The idea of this gig, as with the BBC programmes, is to put together the music of Celtic origin with Americana and enjoy the similarities and differences of these related strands. This show had seventeen outstanding musicians which adds up to less than £1.50 per musician. The joint musical directors were Aly Bain - one of my favourite fiddle players and Jerry Douglas - definitely my favourite dobro player. In fact I reckon we had seen around half the musicians on show previously including John Doyle who was musical director for Joan Baez when we saw her last September and Donald Shaw (from Capercaille) who is a master of gaelic wind instruments like whistles and pipes. The format was that the basic band of around ten musicans were joined by vocalists or vocalist/musicians singly or in combination often to deliver classic country or folk tracks. There was in fact a lot of variety. At one point a Gaelic lament for a dead child achingly sung by Karen Matheson was followed by a bluegrass version of "Hey Joe". It all worked beautifully flowing from one crafted song to another.
The featured vocalists included Karen Matheson, Dan Tyminski, Eddi Reader, Cara Dillon,Tim O'Brien, Mollie O'Brien, Sally Watkins and Bruce Molsky. Sally and Bruce also featured on fiddle whilst Tim played mandolin and banjo and Dan of course plays guitar.
Mollie O'Brien certainly leaned towards soul. Cara Dillon had the gentle Irish feel to her voice but plenty of emotion and power as well. Karen sings gaelic tunes like no one else. All in all it was an everchanging delight of music and singing.
At the heart of the band Aly Bain played the most instinctive solid fiddle anchoring everything together helped by the unfussy rhythm section whilst Jerry Douglas decorated the tunes with his astonishing dobro picking. Jerry also opened the second half of the show with a virtuoso solo effort on Dobro eliding several tunes into a flurry of dobro picking that is a joy to behold. Other highlights were Cara's first song "Garden Valley", the Aly Bain tunes right near the end of the gig and the aformentioned section of a gaelic lament and "Hey Joe" as well as "Sign Your Name" from Mollie O'Brien. Not to forget a traditional song by Bruce Molsky early on in the set. And those tunes when all three fiddles were playing. And of course Dant Tyminskis tunes which included "Man of Constant Sorrow" with some great Dobro playing. The encore finished with a Bob Dylan classic "Lay Down Your Weary Tune" with the band led by Tim O'Brien. It was a great tune to finish on.
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