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Martin Carthy

Venue: The Bothy Folk Song Club
Town: Southport
Date: 2/11/14
Website: http://www.watersoncarthy.com/

It is somewhat hard to believe that between them Martin Carthy and The Bothy Folk Song Club have a combined total of over 100 years of service to the British Folk Music scene.

Martin, who is now 72 years young, began his musical adventure in 1960 and formed his first band, the Three City Four, in 1964. Just one year later, in 1965, the Bothy first opened its doors. Martin first played the Bothy, with Dave Swarbrick, in 1967. Both Martin and the Bothy have been active throughout the intervening years and both are still going strong. A remarkable achievement. In Martin's case, this was recognised at this year's BBC Folk Awards, when he was given a justly deserved Lifetime Achievement Award [what took them so long?]. In the Bothy's case, its 50th Anniversary celebrations will be taking place in April next year.

Martin still has great affection for folk clubs and tonight felt like a reunion with a much-loved family member. Martin is as busy as ever, having just returned from New Zealand. This year, he released one of the best albums of his career, a collaboration with daughter Eliza, titled "The Moral Of The Elephant" [ a copy which he kindly signed for me].

Before Martin took to the "performance area", we had a short sets from a couple of the Bothy's resident acts. It is indicative of the strength of the club that it has a formidable panel of a dozen resident singers. Tonight was the turn of popular husband and wife duo Chris and Siobahn Nelson, followed by Bev Sanders, who is perhaps best known for being one of the original Bad Pennies. Both sets demonstrated the quality of the Bothy's residents and goes some way to explaining why it is still thriving 50 years on.

A performance by Martin Carthy is a masterclass in the folk tradition. Nobody sings and plays like Martin and to hear him sing and play such centrepieces of the folk repertoire as "Sir Patrick Spens", "Farewell Nancy", "The Trees They Do Grow High"and The Rufford Park Poachers is an unforgettable experience.

From the new album Martin sang "Her Servant Man"which was collected by Bob Copper from Mrs. Gladys Stone. The alternative title to this song is "The Daughter in the Dungeon", which despite its ominous overtones, actually has a happy ending, as true love overcomes cruelty. "A Sailor By My Right" has a less than happy resolution, as the deceitful sailor dies in the "Flames of Fire" at the hands of the ghost of his spurned lover and the "two devil babies all at her side". Quite appropriate for [nearly] Hallowe'en!

Another supernatural tale is "The Devil and the Feathery Wife", where Lucifer is outwitted by a farmer's wife.

Proving that songs evolve over the years is "My Son John", which apparently dates back to the Battle of Waterloo, where a soldier loses his limbs in "a race with a cannonball". Martin's version brings us right up to date, where the battlefield is now Afghanistan or Iraq and the cannonball is now a landmine or clusterbomb.

Of course, Martin is renowned for his instrumental as well as his vocal prowess and we were privileged to witness his legendary guitar technique on several instrumentals including a majestic "Princess Royal", the poignant World War II tune "The Heroes of St. Valerie" [by Pipe Major Donald McLean] and "The Fall Of Paris" from the time of the French Revolution.

To cap off a memorable night, Martin regaled us with his humorous music-hall monologue "Don't Go In Them Lion' Cage Tonight".

It doesn't get any better than this. Here's to the next 100 years!

Peter Cowley
photocredit:Neil King

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