This is an annual event at which I quite often provide the live music. This year I did the gig with Phil Paterson (banjo/kazoo) and Gemma Shirley (fiddle). I also accompanied Catherine Beaton on a couple of songs.
I wanted as many songs as possible that were different to the Higher Plane set and as Phil and I had been rehearsing some new songs we decided to play them for the first time here. We asked Gemma to play along with us too and she came along to the gig and provided some superb lines on all of our songs including particularly fine interpretations of Down by the river and a double stopping laden Jambalya.
I had also recently got together with Cathy as well to rehearse some covers and to accompany her singing.
Despite a generally disappointing summer so far, the weather was very good for this and the event was well attended by church members and others. The music went down well with manyu positive comments being received. The whole gig was recorded onmy Zoom H4 handy recorder, though this was from the back of the playing area and is a reasonable quality considering there was no special recording set up. Certainly serves as a reminder of the day. A selection of recordings can be heard at http://www.soundclick.com/mikesquire
The event raised money for Milton Keynes Bridgebuilder Trust and Falcon Camps. More information on these organisations avaialble at:
The Set: You Ain’t Going Nowhere/Dirty Old Town/Hickory Wind/Leaving This Town/All Over Now/Down by the River/Nothing Ever Happens and Words (both with Cathy on vocals)/I am a Pilgrim/Brown Eyed Girl/Midnight Special/Urban Spaceman/Jambalya
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