Rob Halligan. 29 Sep at 7-30pm, St Nicholas' Beverley.

 

We welcome back singer-songwriter Rob Halligan to St Nicholas', Beverley on Friday 29 September. Rob is touring again, playing a mix of new and established material, and sharing some of the stories that lie behind the songs. All that plus a warm St Nicholas' welcome, licensed bar, merch table and a great night out.

We'll be in for a great evening of music, which will no doubt include a lot of humour - as well as some serious and poignant moments. 

You can read more about Rob here Bio – Rob Halligan

Blair Dunlop in Concert

We are delighted to be welcoming talented singer-songwriter Blair Dunlop to St Nicholas', Beverley.

Blair Dunlop, award-winning British singer-songwriter and guitarist, has now released 5 albums 2 EPs and toured the globe. Though a celebrated singer and guitarist, what sets Blair apart from his peers is the lyrical and musical maturity with which he writes. 

His third album ‘Gilded’ was released in May 2016 on his own label – Gilded Wings – and was widely acclaimed, gaining BBC Radio 2 Playlist status for the two single releases (‘The Egoist’ and ‘356’). Prior to this came 2014’s ‘House of Jacks’ and 2012 debut ‘Blight & Blossom’ (the quality of which contributed to his winning the BBC Radio 2 Horizon Award). 

Blair has now cemented his place as one of Britain’s most exciting songwriters and performers. 2018 Blair saw the release of his 4th album ‘Notes From An Island’ on his own label to rave reviews. Blair has toured extensively in Europe and Australia, appearing at festivals such as Glastonbury, Cambridge Folk Festival in the UK, and Port Fairy and Woodford in Australia. In 2021 he released his first live record, ‘Trails: Queensland’ which chronicled his ’19/’20 tour of Australia.

For a full list of gigs at St Nicholas', head over to our Eventbrite page.

 

Live music in Beverley

We have a great line-up of live music coming up at St Nicholas', Beverley. For prices and to book tickets, visit our Eventbrite page.

All gigs will be at 7-30pm in church, and feature our reasonably-priced licensed bar. 

 

Trace the Line: Music and Loss

 

We had a brilliant evening of music at St Nicholas', Beverley with Yvonne Lyon, Gareth Davies-Jones and David Lyon touring their new album Trace The Line. It was hard to believe that I last met up with Yvonne and David in 2017 when they were touring their previous collaboration The Space Between.

I was so pleased to bring them to Beverley, and they now have some new fans. One of the tracks on the new album is a beautiful songs about loss, which Yvonne has addressed in songs before. Knowing how much Yvonne's music meant to Debbie, it was a very poignant moment. 

Take a listen here - and even better buy it!

Yvonne Lyon, Gareth Davies-Jones and David Lyon

Trace The Line

We are very excited to have a new programme of concerts in the autumn at St Nicholas', Beverley. You can view the programme here. The next one coming up is special to me, as it features 3 artists who have become friends over the last 12 years. 

In 2016 Gareth joined with Yvonne & David Lyon to record and release an album called The Space Between - a collection of songs inspired by the Sermon on the Mount. Just before lockdown in 2020 they went back into the studio to record a follow up album - Trace The Line, now available on CD, and on streaming platforms from July.

We are delighted to be able to host these three talented musicians and singers as they share their new material, as well as highlights from their respective catalogues.

The Best Songs Featuring a Key Change?

This quest was prompted by a conversation I had with Carol a week or two ago. We were trying to think of a decent track that includes a key change. We could think of several examples of where they are deployed to try and improve a song that's running out of steam. It is an essential trick for the power ballad that insists on going round its chorus one too many times, and what boy band didn't had a key change that was the moment to get off those ubiquitous stools and take two steps forward, just as we were getting bored with the song.

Having asked Twitter and Facebook friends for suggestions, here's a small selection of the best tracks we came up with - in no particular order of course. 

My Girl - The Temptations

This gets a mention first on the list, as it is not only a classic Motown track; it also features a key change bravely inserted half-way through the song, rather than in the dying embers.

You Don't Have To Say You Love Me - Dusty Springfield

I love Dusty Springfield's voice, even though some of the songs she performed were not exactly my cup of tea. In this case it's a track where the song is good, even if the arrangement is "of its time". Here is a live version from her TV show.

Afterglow - Genesis

Someone suggested Supper's Ready, but as it is the entire side of an album, made up of several songs in one epic track I decided on this rather shorter offering. Key change is towards the end, but it is far from running out of steam.

Penny Lane - The Beatles (who else!)

The Beatles seemed to manage to avoid key changes on the whole - the songs were good enough anyway. However, this classic does contain one. Seems entirely justified.

Livin' on a Prayer

It's the 80s, hair is big, stage sets are huge, everything is a bit over the top, so a key change at about 3 1/2 minutes is inevitable. 

Mac The Knife - Bobby Darin

This gets a special mention, as it is a serial key-changer. Loads of versions out there, but I am going with my good friend David's recommendation of Bobby Darin.

