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Bob Fox

Venue: Reading Folk Club
Town: Reading
Date: 16th June
Website: http://www.bobfoxmusic.com

At the Reading International Solidarity Centre above the Global Cafe I witnessed the speediest post-gig pack up I have ever seen. Reading Folk Club (Readifolk to its friends) takes place in a sparse function room and there is a well drilled team on hand to complete the task of replacing the chairs and sweeping the room of glasses and debris. Despite his healthy selection of CDs this evening's guest at Readifolk also packs up quickly. One man, one acoustic guitar and one (rather large) suitcase.

Yet the evening lacked for nothing. With a voice as earthy as the coal miners' songs for which he is well known, Bob Fox is just as knowledgeable about the history of each song he selects from his vast repertoire. There is laughter, there are stories and there are songs we can share in through Bob's numerous well-chosen choruses.

When introducing songs such as 'The Bonny Gateshead Lass' Bob provided a translation of the Geordie language, useful in Reading where the audience seemed unfamiliar with the verb 'to gan'. Bob also gave us his version of the 'Whitby Tailor' intriguing us as to what a night out on the East coast of County Durham might really be like. Delighting us with the patriotic story of 'Jack Crawford' I believe Bob may well have convinced the odd audience member that it was indeed Jack from Sunderland who caused our nation's flag to be named the Union Jack.

These comic moments were balanced with sincere anecdotes. 'Dance to your Daddie' resonated round the room with parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles alike and we were invited to join in this dandling song apparently meant to accompany the bouncing of a baby on your knee. Bob reminded us of the song's more sombre underlying message of the gruelling nature of work as a seaman and its impact on family life.

Another welcome addition to Bob's set at Readifolk was 'Taking on Men' a song written for Bob by Jez Lowe as part of the 2006 Songs of the Radio Ballads series (this song featuring on the CD 'The Ballad of the Big Ships'). Bob has managed to lay his hands on some rare copies of the Radio Ballads CDs and he has some in his suitcase of goodies -another reason to catch up with him on his tour this June. Ballad songs feature heavily in Bob's repertoire and his use of narration to uncover the secrets behind the songs are perhaps reminiscent of his recent role as Songman in War Horse.

Just as the efficient packing up process, Bob Fox's performance proved a hit; as simple as it was effective.

My thanks to the Readifolk team for a wonderful evening of live music.

Louise Jordan