write that they didn’t have enough stage presence without hurting their feelings? Tonight was certainly not one of those occasions. In fact I found it remarkably easy to write this review, such was the high quality that was laid before us tonight.

 

Goodness me! It’s nearly six years since Chris, Denny and Emily graced the Barn at Baston and this was indeed a welcome return visit, the trio being Chris Sherburn (vocals and concertina), Denny Bartley (vocal and guitar) and Emily Sanders (vocal and fiddle). When they were here before I referred to them not as Sherburn, Bartley & Sanders, nor Chris, Denny and Emily but merely as CDE (possibly well-known A-level grades). I shall do so again.

 

Those resilient enough to brave the almost incessant rain were treated to another fine evening of music and banter of the highest order. We’ve had so much rain over the past few weeks that even Noah might be tempted to wave a wet white flag in surrender and just stay at home.

 

Before a note had been played, I knew that we were in for a great evening. As soon as the trio hit the stage, Chris found his way straight into the hearts of the audience – by being rude to us! He drolly said that they had arrived early with the intention of “doing some shopping in Baston … all we found was a Lidl”. We understood exactly what he meant and were immediately friends for life. He asked which clubs did we belong to in the village – tennis club, bowls club? We hooted with laughter in recognition of our lives in and around Baston.

 

And then the music began. Adieu Sweet Lovely Nancy arrived early. In fact tonight we had a number of songs that included a Nancy. Even the encore, Bill Staines’s Roseville Fair referenced one – this time the late, missed Nanci Griffith who recorded a version in 1984. 

 

During the evening Emily transported us from her landlocked Shropshire homeland to a variety of sea locations and even far way with The Banks of Newfoundland.

 

There were many highlights tonight – Christy Moore’s Bright Blue Rose, The Old Triangle, New Railroad to name but three but in truth there was not one duff song tonight, testament to great musicians who know their craft, pick the right songs and who take the audience seriously, almost treating them as friends.

From the last time they came I had remembered Chris’s twinkly-eyed Confessions of a Lock Keeper wit (“I’m from Goole you know, respect all Goolies”) along with his consummate if understated concertina playing. I had remembered Emily’s sweet voice, her clear fiddle playing and her sensible verbal interjections clearly designed to keep the two chaps on track. But the one feature I had forgotten was Denny’s superb, heartfelt singing, to me reminiscent of Paul Brady. There’s something about an Irish voice that can simultaneously take you to the bowels of the earth and then high into the clouds in the sky. Wonderful. 

 

Before I finish I must also pay tribute to Graham’s sound tonight. It can’t be easy getting the balance right in a L-shaped village hall but he certainly managed it once again – the sound was balanced and clear without being over-the-top or intrusive.

 

Once again CDE are musical proof that folk clubs/live music are alive and well. Nothing extravagant, nothing over-the-top or too flashy. CDE sound good and make you smile and are a great mix – a true chemistry lesson. Let’s hope they return and see us before another six years elapses. Goodness knows where we’ll all be in 2030!

 

JACKIE OATES & JOHN SPIERS Baston Folk Club 21 December 2023

‘Tis the time of year for overflowing trolleys and queues at supermarkets, not forgetting last minute online orders complete with fingers crossed in the hope that items will be delivered by Christmas.

So let’s, for an hour or so at least, escape from the seasonal madness and immerse ourselves in quality music and musicianship. But how can this be achieved? Easy. Just come with me to Baston Folk Club to sit, watch and enjoy Jackie Oates and John Spiers. Jackie is a superb fiddler and a sweet singer. John is one of the country’s most accomplished melodeon players and tonight brings some from his collection, including one festooned with Christmas lights.

I really admire the duo. They are expert musicians and have clearly given a great deal of thought to what tunes they are going to play for us tonight. But the feature that I find most attractive is that they are happy to stand in front of an audience in an intimate setting, where they can see every face quite clearly. In addition they play without the need for amplification or microphones. It’s music’s equivalent of high-wire walking without a safety net.

It has to be said that tonight John is hampered by a poorly throat, so much so that his singing is restricted to a mere whisperstowards the end of the evening. No harking for this herald angel! John’s night is reasonable silent and perhaps tomorrow he may need to tuck himself away in a manger.

The first half started briskly with Ploughboy and soon we were transported round England with songs from Northamptonshire and Exmoor via the Lake District. In addition John informed us about the word carol being connected to people dancing in a circle in France. Throughout their playing was expert and subtle – Jackie and John appear effortless but, make no mistake, they are consummate musicians on the top of their game.

During the interval not only did we have the legendary Baston raffle but we also had the opportunity to purchase Jackie’s homemade soap, accompanied by special music download codes – surely a Baston first!

One of my personal favourites opened the second set – Congleton Bear. Later we went to Sussex with The Trees Are All Bare and the delightfully-named My Shoes Are Made Of Spanish.We were also treated to music recorded by Jackie with the Warwickshire-based Orchestra of the Swan, tonight The Robin’s Petition – if you haven’t heard any of this, seek it out! There’s plenty already available, in particular listen to Earthcycle: a Four Seasons for the 21st Century.

We gradually became more Christmassy, culminating with Nigel Eaton’s The Halsway Carol and eventually we left feeling refreshed and ready for the Yuletide fray.

And so Baston’s 2023 merry year came to a close. In just under a year’s time, in November 2024, John will be part of the Celebrating 20 Years of Bellowhead tour, a gargantuan march across the United Kingdom that will no doubt delight those who can get tickets for the large venues. The reunion will no doubt bring 5-star reviews and rapturous applause from all quarters. But tonight, in little old Baston, we had John and Jackie all to ourselves in a friendly and intimate setting. No raucous whoops or crowd-surfing for us, just contented punters appreciating the music.

*****

In 2023 club organisers Alan and Maggie Wood have yet again done live music in south Lincolnshire proud. Baston Folk Club continues to thrive and this is largely due to their boundless enthusiasm and uncanny ability to book the right acts for the right occasions. There is every reason to suppose that 2024 will continue to bring us all musical excellence and damn fine evenings out. Bring it on!!