Gareth Davies-Jones in Concert at St Nick's, Beverley

 

Gareth returns to Beverley playing songs from his new album Truth, Tradition, Prophets & Loss along with a selection of material from previous albums.

Tickets are £10, available online using the button below (booking fee applies). You can also buy them in-person after services at St Nick's, from St Nicholas Church Centre office, or from Jacob's Well charity shop on Ladygate, Beverley.

We have an ongoing range of concerts taking place at St Nick's, and you can find out more and follow links for tickets from our new concerts page on our website here.

With over eighteen years of graft and experience as a professional musician - writing, recording and playing his way around the UK & Ireland - Gareth Davies-Jones has earned a well respected pedigree in the British roots/acoustic music scene. An artist who has served his apprenticeship well and gathered a discerning following.

To discover more about Gareth, see his website https://www.garethdavies-jones.com/

A licensed bar will be open at the interval, along with an opportunity to buy CDs and merchandise.

Please note that we are recommending everyone attending to do a lateral flow test within 24 hours of attending. No-one should attend if they are experiencing symptoms of coronavirus.

Album Sleeve Challenge Day 8

Today we visit Motown. There are so many Motown compilations, but this is one I was given in the late 70s, and I still have it. All collections of this kind have gaps, of course, but this is a pretty decent set of 20 tracks, including Grapevine, Reach Out I'll Be There, Dancing in the Street, etc.

Back in 2001, we were visiting good friends in Dearborn, Michigan, so being that close to Detroit meant a visit to Motown Studios was irresistible. That part of town was still very much an African-American area.  The museum itself was surprisingly modest, with no official car park and very little signage, except for the one immediately outside.

When we got inside, there were only a handful of people there, and it was only a few dollars to go in. We were immediately identified as Brits, of course, and the man who guided us round told us that quite a few of their visitors were from the UK. David Bowie had dropped in a few weeks ago, and Paul McCartney had also visited in his time.

The whole place is remarkably small and modest, yet all the amazing classic hits from 1958 to 1970 were recorded there, so the atmosphere was amazing. We were also showed the flat upstairs, where artists such as Diana Ross would pack records into boxes between sessions to be mailed out to record shops. In the 1960s in the US, racial barriers were still very real obstacles even in the music industry. 

Oddly, despite the UK having plenty of racism of its own, the artists of Motown found it a very receptive place for their music, although things went slowly for the bus full of Motown stars working its way around the country in 1965. However, after national TV exposure on a Ready Steady Go special on TV, the chart hits started to follow.

I think my love of Motown come not just from the music and the memories of it being on the radio as a kid, but it also connects with a long-term interest I have had with the civil rights movement in the US, and the struggle for equality that these artists had to endure.

And it's a rare example of music that [almost] makes me want to dance...

Album Sleeve Challenge Day 7

This one gets us into the 80s to when I was a student, regularly buying albums (often second hand from a market stall). However, I bought this one brand new and it's by a band I have seen live three times - Big Country. I saw them first touring the debut album The Crossing, later supporting Queen at Knebworth, and finally acoustic in Morecambe a couple of years ago. They were a band that were immediately recognisable in their sound, and their songs had an edge to them - with plenty of social comment. It's probably one of the best protest albums of the 80s.

Steeltown made no. 1 in the UK, but wasn't a massive success commercially worldwide - partly because songs about 80s UK industrial decline and Thatcher's Britain didn't have great traction in the US market. However, it's a fine legacy for the late Stuart Adamson to have left us.

Album Sleeve Challenge Day 6

This is where you can find the explanation for the album sleeve choices I'm placing on Facebook. It's been interesting to list what has been influential, rather than what has been a favourite, although sometimes the two are the same.

Next up is Liege and Lief by Fairport Convention. I've tended to regard my musical tastes as 'acoustic' rather than 'folk', as I wanted to avoid the image of beardy bloke with finger in the ear singing in a nasal tone about fair damsels in meadows. Fairport certainly do traditional folk, but the musicianship and the vocals of Sandy Denny put them in a different class, but also opened up folk music to me. 

Just after Debbie died, some friends invited me to join them at the Cropredy Festival in the August, and so discovering folk, and beginning to recover are kind of closely associated. No Cropredy this year, but I intend to be there in 2021.

If you're a bit of a sceptic [and I would understand that], check out Crazy Man Michael as a track.

Album Sleeve Challenge Day 5

I think I will struggle to complete the facebook thing to name 10 albums that have influenced my musical taste, but here's the next one. What interested me about the challenge was the focus on influence. This isn't a list of my favourite albums, although there is overlap.

If we are talking influence, then there ought to be a jazz album on here somewhere. I could have gone for the more obvious Miles Davis, but my dad was a fan of jazz from a slightly earlier era - Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, etc. I remember him going to Music Inn in Nottingham, which could do specialist stuff, in order to get a copy of this album (no Amazon back then). 

