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Ahab & Bellowhead

Venue: Corn Exchange
Town: Ipswich
Date: 10th November
Website: http://ahabofficial.com/
http://www.bellowhead.co.uk/

What does one do on a Thursday night......

Do you stay home and watch some poorly put together television shows or go to the cinema...

No what you do is you go out and see what is, in my opinion, one of the best live acts on the scene on the opening night of their U.K tour.

The act I am referring to is Bellowhead with excellent support on the tour from a band new to me Ahab.

For those of you who don't know Bellowhead is the “brain child” of Jon Boden a fantastic fiddle and guitar player and vocalist and part of the duo Spiers and Boden along with John Spiers who is a brilliant melodeon and concertina player and who also features in Be

llowhead. The band also consists of another 9 musicians: Benji Kirkpatrick (Guitar, Mandolin, Bouzouki and Banjo), Rachel McShane (Cello and Fiddle), Paul Sartin(Fiddle and Oboe), Sam Sweeney (Fiddle and Bagpipes), Pete Flood (Percussionist), Ed Neuhauser (Sousaphone), Justin Thurgur (Trombone), Brendan Kelly (Saxophones/Bass Clarinet) and last but by no means least Andy Mellon (Trumpet).

The idea of the band is to fuse together traditional and newly composed tunes and songs with instruments traditionally associated with classical and folk, creating an explosive stage and festival filling sound with depth, unique rhythms and mind bending vocals.

The support act of the evening Ahab are a new band to me a great one none the less and a fantastic example of “UK Americana”. They are a band of multi talented musicians with great vocals both solo and harmonised. They are a 5 piece band comprising of Cal (6 and 12 string guitar, Bass guitar and vocals), Dave (Guitar and Vocals), Luke ( Mandolin and Vocals), Seebs (Bass guitar and guitar) and Griz (Drummer).

The night started with the support act Ahab walking on stage. They said absolutely nothing and went straight in to a song called “Lucy”. The song caught the audiences attention straight away due to the completely a cappella/harmonised introduction, with a beautifully crafted move into a very American/country sounding main and chorus. As their set went on they showed there diversity from hard hitting country songs to beautifully accompanied ballads. These songs showed the audience why the band will be a force to be reckoned with and why, without any doubt in my mind, the reason they will become a festival favourite for many people in the years to come.

There was then a break in proceedings to allow people to recharge drinks and get ready for the main event.

Bellowhead came out on stage in slow succession starting with Sam Sweeney playing the pipes on a dark stage setting the scene wonderfully for what was to come. Gradually they built the band up and turned what was a fantastic musical introduction into an amazing version of “Jordan”. As the night went on it was a typically energetic Bellowhead performance mixing old songs and tunes with new showing just how versatile a band they are with many of them playing multiple instruments. It's exciting to see that such a revolutionary band to the scene are still finding new ways to improve their sound (the latest addition being the excellent Sam Sweeney who plays off against Paul Sartin and Rachel McShane almost forming a mini stage show at one side of the stage.). There was no real star performer within the band - they were all excellent, together showing the audience just what can be achieved with imagination and drive. The brass section were great playing off against each other each with their own solo parts throughout the night to highlight all of their outstanding talents, Pete flood on percussion was also on the top of his game accompanying the tunes and songs of the band as only he can using an unbelievable range of “instruments” including an old cast iron pan and cutlery, John Spiers performed to exemplary standard showing just why he is regarded in such high esteem for his melodeon and concertina playing, Benji Kirkpatrick also showing his versatility using a phaser to awesome effect throughout some of the bands newer numbers and of course there was the superb Jon Boden showing great stage presence as the front man of the band with his singing and fiddle playing ability really standing out.

The show culminated in a double encore for which the audience was grateful and they were still eager for more even after the second encore.

All in all I had a wonderful evening being entertained by Bellowhead, a band that have seen a few times before, still proving why they are so highly regarded in the world of traditional music and in Ahab finding a new band in a genre of music I would not class as my own taste but will be sure to see again at any festival they attend.

Review and photos:Matt Cudby