Saturday, 25 April 2009

Damien Barber and Mike Wilson @ The Music Institute, Guildford

Just got back from a superb gig at Guildford Folk Club thanks to Damien Barber and Mike Wilson. All the more astonishing as Damien had only got back from China a couple of days ago so was still considerably jet-lagged. And tomorrow he's playing at Boris's party celebrating all things English in Trafalgar Square along with the Demon Barbers! But it was Mike who had worried organisers reaching for the tranquilisers by getting himself delayed (it's not as if he had any choice) in Guildford's notorious one-way system.

Anywho - the songs, the music and the banter were all as I expected them to be. MacColl's Kilroy was Here and My Old Man; Bellamy's Nostradamus and On Board a 98; The Green Linnet and Westlin Winds from Dick Gaughan, and loads more besides, all sung and played beautifully by two friends who have the knack of breathing new life into songs even though they have sung them many times before - each time it's as if it's only recently come into their repertoire. And as for The Joy of Living, it was majestic. And all without the opportunity for so much as five minutes' practice!

A great evening in a nice little venue.

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