Nosferatu (film) + live piano

Neil Brand provided a superb accompaniment to the superb film. An oustanding tour de force which matched the screen action beautifully.

Dracula (Film) with live orchestra

This was with the impressive Bristol Symphony Orchestra who I estimate had around 50 to 60 musicians on stage. They played for around half an hour then played with the film. We'll forgive them drowning out some of the dialogue. Tod Brownings film is in any case almost a silent film in its approach. They were very good.

The Lodger (film) with live trio.

The second of four film+live music events in the space of ten days. This was a brilliant experience for film and music as it was an early Hitchcock silent. The pianist accompanying it was astounding - it must be very difficult to play non-stop for 90 minutes. The cellist added some lovely tones and the percussionist was spot on with his sounds even marking the putting of a chess piece down with an appropriate noise. What a film except perhaps for the ending I'm guessing the studios forced on Hitchcock - they couldn't have the film ending with the death of Ivor Novello!

Arcadia (film) with live music by Adrian Utley and Will Gregory

with a nine piece band including two female vocalists and strings. I was more impressed with the music than the film itself which was a series of images from the national film archives. The music was immersive and complemented the images seamlessly with Adrian Utley's guitar contributions right on point. The two vocalists had very different voices one folky and tuneful, the other more searing and powerful. A lovely experience and very different musically to most of what we go to hear.

Karine Polwart & Dave Milligan 5 November 2022

Karine is becoming a regular at St Georges coming down to play with other people from her Scottish village. This time it is pianist Dave Milligan. This was the polar opposite of the last gig - or at least the 'Les Amazones D'Affrique' part in that it was low key and gentle on the ears and mind. They did a selection of folky Scottish songs, some based on Burns - others written by Karine. Her voice is in the folk style clear and pure and she sings very well, his piano is accomplished and nuanced. They finish with that Burns' favourite 'This Parting Glass'. I'm relaxed and refreshed.

Vieux Farka Toure - 30th October 2022

This was part of the Llias event at the Millenium Centre in Cardiff so a new venue for us. Specifically it was the Hoddintot Hall. The support act was 'Les Amazones d'Affrique' which on this line up featured three female vocalists in front of a guitar, synth and drums. The vocalists were tall women with powerful voices and this was really a party style show with dancing in front of the stage from an early point. The songs were loud and distinctly West African. Two ofthe three vocalists were great singers particulalrly the older one in centre stage and the lead guitarist played some nice stuff that fitted the mood. Vieux Farka Toure brought a desert vibe straight away starting by playing an acoustic with a great desert twang and extraordinary dexterity. After a few songs he moved to his electric and continued to amaze. I can pay no higher compliment than to say he brought back memories of his father in the way he played guitar. His hour long set included a long stupendous gobsmacking slow 'desert 12 bar blues' number near the end and his encore track had a hypnotic rhythym that is still going round my head two mornings later. A virtuouso guitar performance.