Banjo brilliance: Dan Walsh at The Old Cinema Launderette

The events calendar gets busier and all of a sudden it's March and starting to feel like spring! Seems a long time since our first visit to The Old Cinema Launderette... I picked last night's Dan Walsh show somewhat out of curiosity and reminiscing about beginner's clawhammer from Ottawa Folkfest.

About 20 or so people were at the Launderette last night, quite full for a small room! A good mixture and a high percentage of folk fans who were familiar with Dan's music. There was supposedly a support band, but they didn't show so Dan played 2 sets - lucky us!

Most of Dan's songs were performed on his banjo with a few guitar numbers as well. Dan has collected a fair few accolades for 'best British banjo player' and this is no understatement. Playing a range of styles and songs old and new from bluegrass, reels, songs fast and slow - including a rock edge on 'Hammer and Nail', his musicianship is really impressive. The vocal tracks were a mixture of covers and self-penned songs; 'The Wiseman' was perhaps one of my favourites, based on a really interesting story about a recluse from Maritime Canada. I particularly liked the Eastern influences including Egyptian melody 'Mwashah/Egypt Cottage' and a few Indian ragas. I don't imagine it's easy to interpret sitar-based tracks on a banjo but Dan made it look so simple. Of the slower tracks, the instrumental 'Snow in March' was really something. Generally I preferred the banjo tunes to guitar songs but Dan's version of 'You Can Call Me Al' complete with audience participation was excellent.

For a 'let's try this' pick we had a fabulous evening! Dan is touring right through this spring and summer so I highly recommend finding a show near you. I now have another instrument on my 'would love to learn' list...

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