A stifling Fibbers plays host to Seth Lakeman tonight – it is a real treat to see the fiddle-playing singer-songwriter in such an intimate location.
This night was always going to be jam-packed, and a sold-out venue begins to fill almost immediately with a pleasing mix of music fans, young and old. Shoulder to shoulder people stand, and an enthusiastic crowd greet support act (and winner of Best Newcomer at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2010) Sam Carter, to the stage for the occasional sing-along and obligatory songs of heartbreak with unexpectedly humorous lyrics such as, “You flatten me like a pheasant on a country lane.”
After a fairly long wait amidst a rigid formation of well-worn leather jackets and well-meaning music-loving couples, Seth Lakeman finally arrives on stage, beaming his devastatingly good-looking smiles before taking up the banjo to play the opening track of his new album ‘Tales From the Barrel House’, ‘More than Money’. A spot-on foot-stomper, it led straight into ‘Blacksmith’s Prayer’ described in his album notes as “An epitaph to a blacksmith’s life and a disappearing craft” and is a truly haunting rendition. These new songs translate well to the live stage, having been rearranged slightly with new instruments after being recorded with objects at hand in The Barrelhouse in Morwellham Quay in Devon.
Songs from his fourth album, ‘Freedom Fields’ such as a mightily fast rendition of ‘Lady Of The Sea’ ignites the rapturous horde along with ‘Setting Of The Sun’. ‘The Colliers’, a song which is based upon the plight of tin and coppers miners, flourished with the crowd chanting “There were many lost in the dark and dust when the colliers called out…” over and over whilst Lakeman and his four accompanying band members do their thing with flare and passion. Plenty of songs from his Mercury Prize-winning debut album ‘Kitty Jay’ are well-received and expertly preformed, including the title track, ‘John Lomas’, ‘Bold Night’ and ‘Blood Upon Copper’ and were all greeted with open arms and cheers. Encore song ‘High St Rose’ (taken from his last album ‘Hearts & Minds’) is an amazing end to a highly enjoyable evening. Currently only booked to return to York in August to headline Galtres Festival, catch this titan of modern folk where you can: you’ll have a night of hearty, transcendent music awaiting you.
For more information visit the official Seth Lakeman website.
