JazzFest 1 - a long way from the Steel City, and a hidden surprise

First big music festival of the summer (and my first full summer in Ottawa) and a meditation on the steel city on the Don, Sheffield. The previous time I saw Robert Plant, in Sheffield way back in 2002, it was in a packed-out university venue. Not a shade on the crowd gathered in Confederation Park on 23rd June, though. According to a fellow attendee, this was maybe the biggest crowd ever at JazzFest?! Due credit to support act Bahamas - new to me but the band, with frontperson Afie Jurvanen, payed a good mix and received more than a polite response from the ever-growing audience, and not just for a few lines of Led Zeppelin.

Thunder and lightning added to the atmosphere as Robert Plant and the Band of Joy (including Grammy winner Patty Griffin) took the stage with a 'jazz time' take on Black Dog. The majority of the set comprised songs from recent albums Band of Joy and Raising Sand, with the combined vocals of Plant and Griffin and talents of the Band creating a captivating, supple sound. Plant also included solo hit 'Down To The Sea' as well as What Is And What Should Never Be. Potential setlist (from setlist.com):

        Black Dog
        Down to the Sea
        Angel Dance
        What Is and What Should Never Be
        House of Cards
        Somewhere Trouble Don't Go
        (vocals: Buddy Miller)
        Monkey
        A Satisfied Mind
        (Vocals: Darrell Scott)
        Satan Your Kingdom Must Come Down
        Ocean of Tears
        (Vocals: Patty Griffin)
        Black Country Woman
        In the Mood
        Please Read the Letter
        Misty Mountain Hop

        Encore:
        Gallows Pole

The 2002 Plant concert sticks in my mind as one of the best I've seen. This concert, although with a very different setlist, was no less impressive.

The rain arrived, slowly at first, during Plant's show, and quite a few people went to the OLG stage to shelter from the rain and encountered local band The PepTides, who, according to this week's interview with Apartment 613, were performing with a band for the first time!

A name relatively new to me, but I think it will become much more familiar. There are 5 singers with The PepTides along with 5 band members. From their very varied setlist, I caught references to Scissor Sisters, a touch of Chic, UK bands The Sugars and (first album era) The Pipettes, plus a bit of Kitty Daisy and Lewis, to name a few. A lot of thought had clearly gone into costumes and set design, so maybe add cabaret to the list! A very very enthusiastic (and slightly damp) audience, including an impromptu dance towards the end of the show, listened to a series of 'acts' comprising songs mostly from recent album For Those Who Hate Human Interaction. I purchased this after the show but have yet to sample. I look forward to doing so and to future PepTides shows in the city.

Music, Poetry and Cake (Gateshead and Lanchester)

Piano at the ready! (by M) After a good few months prep, the concert Piano Music and Poetry (organised through the Gateshead Piano Workshop folks) came around pretty quickly. As one of the participants, I was excited and also a little nervous about the prospect of a Paying Audience. The work paid off, as all the performers were excellent! Well appreciated by the compact audience. The format was in relation to National Poetry Day which was on 2nd October. Each performer chose a poem either in direct or indirect relation to their piece. A summary of the programme: Alan - Liszt Consolation No 4 and Mozart Adagio in B minor Graeme - Chopin Nocturne Op. 62 No. 2 with 'Uncertainty' by Adam Mickiewicz me - Clara Schumann, andante con sentimento with 'Clara Wieck und Beethoven' by Franz Grillparzer Jim - R Schumann Kinderszenen 1 and 7 with 'My child, we were just children' by Heinrich Heine Ernie - Debussy Clair de lune with excerpt from 'Fêtes g...

Love, chaos and hope: Gabriela Montero and Scottish Ensemble in Kendal

After a sublime Friday lunchtime concert, Saturday (16th February) got even better. The day started with the February edition of Clitheroe Piano Group, and even more than normal we had an excellent afternoon's music. Quick smart up the M6 to Kendal and a quick meal courtesy of Farmhouse Kitchen (very nice) before we headed to Kendal Leisure Centre. Lakeland Sinfonia seem to have a good set of concerts this season - I tried to book for Jess Gillham in January but sold out - and the February concert, Gabriela Montero and Scottish Ensemble, was definitely a treat. There seem to be a lot of season ticket holders as quite a lot of the audience seemed to know each other; and with a few single ticket holders like us, the hall was pretty full! Scottish Ensemble are a 12-piece string group, and a quick look at their website shows they are interested in anything strings! Gabriela Montero is renowned for her pianism, improvisations and compositions - certainly one of the draws f...

From Black Rose to Buena Vista

Two very different but equally impressive live experiences this last weekend. First up, our long overdue homage to the late, great Phil Lynott as Limehouse Lizzy returned to the Point on Friday 2nd March. Certainly on form (and not just lead singer Wayne Ellis, mmmm!) After a late doors, the band came on for a 2 hour set. They started off with Jailbreak (with added pyro), the rest of the main set comprising known songs like Dancing In The Moonlight, Warrior, Emerald, Johnny the Fox, Are You Ready, Killer On The Loose, Cold Sweat, Do Anything You Want To, Out In The Fields, Cowboy Song, Rosalie, The Boys Are Back In Town plus at least 1 early track. The encore included 1 verse/1 chorus from Sarah, Black Rose, Whisky In The Jar and another track. Excellent atmosphere, the place was sold out. The boys are back at the Point in December. Next on to crowd pleasers of a very different sort. M and I managed to get tickets for the sold-out Buena Vista Social Club show at Wales Millennium Centr...

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