Reviews
Artists: Martin Simpson & Friends
Venue: The Spiegeltent
Town: Rotherham
Date: 16/09/07
Website: http://www.rotherhamculture.org/
There is at the moment a strange exotic Baroque construction right in the heart of Rotherham town centre, standing in the shadow of the imposing Minster. The sight of this strange pavilion has been attracting curious onlookers, both young and old alike throughout the week, and this evening there are sublime sounds coming from within. Sitting on one of the benches in All Saints Square, whilst munching away on a rather tasty Subway sandwich and inadvertently attracting a couple of local pigeons, I feel like I am the only person on earth who has the pleasure of hearing these perfectly harmonious voices, coming not from the Minster itself, as part of a Sunday evenings' service, but from within this strange temporary construction before me. 'What is it?' enquire the pigeons. Why it's the Idolize Spiegeltent I reply. 'And what's that sound?' Ah, now that would be messers Coope, Boyes and Simpson, sound checking for what could turn out to be one of the highlights of this years folk calendar.
For this part of the Rotherham Open Arts Festival, Martin Simpson was asked to come up with an exciting programme entitled 'Local Heroes' requesting the pleasure of the company of some of his favourite local singers and musicians on the current folk scene. The programme consists of two nights of folk music and tonight Simpson has chosen wisely methinks. Bringing together one of the countries finest singers in John Tams, together with Barry Coope, Jim Boyes and Lester Simpson, who clearly have three of the most compatible voices on the planet, specifically to share the stage with one of the most extraordinary virtuoso guitarists in the country, left me wondering why it took so long to happen.
Upon entering the Spiegeltent, you feel a very distinct otherworldly ambience. Ornate cherubs play seriously disconcerting games upon the constructions' main supports, whilst plush upholstered seating in decadent crimson and gold give the impression of a turn of the century Parisian boudoir that Louis XVI would've been proud of. If Nicole Kidman was to swing above your head whilst Ewan Macgregor warbled 'Your Song' you wouldn't even bat an eyelid.
The evening concert consisted of two sets featuring Martin Simpson (solo), John Tams and Barry Coope (duo), Coope, Boyes and Simpson (trio) and finally a quintet that must've been made, if not smack bang in the middle of, then surely not far from Heaven. Martin opened the show with a couple of guitar pieces entitled "She Slips Away" and "Mother Love" before segueing into "Little Musgrave" from his new and much talked about album 'Prodigal Son.' Twenty albums on from the time when the young son of Scunthorpe used to travel up and down the country, green guitar in hand and cheeky grin on his face, dazzling folks from all around with his unique and highly polished guitar style, I can confirm that after witnessing his new album launch at this years' Cambridge Folk Festival, sharing the stage with Danny Thompson, Kate Rusby, Kellie While and Andy Cutting, he is still very much 'The Man.'
Martin is also a generous musician who can stand back from the spotlight in order to allow others to take centre stage. This is all about respect. In the case of tonight, he let John Tams, one of our most enigmatic performers, take over the stage. With Barry Coope at his side, John delighted the Rotherham audience with songs new and old including "Lay Me Low", "Amelia" and "Will I See Thee More." There is a warmth to John Tams that cannot be contrived. He is a passionate performer with a very English, very northern sense of dignity. You simply cannot leave his presence without being touched by it. He also has a unique way of making you giggle without any seemingly planned stage patter. His observations on life just come naturally.
Coope, Boyes and Simpson came on next to raise the roof with, curiously enough, "Raising the Rafters", which tested the audiences communal singing credentials. Barry Coope in all fairness was suffering from the sniffles and I suspect he probably felt he wasn't on top form, but we the audience couldn't tell. He probably just worked harder than anyone tonight to cover it up. The trio finished the first part of the concert with "Horkstow Grange", the song that features a character called 'Steeleye Span' from which a very well known folk rock outfit took their name.
The second part of the evening was a fine collaborative effort for all concerned when all five musicians came together to form, for the sake of argument, Coope, Boyes, Simpsons and Tams. Songs from both sides of the Atlantic were chosen to represent this second half, with Hedy West's "Pans Of Biscuits", one of the most common choices of funeral songs "Didn't He Ramble", Richard Thompson's "Down Where the Drunkards Roll" and a couple from John Tams' current repertoire "Remembrance Day" and "Harry Stone". Martin Simpson led with a Cyril Tawny song from his 'Bramble Briar' album "Sammy's Bar" before allowing John Tams to finish the set with a rousing airing of "Vulcan and Lucifer" and "Steelos" from the Radio Ballads series, and incidentally, from the Radio Ballad that is closest to our hearts, particularly in this neck of the woods, 'The Song of Steel.'
The first of these two 'Local Heroes' concerts was brought to a close with the help of the enthusiastic audience. As the sleepy All Saints Square pigeons nestled into the nooks and niches of Rotherham Minster, peering in through the green and blue tinted skylights of the Spiegeltent, the final chorus of "Rolling Home" could be heard down the streets of Rotherham on what turned out to be a fine warm summers' evening.