Govannen

GOVANNEN

Guildhall: 7th November 2025

At the beautiful LEICESTER GUILDHALL last night for the annual GOVANNEN performance and as ever they delighted the large audience.

They are a bunch of highly talented individuals who all contribute fully to overall ethos and sound of the band... they opened with a boisterous version of "As I Roved Out" sung by Dan before launching into some tunes... from there on Roger took the next vocal on "the Beggar" and Chris followed with vocals on "Salley Gardens"... more boisterous tunes followed before Adele took the lead on the next song "Spancil Hill". From here on tunes and songs alternated.

Musically the musicians are all outstanding... Chris seems to be brilliant on virtually everything that will produce a tune and in the band concentrates on keyboards, whistles, pipes and kalimba. Next to him Neil plays a range of percussion adding lovely layers and textures of rhythm. Roger and Adele are very high class fiddle players, and a highlight of the show is always Adele playing a beautiful slow air. On the far right Dan plays great guitar, mandolin and bodhran and his superb song about the Clovelly herring fishermen, The Storm, is always an outstanding moment

The set ends with another outing by Dan, with a powerful lead on "Galway Girl"

The annual gig is normally in mid December, and ends with a christmas song.. the real one.. and despite the fact this show was early November they encored as ever with "Fairy Tale of New York" and another tune set...

All in all, a couple of hours of superb uplifting music delivered by five high quality musicians who all clearly love playing together...

A very lovely and highly enjoyable evening

i didnt notice at the time the blue cast over the stage... but for the guildhall it somehow feels appropriate on a photo!!

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