Bel10whead 10th Anniversary Birthday Bash

Venue: Bridgewater Hall
Town: Manchester
Date: 19/4/14
Website: http://www.bellowhead.co.uk/

Just to prove a point that London doesn't get all the glory, full marks to Bellowhead, award winning, multi talented, record breaking, earth shaking...etc…etc, 11 piece big band folk outfit for having the gumption to allow their more northern fans to get an invite to the party, even if it were a bit of a warm up for the (possibly) more prestigious outing at the Albert Hall the following evening. Nonetheless, both shows were quickly sold out in celebration of their decade of existence with the impressive Bridgewater Hall and it's expansive stage allowing all sorts of typical Bellowhead shenanigans to take place - fireworks included as guitar/banjo/bouzouki player Benji Kirkpatrick almost found out to his cost; his encore fuelled exuberance taking him perilously close to a rocket up his behind before being hurriedly moved on by a frantic road manager.

The show was cleverly orchestrated with visuals to put on a chronological review of their career, the jolly 'Dockside Rant' providing the accompaniment to a series of images for the opening sequence before a run through of a selection from their first E.P.Onymous recording (sadly minus 'Rambling Sailor') and their first two albums 'proper' in the first half. Completing the sequence in a short second half, it was left to an extended encore to raise the temperature and the spirits of a politely subdued but appreciative and respectfully seated audience. Encore 1 was the surprise of the first ever live outings for two brand new songs from the hot off the press announcement of a new album! Kudos to everyone for managing to keep the news of 'Revival' quiet so it came as a huge surprise to the Manchester audience and a bit of a potential spoiler for anyone attending the London show, yet suffice to say that initial hearings of 'Run Her Down' - a lively uptempo song with attitude, and 'Gosport Nancy' which was much more in the traditional and familiar Bellowhead territory went down extremely well and no doubt a relief for the band to get the first live performances in the bag. With encore 2 setting everyone up and ready for a party, the carefully rehearsed 'London Town' break down gave way for a retail opportunity and chance to advertise the Bellowhead songbook ("containing fifteen of your favourite hits…") before the bounce along, jump about and wave your arms sprint to the finish of 'Sloe Gin', 'New York Girls' and 'Frogs Legs And Dragons Teeth'.

Having grown to such an extent that the similarly award winning duo and band founders, Spiers & Boden have decided to put their work on hold to dedicate more time to the cause, the future is looking decidedly bright for Britain's favourite eleven piece vendors of folk.

  • setlist
  • Prickle Eye Bush
  • Rochdale Coconut Dance
  • Jack Robinson
  • Copshawholme Fair
  • Jordan
  • Flash Company
  • Hopkinson's Favourite
  • Fakenham Fair
  • Roll Her Down The Bay
  • Trip To Bucharest/Flight Of The Folk Mutants
  • Whiskey Is The Life Of Man
  • Cold Blows The Wind
  • Yarmouth Town
  • Black Beetle Pies
  • Betsy Baker
  • 10,000 Miles Away
  • Roll The Woodpile Down
  • Run Her Down
  • Gosport Nancy
  • London Town
  • Sloe Gin
  • New York Girls
  • Frogs Legs & Dragons Teeth

    • Mike Ainscoe

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