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Andrea
Ferguson, John Pape and Steve,
Steve
Leyland, Mike Steele, Steve Jackson
With all due respect to
Aidan, who did a sterling job compering the last GEOM, it’s a real pleasure
to welcome Andrea back at the helm – especially as she’s wearing that
heart-winning smile. There’s only a handful of performers tonight but the
lovely laid-back atmosphere and all those smiling faces suggest that we’re
in for a really good evening.
Andrea sets the sail and
steers us on our course with the familiar “Star Of The County Down”. She
continues with her oh so beautiful, bittersweet ballad “Driftaway”, before
rounding off with her powerfully emotive “Passing Through”. Only three
numbers into the night and it’s already been well worth the effort to come
here!
Next up is
Mike who’s a dab hand at plucking little and oft forgotten gems from his
musical treasure chest. He makes a bright and breezy start with Eddie
Cochran’s “Three Steps To Heaven”. Mike then slows the tempo with Butch
Hancock’s lovely, lilting ballad, “She Never Spoke Spanish To Me”, inviting
the audience to a chorus sing-along, before finishing a splendid little set
with a bouncy Carl Perkins rockabilly number, “Restless”.
Our next
performer is the charming and admirably talented Steve Jackson. Armed with a
care-worn guitar, he treats us to three self-penned numbers beginning with
the ragtime “The Beach”. Steve follows with the lovely mellow “You Can Never
Touch The Sky” and then ends on a more upbeat note with “The More You Know,
The More You Grow”.
Fresh from their successful
gig here on Sunday night, John and Steve (alias the Shantymen) begin with
dual bodrhans for “Plains Of Mexico” and the rousing popular shanty, “Biker
Hill”. Steve Leyland joins them on tambourine and John picks up his
long-necked mandolin to take us to the break with two lesser known tunes by
the Dublin troubadour Al O’Donnell.
Out come the sandwiches and
the chips, so it’s time for a chomp and a chat, and as always there’s a wide
choice of real ales to savour.
After the refreshments,
Andrea gets us back on course with a Gillian Welch composition that she
interprets so well, that bloody murderous killing song, “Caleb Meyer”. She
continues in an upbeat vein with her usual bouncy cover of Michelle
Shocked’s “Fogtown”. Then in a stark contrast of moods, bringing the room to
a respectful silence, Andrea performs an unforgettable, heartfelt a cappella
rendition of Eric Bogle’s poignant anti-war classic, “Green Fields Of France
(Willie McBride)”.
Mike’s
back with an interesting cover of Tom Russell’s tribute to the legendary
Panamanian world boxing champion, “The Eyes Of Roberto Duran” before
following with Chuck Berry’s “Promised Land” based on Johnnie Allan’s Cajun
version.
Steve
plucks out his “duelling strummers” to treat us to his own “Coming Home To
You”. There’s some light-hearted banter from a section of the audience,
which of course is egg and milk to Steve who responds by encouraging a
hearty sing-along of “Ring Of Fire”. The sing-long continues for Steve’s
final number, Bill Monroe’s jolly “Blue Moon Of Kentucky”.
Our final act is John and
Steve accompanied of course by Steve Leyland. They open with “Mighty Storm”,
followed by a sprightly “Red-Haired Mary”, before bringing the evening to a
close with a pub favourite, “Hell’s Angels”.
So, just as it promised,
we’ve been treated to a thoroughly enjoyable evening. Thank you to all the
good souls who’ve entertained us tonight, Tracy and Pete for keeping us well
fed and watered, and Paul for doing his level best on the sound. See you all
on the 24th.
