Emotional return for Nic Jones, going gaga for Lady Maisery, Eddi Reader and more

Nic Jones, Vin Garbutt, Kristy Gallacher, Warwick Folk Festival, Thursday July 26

A large Thursday audience gave singer Nic Jones a rousing welcome following his return to the folk festival scene.

After a serious road accident in 1982 Nic Jones was unable to carry on as a leading guitarist-singer. But he was persuaded back onto the stage in 2010 to sing with the reformed Bandoggs at his own tribute concert at Sidmouth Folk Festival.

Nic still struggles physically and emerged slowly onto the Warwick stage with his son Joe, who introduced the songs and played the guitar, which his dad can no longer manage.

But Nic sang beautifully in a slow, emotional way that created vivid pictures in words. He mixed some of his old songs with a few new ones and each was loudly cheered by the many fans who remember his heyday.

In between numbers, Joe related Nic’s life since the accident, from his four years in hospital flirting with the nurses, through to his comeback. The talented musician Belinda O’Hooley made up the trio, playing accordion and keyboard and helping Nic along with a few jokes.

Folk veteran, Vin Garbutt, was next on stage. He said: “Thirty odd years ago I dreaded following Nic Jones on stage. Now it’s happened again.”

The old campaigner apologised for his coughing, claiming he was suffering from “bat flu” but he was revived with a glass of red wine. He proceeded to entertain the audience with stories from his native Teesside and belted out folk songs in his deep, throaty voice.

Coventry singer-songwriter Kristy Gallacher kicked off the festival with her own brand of songs. She has a lovely voice and a new guitar, which she used to great effect.

Peter Gawthorpe

Performances on Friday (July 27)

Sundrenched camping zones, a beer tent with sensible prices, a growing craft market and knowledgeable, enthusiastic stewards, greeted the hundreds arriving during Friday. The festival just gets bigger and better.

Main stage headliner, Jim Moray, delivered a fine set, so, too, Damien O’Kane having learnt very much from his time with Kate Rusby. However, the biggest reception of the night was reserved for Canadian visitors, Gordie McKeeman and the Rhythm Boys, led by ‘Crazy Legs’ Gordie who delivers mesmeric dance routines. Their set was a streamlined one of no-nonsense confidence and a reliable crowd pleaser. On the receiving end of a similarly warm reception was the revival of Edward II, first seen in 1981. They are a rare commodity of a Bob Marley tribute band combining and assimilating jazz and Celtic rhythms.

Headliners apart, many sought out the youthful oriented hot spots. Lady Maisery’s rich harmonies were punctuated by Rowan Rheingans’ witty asides. Philip Henry and Hannah Martin’s modest manner and extraordinary skilful musical combinations were an encouraging find. Particularly enjoyable was their rendition of Silvery Hill. The big disappointment of the evening was Joe O’Donnell’s Shkayla. Billed as a powerful sound, it was just too powerful, with the sound engineers doing them no favours.

Clive Peacock

Performances on Saturday (July 28)

Lady Maisery hosted a 10.30 am workshop; yes, a wee bit early for many folk festival regulars, but this event was ‘rammed to the gunwales’ for their Scandinavian and Estonian derived ‘diddling’ performance. This is a young personable group with a big future.

Reminiscent of the bluegrass radio shows, the Southern Tenant Folk Union, cluster around the solitary microphone. Their encore, All You Need to Know, is a fitting tribute to the blue grass Arkansas roots. What followed was memorable for all the right and wrong reasons. Sciorr: Staged, offered up a hugely energizing and innovative stage show, bringing together the Sheffield developed Irish Dance team backed by an extraordinarily capable brass keyboard and accordion team many of whom had been spotted earlier in the day with Steamchicken. This was an hour–and-a-half well-spent.

Top of the bill was Glasgow-born Eddi Reader, still enjoying her recent marriage to her own guitarist, John Douglas. She brought back memories of Dusty Springfield and much of her set would not have been amiss in a Springfield set, including It’s Got to be Perfect, One Sweet Kiss and Dandelion, dedicated as a tribute to Susan Boyle! She has an enviable record and a huge reputation, and showed enormous poise and polish, but many would argue she was a top-of-the bill somewhat out of place at a Warwick Folk Festival.

Clive Peacock