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Menu Hors d’oeuvre: Andrea Ferguson Main Course: Jason Green, Jim, Steve Jackson, Gary Rudd, Bob “Easy” Reid Dessert: The Shantymen with Steve Lealand
A dear friend of Andrea, namely Andrea Smith, is celebrating her birthday today so she’s been especially invited down here for the evening and indeed Andrea dedicates her first two numbers, “Wayfaring Stranger” and “Star Of The County Down” to her. Andrea then completes her set with two old favourites, “Mercedes Benz” and “Summertime”. Jason’s up next, accompanied by a percussion ensemble featuring Steve L. on snare drum, John and Ralph on djemba and Steve on bodrhan. Jason begins with a new composition, “Funkster Mobile” before following with the rather catchy “Original Subliminal Criminal”. It’s Jim’s first time down here but this Glaswegian troubadour is a well known veteran on the folk circuit. He sings a cappella and he’s in mighty fine voice tonight as he treats us to two popular traditional songs, “Van Dieman’s Land” and “Dicey Riley” before finishing a very enjoyable set with a Glaswegian drinking song, “Rothesay O”. As always, it’s a pleasure to welcome Steve Jackson at the Eagle. Firstly Steve plumps for his “careworn” guitar and is joined by “Easy” and Steve L. for a jolly version of “A Mess Of Blues”. Steve then switches to his strummer in A and, aided by Shantyman Steve on bottle and stick, gives us a fine performance of “Ring Of Fire”. Steve returns to guitar and Shantyman Steve picks up an egg to continue in the Johnny Cash mode with “Folsom Prison Blues”. Andrea takes us to the break with another rendition of “Summertime”, this time featuring some lovely harmonica by “Easy”, before leading us into a hearty chorus of “Happy Birthday” as Andrea S. is presented with an absolutely gorgeous looking chocolate cake – complete with candles – lovingly created by the good lady of the house, Tracy. There are seven guest beers to choose from tonight including three from RCH. However be careful with the Firefox. At 6% abv, it’s not for boys. After a rather long-winded introduction, Gary finally strikes up his ukulele and takes us back to the Forties with an entertaining little ditty à la George Formby, “Dear Joyce”. Steve picks up the bones as Gary switches to banjo and offers us his self–penned “Ballad Of Ronnie Biggs”. An impressive song, even if a Great Train Robber does seem an unlikely candidate for sympathy. Unfortunately, Bob’s not been very well recently and he looks somewhat drawn, but there’s still plenty of life left in his lungs yet as he proves with Sonny Boy Williamson’s “Ninety-Nine” and Fleetwood Mac’s “Looking For Somebody”. Bob then completes his little spot with his semi-autobiographic “Blues Man”. The locals at the Golden Eagle have really taken the Shantymen to their hearts, so they received some warm applause as they entertain us with an instrumental and a couple of shanties, “Village Pump” and the popular “Chariot”, before bringing another Tuesday night to a close with “Holy Ground”. |
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