Sunday 20 August 2006

We went to hear Martin and Eliza Carthy playing in Milngavie last night, in the cozy (well, hot and sticky actually) confines of the Fraser Centre: just like being crammed into a tiny village hall. Great entertainment, and the first time I've seen Mr Carthy playing in the flesh. He played guitar all night and didn't play one single chord. And what a sense of rhythm.

Opening the gig was Jo Mango, whose voice is alarmingly reminiscent of Stina Nordenstam with a slight Scots accent. She is that rare thing, a folk performer with real dynamic range: everything grows out of silence. Her opening number, accompanying herself virtuosically on kalimba, was a jaw-dropping start: absolutely entrancing. I wonder if she could do with some better songs though.

Now packing to head off to Machynlleth. Chris, Alison and I are playing in the Music Festival in the Tabernacle on Tuesday night, so come and hear us if you're in mid-Wales. Of course I've no idea yet what we're actually going to play. 

News just in: it looks like Radio 3 will be recording Lisa and me doing our Janis Joplin thing in Orkney next summer.