Richard Thompson 14/10/2017

The support were Josienne Clark and Ben Walker, an excellent duo with her providing the folky and pure vocals and he providing the acoustic guitar. Right from the first few bars of guitar I was enjoying their set and when she started singing I knew the set was going to be too short for me. Definitely a hint of Sandy Denny in the vocals and a good line in chat as well. Richard Thompson does various types of gigs and this was one of his where he insouciently wanders on stage with an anonymous looking acoustic guitar and then delivers a set of classic songs and blistering guitar brilliance. The first two tracks were two from the back catalogue that have recently featured on his latest acoustic album, both outstanding songs, 'Gethsemane' and 'The Ghost of You Walks'. Shortly after he responded to an audience request and changed the planned set order to play a couple of Fairport songs, 'Meet on the Ledge' (which he said he wrote at 18 and that he has no idea what it means) and 'Who Knows Where the Time Goes?' It was pretty much highlights all the way through with the exquisite guitar playing - all subtlety, speed and surprising chords. He does it on a bog-standard acoustic with no guitar changes, guitar techs and not even much tuning - no-one else can do it like he does it. The set included 'Vincent Black Lightning 1952', 'Valerie', ' I want to see the Bright Lights Tonight', 'Down where the Drunkards Roll', 'Wall of Death' and for encores ,Beeswing', 'Devonside' and to finish 'From Galway to Graceland'. Now that's what I call a gig.