Sally Hossack/Joe Doyle/Kenton Hall/The Bridge

SALLY HOSSACK/JOE DOYLE/KENTON HALL/
THE BRIDGE

Duffys 24th May 2026

I hadn't been to the last few "Up the Duffy's" evenings due to other commitments, so it was a delight to be back in Duffy's Bar last night, and what a lovely night it was... Chris does have a knack of putting quality bills together for these events, and this was another!

First up, on a break from festival field duties was Sally Hossack. It's always a delight to see a Sally Hossack gig, and this was no exception... somewha t scatty at times between songs, Sally delivered a great set, her singing sweet and gentle and guitar playing perfectly suited to the songs... She concentrated on her own excellent material, but did include one cover, Aimee Mann's "Heroin.

A couple of false starts to pieces didnt detract from the overall quality of the performance... great start to the evening.

Next up, a new name to me, Joe Doyle. Joe delivered a fine set concentrating on his own material but including a cover of Tom Waits... always a plus to hear a Tom Waits song!! His own songs seemed quite intense, though for my tastes, the blues songs were a bit dull, though towards the end he delivered a fine guitar solo and the last verse really came to life... overall a pretty good set, but to be honest, sadly not strictly to my taste

Next up, in total contrast... the unique Kenton Hall. Kenton is always full of life, positivity and fun, one of those artists who always make you feel good!... this set was another cracker...featuring songs both familiar and brand new and each delivered in Kenton's upbeat style. Full of personality and attitude, a great songwriter and outstanding performer... and finishing with a glorious sing-along "Sun Shone Down" which the audience were happy to sing along with and keep it going as Kenton stepped away... great set

Final act was something special, brought together by Luke Broughton, a band called THE BRIDGE, from the "Homelessness to Hope" project... each of the musicians have their own issues to contend with, and under Luke's guidance they come together to perform music, and give hope to everyone... and fine music it is...

Difficult to say much more about them... hugely enjoyable and uplifting performance as always by the band, it's always a joy to see this band perform... huge respect to the band and to Luke.

Keep music live... keep music real... support your local venue

AC/DC UL/Retsecrow

AC/DC UK/RETSECROW 

IMV 8th May 2026 

Satirday night at the The International Music Venue was again rock'n'roll night...

We arrived fashionably late, and were delighted to walk into a packed room, though missing the first few minutes of Retsecrow's set. I knew of the band from seeing the bass player on stage with the Small Fakers last year so was interested to see the band. To be fair, it is hard to form a real opinion, the band are very young playing very very early in their careers.. They are a rock band in the heavy metal school of rock and went down very well with much of the audience... although musically competent they haven't really found their own voice yet,, though i suspect that as they gain experience that will come... if a have a word of criticism, the singer needs to sing with some light and shade rather than simply shouting the lyrics, again, something i feel will come with experience.

Glad to have heard them, real potential and feel that experience will help them to evolve and iron out the performance... not the finished article, but a very young new band, and a very creditable start.

Headling was AC/DC UK... a tribute band! I felt i didnt really know much if anything of AC/DC so it was more or less a chance to see a totally new band for me.. however as the set continued i realised I knew more than i realised!

However, i am not really familiar with AC/DC so cant comment on how close to the originals this band are... but in any case they are a terrific band delivering 2 hours of high energy top class rock music which had the bulk of those around the front in full mosh pit mode dancing and singing throughout...

The band powered through their set, the singer leading the rabble rousing, bouncing around the stage throughout and delivering the songs with power and energy throughout.

The highlight of the band was for me the guitar player.. a superb musician ripping out some outstanding lines and passages throughout. These two were beautifully supported by powering bass and drums along with a second guitar player completing a really powerful engaging and exciting band....

Much heavy metal tends to be, to my ears, simply loud and a bit screechy... Based on this set, AC//DC are at a different end of the range.. .rocking out totally, but also displaying a quality of melody and light and shade which raises it about the average.

The audience was with the band from the off, and the band surely also responding to the celebratory air punching and dancing in the audience... the show was non-stop high energy rock'n'roll, and although playing 2 hours or more when they finished it seemed far too short... absolutely exhilarating and uplifting rock'n'roll

However, in my personal opinion, the "striptease" by the guitar player felt very cheap and exploitative... dont know f this was typical of an AC/DC show, but for me it didnt have a place in the set and somewhat cheapened things... this element was not to my taste, though the musical performance was very much my taste... superb exciting performance overall

Keep music live... keep music real... support your local venues

Sailor Swift/Peter Kenney/Sheila Mosley

SAILOR SWIFT/PETE KENNEY/SHEILA MOSELY

IMV 6th

May 2026Last Wednesday, May 6th, THE The International Music Venue hosted on of the truly great shows... and was raising money for the PAPYRUS Charity... and first up was Sheila Mosley.

Great to see Sheila back on stage after an enforced absence though not yet having recovered her full vocal range she kept it short, playing just three songs... but created a real impact in the time.

