No strangers to our pages, The Magpie Arc – in recorded form (the Glamour In The Grey album still getting repeat business) and on the live front (last spotted in Newhampton last August) – return to cast their spell, reminding a packed house at The Met that they’re a hell of a thing.
We’re in luck with a local date at The (wonderful) Met for the penultimate date of a run that’s seen them front their own Festival Of Folk at Folk HQ, Cecil Sharp House, stop off at other Folky happenings at Love Folk and Celtic Connections and add their own headlining jaunt around the nation.
Surreptitious communications in an Anglo-Scottish love story by a magical bird and songs of betrayal added to the wonderful mixed bag of themes delivered through a magical evening of music
With an album and three EPs worth of music from which to choose (and hopefully more to come asap please) , the band amble on amidst mellow tones to melt into the opening number and the first track from EP1, Canon penned by Nancy Kerr before things get ramped up with the first song from Glamour In The Grey that’s set to get performed in full. The traditional wassail period may be over but their Wassail (sounds traditional but actually Nancy and Alex combining Folk and Doom Metal) buoyed up the audience for a hefty helping of traditional folk presented in glorious heavier style Folk Rock, complete with the Sabbath doom opening moments – not the first time the dark side will be paid a visit.
Martin Simpson’s father-in-law, Roy Bailey might have considered there be “too many notes” on Martin’s take on Si Kahn’s What You Do With What You’ve Got, but to be contrary, it’s that very tumble of ‘too many notes’ that delivers its appeal. His version showed clearly how the acoustic guitar maestro is relishing his sojourn into the electric side of folk (just the one comical call of “Judas” tonight). Continue reading “Live music, reviews and opinion / Est. 2018”