Reviews

Artist: Cathryn Craig and Brian Willoughby
Venue: BBC Club
Town: London
Date: 11/03/09
Website: http://www.craigandwilloughby.com

When Brian phoned to ask us if we'd like to go and see them play at the BBC Club, I completely misunderstood. I assumed that the BBC Club was the name of some programme, probably a Radio Four show, or maybe a music show on some digital channel. I expected that at most Brian and Cathryn would play two songs. We were very happy though to go along and support them.

When we arrived, Cathryn met us at the door, and took us through to the bar. Odd, I thought. No cameras, and it didn't look much like a recording studio, either. I haven't been in a vast number of recording studios before, but I hadn't quite imagined that many of them contained bars. Or pulpits, either come to that.

This one, for some reason did have a pulpit in the corner. It was probably an old prop from The Vicar of Dibley, or maybe, I guessed, the BBC might hold the odd Songs of Praise there when the outside broadcast budget was cut.

As it turned out, the BBC Club isn't a Radio Four show, and this was no recording studio. It was the BBC social club, where BBC executives pop in at lunch time for a swift half. They hire the hall out to musicians who play there on the off-chance that a still sober producer might spot them. Really hope that someone was there to spot Brian and Cathryn, because they played brilliantly.

The bar was packed with many faces that we knew, and many that we didn't, so with luck someone there will have recognised their talent.

One recognisable face was Antonia Pagulatos, a really talented violinist who played on a couple of tracks on "Calling All Angels", Brian and Cathryn's new album. Happily, she was there to play as well for three songs. Saw her play with Brian and Cathryn last year at Brent in what I think must have been one of the most beautiful concerts that I've seen to date, so really pleased that everyone else there finally got a chance to see her play.

The intention, I believe was that they would only be allowed to play three songs - can't have the executives spending all day in the bar - but they were so well recieved that we actually got six songs. Seven if you coun't Cathryn's a capella version of "River Deep, Mountan High". Eight if you count their encore of "Cotton Fields" and "My Window Faces South" as two seperate songs. Possibly, nine, if you count the opening bars of "Part of The Union" that Brian used to close the encore. (Very appropriate as Richard Hudson, also an ex Strawb) was there amongst the audience.

Considering that it was a free concert, and that Brian and Cathryn picked up the bar bill, and that we had only expected one song, it was a really good concert. If just one BBC director or producer happened to have seen them and can get them some TV coverage, or more Radio airplays, then it will have been a fantastic concert.

Set List
Two Hearts
Alice's Song
Calling All Angels
Genevieve
Accanoe
River Deep, Mountain High
Cotton Fields/My Window Faces South

Pete Bradley