She has a kovely voice and is a great singer, maybe in the Baez mold of folk music.. the first two songes were typical of a full Sheila set but for her final song she needed to keep in the lower regiisters, and sang "Wandering Star" (Lee Marvin/Painjt Your Wagon)... i hadnt thought of the song for years, but was amazed how much of it I remembered... and yes, Sheila delivered a rather lovely version of what is a really great song... great to see her back on stage and delivering in her usual high quality way

Following this was a speech by Pete Kenney's wife, with Pete in attendance, highlighting the work of the charity and speaking of their son so tragically lost.

Pete then delivered a simply beautiful set , he may be low key and quiet as a performer, but his songs are superb and his delivery beautiful. In the midst of the set he sang the beautiful "If you go away" (aka ne me quitte pas by Jacques Brel). A wonderful interpreation of a great song, more poignant in the context of the show... superb set

Headling was the irrepressible magnificent Sailor Swift (aka Pete Morton) who delivered over 90 minutes of the highest quality entrainment. From the moment Sailor Swift hit the stage already singing, the audience bought into it as one joining in on every chorus and song... laughing at all the jokes and loving every second.

Sailor Swift is the Ghost of a Sailor shipwrecked in the 1600's and haunting a pub ever since... during wehich time he meets a host of people, delivers a host of relevant song choruses related to the character, or progressing the unlikely tale he was telling at the time, as well as includsing snatches of the 'No1'' from various years. The show has you in gales of laughter throughout, but leaving enough breath to sing along with whichever seemingly random song he started... and the songs included items from most of the last 60 years, music hall, traditional songs... to many to mention but including the likes of 'Tipperary" 'Sweet Caroline" "We'll meet Again" "My Old Man" the "Wild Rover" and countless others...

Although the show is genuinely heartwarming and hilarioous, he makes a lot of strong political and emotional points, and a fair amount of satire (as you would expect in a singer/songeriter set by Pete Morton).

Highlights, for me inluced a bit about the slave trade culminating in a powerful version of '"Amazing Grace" to close the first half

He alo introduced a patriotic yokshirement (himself) to deliver a version of Kate Bush's 'Wuthering Heights" in a broad Yorkshire dialect by gum.

Outstanding was his version of 'Nessun Dorma" accompanied by the Unconventional Leg Movement ensemble performing as he sang... i was sufficiently amazed that he could produce such intricately bizarre leg movements while singing Opera, but also demonstrating what a fine singer he actually is.

At the end, the audience was baying for more, and calling for George Formby... duly he spoke of George Formby's visit to the pub, and ended with Georges own version of "Bohemian Rhapsody"

The Sailor Swift show is like something you haven't seen before... hilarious, a totally interactive experience, somewhat political and emotional at times and totally wonderful from start to finish... i doubt you will ever see a more entertainig and enjoyable show.

Keep music live... keep music real... support your local venues

LOROS Fundraiser

ALL DAY LOROS FUNDRAISER

Firebug 3rd May 2026

Terrific evening in Firebug supporting the gig in aid of LOROS... asupport them. For me the day was more about supporting this absolutely wonderful charity and the magnificent work they do than about the music, and it was great to see a large crowd there in support.

Huge credit and thanks to everyone who was involved in organising the event, playing at the gig and simply attending and donating...please continue to dig deep to support this wonderful cause.

As for the Music, due to other commitments i wasnt able to be there until around 5.30, but from there in heard some wonderful usic, chatted with a host of friends and managed a couple of cheese salad rolls!!

First up for me was Mr Plow, who as ever delivered a cracking set, the more solid rockier sound these days is perfect for the songs, which are all really excellent.

After this, up the stairs for the Boilermen who were, well, the Boilermen... if you know them you know exactly what they were like... loud, brash, rocking and hugely entertaining.

Back down for a total contrast, the beautiful delicate songs of Lex Pretorius. Lovely voice, soft but able to soar as required, gentle acoustic guitar and an assured lovely set.

JJ Lovegrove was up next and she weaved ghher web of wonderful absorbing music as beautifully as always... a class act as ever delivering an absorbing and superb set

Following JJ was Amy Dx complete with her high quality band. Amy continues to evolve and grow in assurance and stature, her soaring and superb voice and songs standing out as always in another terrific set

Back upstairs then for an exhilarating performance by Spitting Feathers and a cracki9ng burst of totally commited glam punk cheese.... some familiar songs in unfamiliar settings, but a superb and rocking performance

Back down to the bar for the Boilers.. in many ways the flagship band of the movement and they delivered their A game as ever with a glorious burst of their unique glorious brand of irreverent punk...

Closing the night, the mighty Hex Poseur, one of the best live bands around, who had the audience rocking. No ceremony or messing about... they crash straight into their exhilarating exciting punk music... absolutely superb and a gloriously exciting conclusion to what had been a high quality day...

Again... thanks and great praise to all involved in creating the event....

Keep music live... keep music real... support your local venues

and importantly... SUPPORT LOROS...