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Hors d’oeuvre: Andrea Ferguson & Rob Day
Main Course: Mike Steele, John Brightman,
John Ecob, Richard Bircumshaw,
Bob “Easy” Reid, John Pape & Steve, Aidan
Marshall
Dessert: Tyla Harris, Ian Good & Mel
Creating a
successful OM is like cultivating a healthy plant. You prepare the ground,
plant your seed, add a little compost, water and feed generously and just
lovingly watch it grow. Our head gardener, Andrea, looks thrilled to bits
tonight as she observes her little seedling already sprouting many a healthy
green shoot.
There’s a room
full of enthusiastic punters and a whole host of performers so Andrea’s
going to have her work cut out. She and Rob set the tone for the evening
with a lively cover of Joni Mitchell’s “Big Yellow Taxi”.
A versatile
performer with an interesting repertoire of covers, Mike looks more
confident and relaxed tonight as he opens with Brownie McGhee’s “Living With
The Blues”. Mike then follows with the delightful “She Never Spoke Spanish
To Me” before finishing an entertaining set with Warren Zevon’s “Werewolves
Of London”, which strikes a chord with Andrea, for her daddy used to perform
this song – he probably still does! – in the bars and clubs of County Down.
Harry Sacksioni
has written some beautiful guitar instrumentals, which that accomplished
guitarist from Sleaford, John Brightman, can interpret to perfection.
Tonight’s choice is “Thee Bij Tante Josephine”. John follows with his own
“He Said, She Said” of which the fortissimo section seems to catch Paul –
and a lot of the audience – by surprise. John closes with a dedication to
his own sister called “Sister Helen”, an instrumental based on “Frère
Jacques”.
Next up is John
Ecob, who all too rarely plays OMs. Three originals from John tonight,
“Capital Thrill”, “Long Way To Heaven” and “Snowy’s Birthday”. There’s a
little wobble at the end but who cares? It’s creativity and expression that
count and John possesses plenty of that.
Richard from
Retford has been suffering with severe back pain recently, nethertheless
he’s braved it here tonight to perform, rather unusually for Richard, three
vocal numbers; Bessie Smith’s “Nobody Knows You”, his own recently written
and rather charming “Good Enough For Me” and the trad blues “Blood In My
Eyes”.
“Easy” follows
with Sonny Boy Williamson’s “Bye Bye Birdie”. His rendition of the classic
“Summertime” gives rise to an audience sing-along before he’s joined by
Aidan to close a varied and well-balanced first half - Andrea’s obviously
been doing her homework! - with a corking version of T-Bone Walker’s “Stormy
Monday”.
Time for a break.
There’s plenty to talk about, Tracy’s put on another lovely spread and,
while you’re refilling your glass with one of eight real ales on offer,
you’ll be able to see Pete doing a fine impression of a whirling dervish!
Steve and John
make a lively start to the second half with John playing some tasty lap
steel guitar despite breaking a string. A rendition of one of their popular
sea shanties follows before they close with an instrumental featuring Steve
on bodrhan and sticks and John on steel banjo.
Next we welcome
back Aidan Marshall who begins with a polished “One Day Without You”,
composed by one of his favourites, John Martyn. A superb cover of “Don’t
Think Twice It’s Alright” and “Drive Her Home” complete a top-drawer
performance from a top-drawer artist.
Rob’s also in fine
form tonight as he treats us to his emotive “Who You Really Want”. Rob then
takes us up country with “Telling The Truth”, which leads to a spontaneous
sing-along in the front stalls, before he finishes with the ever popular
“Wasted”.
