Reviews

Artist:Rosie Doonan
Venue:Bournemouth Folk Club
Town:Bournemouth
Date:08/02/09
Website:http://www.bournemouthfolkclub.com/

Sunday Night saw Bournemouth Folk Club pulling out all of the stops three of it's best regular acts combined with Rosie Doonan and her band, Katriona Gilmore and Sarah Smout, aka Snapdragons

It was an unusual start to a gig. Rosie and co. came on just after the raffle had a bit of partially misheard banter with the audience and before anyone knew what was happening, Rosie Doonan had offered Kat Gilmore up as a prize. No one was quite sure what the winning criteria was, but as a way of grabbing the audience's attention it's right there at the top.

It also sort of set a tone for some of the between song banter that at times got a bit surreal, Kat and Sarah trying to do an impression of a double bass whilst Rosie retuned a temperamental ukulele during the gig being just one example, and a lost place on the songlist leading to another opportunity for Kat to find a lift home.

I mention this in passing because whilst there were moments of scatiness that more seasoned performers may have laughed off easier or seemed more relaxed with it somehow seemed right with the personality of those on stage.

This is a young act, in terms of longevity and the ages of those taking part. The road is a learning experience and if you can have some fun along the way why not.

The key is the music and oh what sweet music it was. Rosie comes from a musical family, The Doonan Family Band hold a good reputation and the essence of folk music seems to have been burned into Rosie's spirit.

That passion is matched by the fire of Kat Gilmore, fiddle mistress, mandolin player and occasional prize, who when not moonlighting with Rosie forms part of Tiny Tin Lady and a duo with Jamie Roberts.

Not that Sarah Smout loses any ground to her sisters in the band. The cello seems to be making a bit of a comeback on the folk circuit with the younger bands, it brings something to a performance that is that bit more versatile than bass.

Rosie draws on personal experience a lot, most of her songs have a kinship with family and friends, she captures that sense of belonging well on record, but in a live venue when she's in the moment, it's something else, her Irish inflected carrying her emotion, her heart on her cardie sleeve

It's the family songs that you can relate to. Unsympathetic young siblings shrugging off your heartache and telling you to get on with it, "T.L.C." and discovering your older sister is pregnant via a phonecall when you're at a festival "Unborn". Ok most of us haven't experienced the last one, but Rosie definitely put us there.

It wasn't just the vocal. The playing was of a high standard throughout, even if the damned uke couldn't hold tune any better than I can, the layered strings work well with Rosie's vocal style.

A packed Bournemouth Folk Club rounded off the evening with some great icing on a very special cake.

It says something for the quality of the support that Kat Gilmore felt the need to comment about the

Jason Hinchey, who also runs the Bourne Spring Folk Club, was first to take the stage. Sporting a guitar and a bushy beard that had appeared since the last time I caught him here. It may seem a cliché, but it sort of made him feel slightly edgier.

Jason plays guitar sat down but at a bit of an angle, at times he looks like he could leap from the chair and rush the audience, he doesn't, of course, but it's something that helps you focus.

The body language is at odds with the sound of both guitar and voice, an Irish brogue that sort of hangs in the air, almost waiting for you to collect the notes. It's something that's emphasised more when he's joined on stage by Cath Burke to accompany him on whistle.

Three songs from Jason is never enough, he knows how to deliver songs and pull the audience in, it's a great way to get the evening under way.

Following Jason onto the stage are the simple woodland folk, Suzy and Jimmy Douglas, also known as the Douglas Firs. It looks like 2009 is going to be a busy year for them as they announce that they will be recording the debut album soon for release later in the year. If it's as good as the two preceding eps, it should be well worth waiting for.

When the Douglas Firs first started performing there was a hint of the red squirrels about them, captivating, but a little timid, they've grown in confidence and stature as they got more gigs under their belt they've emerged more like a fawn. Bigger, more confident, ready to take on the world, but without losing that sense of vulnerability that makes them so easy to warm to.

The format is simple, Suzy does the singing and between song banter, Jimmy plays the guitar and plays it well. It's all that's need, there's a wistfulness to the performance that would be twee if it were forced, but when genuine and relaxed provides an otherworldly quality.

Last of the supports for the night were Tinderbox. Until they take the stage, you're never quite sure which Tinderbox you're going to get. You know that it's going to be Dan and Monique as an absolute minimum. From there it can be pretty much duo, trio, four piece and I think I recall five on stage at one gig

Tonight it's a trio with Cath's sibling, Bob, taking the stage with them to provide strength in depth on the guitar front.

Tinderbox are regular performers at Bournemouth Folk Club, as regular readers of the reviews will know, but they always have a freshness to their sound. They're very adept at reinterpreting their own songs, the different line-ups constantly providing a new dynamic. It highlights their strength as both writers and performers that they can constantly abuse their songs and get such a great sense of completeness from them.

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