The Stoller Hall is a performance space in Chethams School of Music near Victoria Station in Manchester. The acoustics are sweet 😉
Le Vent du Nord are French Canadians, and they do Quebec folk music. I don’t understand a word they’re singing, but it sounds good regardless.
We first saw them at Moonbeams festival, and were suitably impressed. After a couple of trips to the Waterside in Sale to see them since, it was good to see them try Manchester for a change. A highlight for me was an acapella song which really made use of the theater’s acoustics.
A very enjoyable way to spend a Friday evening at the Deaf Institute in Manchester. The Noble Jacks supported by local band Carl North and the Lonely Hearts.
We saw the Noble Jacks last year at Bury Met when they were supporting the Eskies. Having had such a good time then, it was good to see them back in Manchester.
Modern folkies with a lot of bounce, they don’t do the finger-in-your-ear variety of folk. My favourite song of the evening was The Blacksmith Stomp, which is very aptly named.
Carl Noble and the Lonely Hearts
I’d not heard of the support band before the gig even though they are local. They had some good songs though, and some catchy tunes.
Folk with a bit of a country feel at times. Might have to keep an eye out for them playing again.
One of my favourite lady blues guitar players was on form at the Manchester Ritz.
Blues and rock come easily to Joanne, and she soon had the whole place rocking. I’m sure it’s almost impossible to stay still when listening to good music.
I’ve seen Jon Boden as part of Boden and Spiers with John Spiers. More recently he was the front man for the brilliant Bellowhead. This time he was touring with the Remnant Strings – three talented ladies who play violin, viola and cello.
Jon is a very good storyteller, and his ‘Songs from the Floodplain’ album is a good place to start if you’ve never heard any of his work.
The performance was very enjoyable, and the evening flew by…
I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve seen Seth Lakeman.
I think the first time was in 2008 at Shaw Playhouse. He was touring with a young lady named Jenna, and Steve Knightly from Show of Hands. Steve was wanting to show off the talents of the two younger West Country singers.
A very enjoyable evening became memorable at the start of the second half when Seth performed Kitty Jay. The whole audience was blown away. I’m not surprised that it has become the song he is most well known for.
It is interesting how Kitty Jay has developed over the years. The intro and the outro are considerably longer that the first performance I heard, but every time I hear it, it steals the show.
I know, I know – I’m tardy in posting again. Sorry. Oh Well, here goes 😉
Beans on toast at Gorilla in Manchester. Supported by Benjamin Folke Thomas, with Jess Morgan opening up proceedings.
Jess Morgan
May as well start in chronological order for a change.
Jess Morgan chose a good selection of her own songs to get the evening under way. The tempo of her songs was right for a warmup – i.e. not too slow. I enjoyed her set, particularly the song about drivers in Birmingham driving like fishes swim. I’ve never driven around Birmingham, but I’ve been a passenger – and her description is spot on 😀
Benjamin Folke Thomas
I’ve seen Benjamin Folke Thomas at the Cropredy Festival some years back.
He’s from Sweden, but I think he must have spent a lot of time in the UK, because he has a very British sense of humour.
His most memorable song of the evening was Stuff of Dreams – about a dream where he beats Paul Newman (The Hustler) at pool.
Beans on Toast
Jess Morgan and Benjamin Folke Thomas were both in the band for the headliner Beans on Toast.
Beans on Toast is probably best know for his song MDMAmazing about getting stoned at a festival.
His more recent stuff though, is more about bamboo toothbrushes or the birth of his daughter. The subjects of his songs may have changed a bit, but his style is still the same.
Think middle class lefty protest songs, and you’ve probably got a good idea of what to expect. Definitely worth checking out if he’s playing nearby.
I have a confession to make. I didn’t know who Thunder were 😀
That is, until I heard their new album of acoustic reworking of their 80’s rock material. That was why they played the Bridgewater Hall with all of it’s seats. The album is called “Please Remain Seated”.
I thoroughly enjoyed myself. It was obvious the songs they did would be catchy whichever way they were performed. Must check out the original sounds sometime.
Dan Reed
Support was provided by Dan Reed – solo. I’m told by my other half that he has a band, but he was on his own for the Thunder gig.
I’ve subscribed to him on youtube music, so I must have liked what I heard. will definitely have to check him out again when he tours around here in future.
Haven’t missed the Fairport Winter tour in years. This is the first time seeing them at the Royal Northern College of Music though. In recent years, they’ve played the Lowry.
They were on form as usual, with a mix of old, not so old, and new material. The jokes fit into the same three categories 🙂
Four of Us
Support for the evening was provided by the (inaccurately named) Four of Us. Apparently they count the guitars as well… OK… Whatever…
The two of them, along with their guitars, had plenty of songs about growing up in Northern Ireland next to the border during the troubles. Worth checking out if they tour near to you.
The Deaf Institute is a cracking smaller venue. The lower floors are a pub that I really must try out some time, but the venue is at the top of the building.
There is very limited seating at the back of the room, and plenty of standing room in front. The quirky decoration adds to the character of the venue.
First saw Jarrod Dickenson supporting the Waterboys, and have seen him at this venue a couple of times since. Must like the place 🙂 Jarrod hails from Texas, and writes mostly miserable songs, but then again, most folkies do. He sometimes puts them to an almost cheery tune though.
