Seas of Mirth/Just Grace

SEAS OF MIRTH/JUST GRACE

Musician Pub 28th March 2024

So, three in a row at the The Musician Pub, and all very different.

Tonight first up was JUST GRACE who is just getting back to live work after a break...She has been used to working with a band, and said she was nervous up there working solo... but based on tonights performance she will very soon be 100% confident. She has a good voice, and sings in a fairly restrained, but very appealing way accompanying herself on guitar and recorder. The guitar playing was good... very much in empathy with her voice and singing.

Grace did a couple of numbers building up layers of guitar and recorder parts. I confess i am not fond off that practice, and towards the end i felt it got a bit messy.. .but not enough so to detract from the performance.

Her songs are, i believe, all original Grace songs and are pretty good... a fine set, really enjoyed it

After the break the headliners, SEAS OF MIRTH... and before I comment there are a few caveats to share

There was a much younger than usual audience in the room, and they were lapping it up... dancing and joining in .

The band play their own music for their generation of fans.. I am not the target audience for them

They have been described as a festival band... and yes, i can see them doing great business in that environment.

This was my fourth gig of the week, following three absolutely world class superb shows (Gilmore & Roberts, Rachael Sage & Banter)

However... for me, i just didnt get it... i didnt, for me, see any redeeming features and to be honest they irritated me, and for me the umbrella jellyfishes and tug-o-war added nothing.

The band play high tempo dance music, but to be honest i have no idea what the songs were and dont feel qualified to say more...

I do love live music and can usually enjoy a gig even if I don't like the music... but sadly this band have the dubious honour of being the first band at the Musician to send me home early...

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

Banter

BANTER

Musician Pub 27th March 2024

The The Musician Pub served up another magnificent gig on Wednesday night with the welcome return of superb folk supergroup Banter.

Banter is four superb musicians with a deep grounding in traditional music. They are Simon Care (melodeons) Nina Zeller (Keyboards/vocals) Tim Walker (Drums/Trumpet/Acoustic Guitar/Bass/Vocals) and Mark Jolley (bass/acoustic guitar/fiddle). Their roots are deeply in traditional folk but the band are a highly creative unit and stretch the boundaries creating traditional music that is purely Banter.

The repertoire is largely traditional flavoured with unique Banter arrangements, as well as pieces written by some of their heroes, (featured on the new album "Heroes" which is a tribute to those who have inspired and supported them) such as Pete Coe (Rolling Down the Ryburn), David Francey (Torn Screen Door) and John Tams (Lay Me Low)

It hard to pick out highlights from the set, as all of the pieces were top class... but maybe John Tams song "Lay me Low" stands out... Tams described the Banter version the definitive version of the song.

Pete Coe's " Rolling Down the Ryburn" rolled along beautifully with it's infectious chorus which you cant help joining in and the tune sets "Morgan Rattler" and "Seneca Square/Soldiers Joy" were irresistable upbeat sets which rocked along like crazy...

All four musicians are masters of their crafts and the playing and singing outstanding throughout. Not only was the music exceptional but the band also have a great sense of humour throughout both in the music and the banter... at one point Tim showed clearly that attempting star jumps while playing the trumpet before having a lead vocal to deliver isn't necessarily the best plan! The between songs chat was at all times informative and enlightening as well as funny.

Overall, the music was outstanding, the band generate a tremendous feeling of warmth and well being and it is totally impossible not to love the...

In many ways however, they save the best til last.. they encored with a terrific version of "Roxette" before first Simon with his melodeon stepped to the stage apron followed by the rest of the band, away from the microphones... Tim then stepped forward and showed what a great voice he has by delivering a spine chilling acapella version of maybe the greatest set closing/goodnight song... "(When we go) Rolling Home" accompanied by the band and audience.

This brought a wonderful show to an end little short of 2 hours from the start... left everyone smiling broadly and and revelling in witnessing an outstanding performance by a terrific band... great musicians and lovely people all...

If you missed out... catch them when you can and invest in the album... you wont be disappointed

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

Rachael Sage/Olivia Rose Deane

RACHAEL SAGE/OLIVIA ROSE DEANE

Musician Pub 27th March 2024

Wow... this gig was one to remember... and a contender fro gig of the year at the The Musician Pub, a total delight from start to finish from two very different performers...

First up was Olivia Rose Deane... Olivia has a really superb voice and sings beautifully. The set tonight featured a mixture of older songs, and some new ones which Olivia suggested she was a tad nervous about... no need to be, she delivered the new songs with the same assurance and beauty as the more familiar pieces. Her performance was totally assured and hugely enjoyable.

The songs overall tend to be sad in nature, but Olivia sings so well, and with a smile on her face, that you tend to overlook that and just enjoy the songs.

Overall she delivered a really lovely set and generated a wonderful warm feeling for the very appreciative audience... great set!

After Olivia came something really special... a totally colourful New York eccentric with a bag of great songs, great voice and great character... Rachael Sage delighted the audience from the first moment. I know a lot of people ask what genre? What style is the music?... i have no idea!.. it is pure Rachael Sage and totally spellbinding... file under unique!

Rachael plays both keyboard and guitar and is accompanied throughout by Kelly, her long-time accompanist, a superb fiddle player who accompanies perfectly as well as adding some excellent harmonies.

Aside from the first encore ("Only You") the songs are all original in every sense of the word.. often quirky, always entertaining and totally worth giving your full attention. It is impossible to pick out highlights as the songs are all so good and so varied... every single song is a highlight.

From the moment they started Rachael and Kelly were totally natural, musically excellent and exuded enough joy and warmth to cheer the coldest audience.

Don't miss out on this unique performer... if you can get to a gig, dont miss the chance... if not go to whatever your music source is and have a listen... you'll love it!!

Huge thanks to Rachael, Kelly and Olivia for changing a cold wet night into a lovely glowing warm gig experience

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

Gilmour & Roberts

GILMORE & ROBERTS

Musician Pub 24th March 2024

Sunday night at the Musician Pub saw a welcome return visit of Gilmore & Roberts

An absolutely beautiful evening... Katriona Gilmore plays mandolin and fiddle while Jamie Roberts plays guitar, both sing and write songs and they deliver a wonderful mix of their styles which blend together beautifully to give a wonderful varied show.

Jamies songs are all strong, mainly with a historical setting, taking incidents or themes from the less explored areas. For instance, one song covered the time a Native Australian came to the UK and planted their flag in the beach at Dover to claim the country as theirs, as payback for James Cook doing the same in Australia centuries earlier.... and one for the cotton workers who refused to work with cotton picked under duress by slave workers... really great songs which entertain and make you think... Jamie has a fine strong voice and delivers his songs with passion and emotion.

Katriona writes in a different style, her songs are more personal in nature, more reflective and gentle. One song she linked a historical face life mask with the invention of the CPR doll and a Michael Jackson song... long story, go see them and hear Katriona tell it so well!. The second set started with two Katriona songs about her Grandfather... both beautiful and emotional... and delivered to perfection, and were followed by a song by Jamie also about him.

Musically both sing and play beautifully. Jamie also plays a couple of numbers with his guitar on his lap and plays it in a hugely percussive way... very different and hugely effective.

Two great talents performing beautiful music together... another outstanding concert

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