Albert Lee - 26 October 2023

This has become almost an annual event. Albert Lee returns to play at the Savoy most years - I guess he just likes to be on stage. It would be churlish not to pop into Monmouth to see him. The setlist doesn't vary much but he is 80 in December so it may be a bit late to be learning new stuff. The band was the same as last time with the Petrie brothers, Ali on keyboards gets a lot of space to show what he can do and his brother (Ian?) on bass. Good drummer as well. Albert's guitar playing is still amazing. For me it really hit the perfect fluid timing he has in the second half - I loved 'Spellbound'(a Paul Kennerley song) with the band tightly in the infectious rhythm and the Ray Charles penned Everley Bros song ('leave my woman alone'), 'Tear Stained Letter' featuring great solo stuff from Albert and Ali, 'Country Boy' - of course, and the final song of the night 'Tear it up' which he literally did. If he keeps coming back I'll keep going along.

Kathryn Tickell & The Darkening - 25 October 2023

Kathryn Tickell does a great gig. I like the Nothumbrian pipes to start with but she does much more than play traditional Northumbrian music with influences both ancient and modern. There was a moving lament played on the pipes for the Sycamore Gap tree recently felled by vandals. There were songs based on latin written by occupiers of the North East. There was a jig from Shetland. There was all sorts. The band was really good. Steph Connor seemed to bring the ancient thread to the band - she played an assortment of lyres and sang some lovely vocals. Amy Thatcher was a star on the accordion also did some synth and vocals and, my fave, clog danced. Kieran Szifris was on guitar and mandolin. Joe Truswell on drums. 'Nemesis' was a memorable song of the latin variety. They finished with 'O-U-T spells out' with its chant like choruses. There was fiddle playing (also Kathryn) some lovely vocal harmonies between Steph and Amy with Kathryn joining in sometimes. Did I mention there was clog dancing? A great and different night out.

Larkin Poe - 17 October 2023

Sometimes you have to go to venues you don't like and Larkin Poe have done this to me before but they are always worth it. Two outstanding rock guitarists, a Southern USA bluesy background and sisterly harmonies. That's a winning combo. First up was The Sheepdogs from Saskatoon, Canada - good line up of twin lead guitars, keyboards bass and drums. They were OK. Larkin Poe took to the stage to the opening chords of 'White Room' - good entrance in my view. They stomped through a number of tracks from their new album 'Blood Harmony' plus a few covers including 'Jessica' (confirming my assertion earlier that day that they are sort of heirs to the Allman Bros!) and 'Preachin' Blues' (great choice). Rebecca's guitar playing is unusual - it's almost Springsteen like in its riffing and I love it. I loved 'Georgia off my mind' and 'Summertime Sunset' off the album. There was great energy and great guitar playing from start to finish and a brilliant acoustic set of three songs - again a couple of stonking songs from the new album ('Might as well be me' and 'Southern Comfort'). The first featured some soulful singing from Rebecca and both songs highlighted the slide from Megan. The third acoustic number was somewhat surprisingly 'Crocodile Rock'. Then it was back to high tempo southern rock for the rest of the set and an encore of the brilliant 'Deep Stays Down'. Brilliant - just brilliant.

Daniel Martinez Flamenco Company - 15 October 2023

The third of four gigs in a week all very different. Daniel came on solo and played a couple of guitar pieces - as expected pretty impressive technique and intricacy. Next came the two singers - I was particularly taken with the male voice. There was then a flamenco dancer and finally three further musicians - a violinist, a rhythm guitarist and a percussionist. I particularly enjoyed a piece a played that was either a Paco de Lucia composition or dedicated to him. Daniel was mumbling into his guitar mic so I couldn't be sure - I suspect it was a Paco piece. Th violinist got to feature later in the gig and she was also very good. The dancer fetured more in the second half and the whole show was excellent entertainment.

Kiki Dee & Carmelo Luggeri - 13 October 2023

I probably wouldn't have booked this if I'd known I was going to end up booking others around it but I'm glad I did. An interesting singer witha history including lots of backing vocals and a spell signed to Motown. Surprisingly it was Carmelo who grabbed my attention as I hadn't heard of him but he was an excellent guitarist who played mostly acoustic and who would loop and switch between strumming picking and slide all within one song. The setlist flowed nicely - Kiki dispensed with 'Don't Go Breaking My Heart' second track but even that was a different take to her big hit version. Covers included a Neil Young (Harvest Moon), Leonard Cohen (Dance me (to the end of love)) and a Kate Bush (Running up that hill). I loved a couple of songs they did in the second half of the gig, 'She's Smiling Now' and 'Can't Fix the Maybe', the latter an up tempo countryish song. She finished with 'I've got the music in me' and then an encore of 'Loving and Free' and 'Blackbird'. Good show.

Ron Block & Liam O'Kane 11/10/2023

It's a travesty that Ron Block should be playing infront of less than 50 people but I was very glad to be one of the 50. In fact the economics of assembling four musicians including one from the US in a small room in Cardiff for that size of audience is clearly not viable but I guess Ron Block just likes to play the banjo. Fellow banjoist Liam from N Ireland was also in the band as well as a bassist/moog guy and a rhythm guitarist. It was in fact a banjo fest. The first set was mainly Liam O'Kane songs but the Ron Block tune and a solo he played on one of Liam's songs were delightful. His astounding playing is both precise and delicate. The second set featured more of Ron's compositions. Highlights for me were 'Daisy's Dance', 'The Fiddler's Gun', 'Endless Wanderer'and 'EDB and Lady Grey'. Superb stuff.

Eddi Reader 5/10/2023

First up was Jack Badcock, a singer songwriter with some nice songs, an excellent singing voice and a lovely subtle and gentle guitar style. We enjoyed his set a lot. Eddi Reader came on with a band comprising John Douglas (guitar / vocals), Boo Hewerdine (guitar / vocals), Alan Kelly (accordion) and Kevin McGuire (bass). Eddi genuinely did not have a set list but the band were brilliant at coping. Alan Kelly listened to the first couple of minutes of one song that he told her he didn't know but then gradullay joined in as he picked it up. Boo casually changed a string during one song then joined in at a perfect moment. This was a genuinely relaxed band. Eddi performed a variety of song, a few from Fairground Attraction, 'Perfect','Comedy Waltz, and 'Find My Love', and a song from each of the band members (except the bassist). The highlight for me was a Mexican song close to the end which seemed to perfectly suit the blend of musicians. She finished with a long anecdote introducing the song 'Moon River' as sung by her mother at family gatherings. A nice start to our Autumn concert season.

Chaz Thoroughgood - -23 September 2023

Guitarist playing at a local village hall - worth an outing. He was a good guitarist but his vocals were a bit rough. He played a varied set including 'All Along the Watchtower', 'Crossroads' and 'Got my mojo working' but the gig veeered more and more to the populist as the evening progressed. I think he even played a Britney Spears song. I enjoyed 'watchtower' and 'Mojo' and 'Jumping Jack Flash' but I think he was a victim of audiences who may have never heard of him wanting something they could dance and sing along to