Loading

Albion Christmas Band

Venue: St Edith's Hall
Town: Kemsing, Kent
Date: 20th December
Website: www.folkicons.co.uk/albionchristmas.htm

Perhaps I’m suffering from a case of too much Dickens Christmas Carol but recently I’ve been inundated with a deluge of letters courtesy of the ghost of ‘Facebook yet to come’ and correspondence from (advertising manager in chief?) Simon Care.

The reason is the annual good will to all men conveyed by the aptly titled Albion Christmas Band. Of course I, along with countless others can enjoy the band at anytime (check out their latest CD “A Sound In The Frosty Air”) but, let’s face it, the enticement of a rousing chorus from Simon Nicol’s authorative vocals are enough to get us all back to a candle-lit church service. Well, OK…perhaps not…but you get my drift. What better way than to get the packed audience warmed up with a repertoire of songs and readings including “The Sans Carol”, “The King” and a “Calling On Song” performed with much bonhomie from Nicol, along with fellow band members Simon Care (vocals/melodeon), Kellie While (vocals/guitar) and the bass guitar/vocals of Ashley Hutchings.

In a performance that propelled itself from the stage to encompass everyone of the audience ensured that the crowd’s beaming smiles could have lit the darkest corners of Scrooge’s lodgings. No “bah-humbugs” here, just great music and jocularity and (for me at least) the highlights of the evening came with Care’s reading of the costs of paying for the twelve days of Christmas in 2011 (£53,386 in case you were wondering) and Kellie’s outstanding version of “Mad World”.

Finishing with a medley of “Once In Royal David’s City/The Holly & The Ivy and Sweet Chiming Bells” the evening drew (too quickly) to its inevitable conclusion leaving just enough time for a stirring encore of “The Seven Joys Of Mary”…and yes Mr Care, we will be back for more next year!

Pete Fyfe
photocredit Neil King. Image illustrative not taken at gig