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Jon Palmer Acoustic Band

Venue: New Inn
Town: Calverley Folk Day
Date: 8th June
Website: http://www.reverbnation.com/jonpalmerband

The first Calverley Folk Day was focussed around the New Inn at the centre of this pleasant dark stone village which straddles the main road between Leeds and north Bradford. Although I had called in earlier in the day to witness part of the set from the enjoyable Irish themed band Reel Jiggy other commitments meant I couldn't return until shortly before the festival headliners were due on stage at 9pm.

After a brisk three mile walk from home to help justify a thirst I arrived to find the pub busy with a mixture of music fans and locals all seeming to be having a good time (perhaps a little too good in some cases!). After a quick set up, Jon & the band kicked off with their lively version of Richard Thompson's 'Wall of Death' and got firmly into their stride with Jon's own 'Brown Eyed Northern Girl'.

Though I have seen the band seemingly countless times, it was the first time I had seen recent recruit fiddle player Wendy Ross who certainly added a vibrant new dimension to the already well bedded in sound of the other players. Ricky Silvers bass playing was missed on this occasion but in the tight confines of the bay window of the pub they may have struggled to fit him in! There was sufficient volume coming from the excellent PA with the line up of guitars (Nick Settle & Jon), cajon (Chris Bunyan), mandolin (Matt Nelson) and the aforementioned Wendy on fiddle. The set continued with a mixture of old favourites and occasional new songs - 'Where the Mountains Meet the Sea' was certainly unfamiliar to me and was up to the same high standards as Jon's other material.

After a break for some much needed fresh air, the stage and the pub filled up again and my favourite of Jon's songs, 'Sin City' - carried forward from his electric band 'Big Fat Kill', was a welcome opener to the second set. Later came 'Eton Mess' (as featured previously here at FATEA) which won some new friends and then a new tune set, with some amazing whistle playing from Matt Nelson, which augmented 'Galway Girl' was also very well received. Following Jon's tribute to Otley (Another Friday Night) and Salford (via Ewan MacColl's 'Dirty Old Town') all too soon we were at the end of the night. Although the band had been on stage for the best part of two hours the time had disappeared in a blur of hedonistic delight.

It was a great end to a day that, although I missed most of it this time, I hope is repeated and, ideally, expanded next year. No doubt I'll be seeing this particular band many times before then!

Joe Grint