Concert by the Sea is taken from a concert by Errol Garner in 1955 in Carmel, California. It wasn't even a planned recording - a radio engineer from Armed Forces Radio did it and it was adopted and released. The original LP had 40 or so minutes of tracks, not in the order they were performed. It was a huge success. You can now get a CD with the full concert, which I bought for my dad a couple of years ago.

The Beatles got me playing the guitar, Nick Drake has made me want to learn more; I can't really say what Errol Garner did, but I know he's part of the soundtrack, and that is why he is here.

If you don't know anything else by Garner, you will probably know the song "Misty", which he wrote, even if it's only because of the movie Play Misty for Me. He couldn't write music; he recorded things for colleagues to transcribe. Misty isn't on the album, so here he is playing it.

Album Sleeve Challenge Day 4

Not sure I'll get to the end of the Facebook thing to name 10 albums that have influenced my musical taste, but here's the next one. I'm providing the explanation of my choices over here on the blog, because the 'challenge' asks you not to do that in your Facebook post.

I discovered Nick Drake's music quite late in the day - not that there's a great quantity to discover. He managed 3 proper album releases before his premature death, and some archive material has been released since. No known live footage exists, and much about him remains a bit of a mystery.

However, his first album, Five Leaves Left, remains my favourite. In many ways it's a very simple production with enough strings to provide drama and atmosphere, but not so much that the songs get sanitised and drowned out. Richard Thompson contributes guitar on the opening track, and Danny Thompson [no relation] features on bass on several.

The different chords, tunings, rhythms and time signatures of his guitar work made me go back to my standard-tuned acoustic to see if I could learn new things after all these years. One day I'll master River Man. As an album, it's well worth a listen, and you may find you recognise at least one track.

Album Sleeve Challenge Day 3

Continuing with the Facebook thing to name 10 albums that have influenced your musical taste, here's the next one. I'm providing the explanation of my choices over here on the blog, because the challenge asks not to do that in your Facebook post.

It would be hard not to include the Beatles somewhere in this challenge, and I realised that if we are talking most influential album, this was the one. I got it at some point as a teenager, and around the same time I acquired a guitar. It wasn't very good, and I couldn't play much to start with, but armed with a Beatles song book from the library, it made me learn strumming rhythms and new chords. Eventually I could actually play along, and so the Beatles were key in getting me going with playing the guitar. 

This may not be my favourite album - and it's a compilation - but it contains some great songs, and it certainly had a lot of influence.

Album Sleeve Challenge Day 2

Over on Facebook, there's a thing going round where you are nominated to post the 10 albums that have influenced your musical taste. No explanation or review is part of the challenge, so I'm linking here in my Facebook post to provide some background in the unlikely event of anyone wanting any.

I had just started secondary school when the Peter Gabriel era of Genesis was happening. I remember listening to Foxtrot and Selling England By The Pound at a friend's house, and later at university we listened to the back catalogue, with all its strangeness. We debated whether any of the albums after Gabriel were as good and compared them to other 'prog' rock of the era - Yes, Pink Floyd, King Crimson etc.

Aside from the musical merits and the strange and, at times, pretentious lyrics they have a particular sound to them. As well as Peter Gabriel's distinctive vocals and lyrics, the eerie sound of Mellotrons, tricky drumming and unexpected chord sequences intrigued me. Not sure how early Genesis has influenced me, but somehow I couldn't leave it out.

As a PS I probably ought to say I also likes some of the later material - notably the Genesis album of 1983, and I saw them live in 1987. But although it's not exactly cool to say so, I can't help wishing I could have been there for an early gig like some of my [older!] friends.

Album Sleeve challenge day 1

Over on Facebook, there's a thing going round where you are nominated to post the 10 albums that have influenced your musical taste. No explanation or review is part of the challenge, so I'm linking here in my facebook post to provide some background in the unlikely event of anyone wanting any.

First up: After the Goldrush by Neil Young

Neil Young is frustrating. His output has been varied and unpredictable, and at times really difficult to listen to. The first time I saw him live he was touring a strange album called Trans - lots of electronic effects, vocoders etc. Second time it was a mainly electric, but with a memorable but brief acoustic set in the middle.

When he is good, he is very good (but when he isn't...) It was in my first year at university that I first encountered Mr Young's output, and the early albums are really my favourites - Goldrush and Harvest are especially strong, although I often listen to the first two as well. After that, I'd suggest Rust Never Sleeps, Freedom and if you're a country fan Comes a Time or Harvest Moon. There's also a great early live release Live at Canterbury House, which is apparently an Episcopal Church chaplaincy centre.

But if you want to see Neil in action at his best, then the BBC in concert from 1971 is probably the place to go. Mainly tracks from Harvest feature. This kind of stuff made me want to improve my acoustic guitar playing.

Rob Halligan: Always Heading Home

Really looking forward to welcoming singer-songwriter Rob Halligan back to St Nick's, Beverley. It's free to come, but it would help to know numbers, so if you know you're coming, drop us an email at:

stnicksoffice@gmail.com, leave a message on 01482 863542 or book via Eventbrite here https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/rob-halligan-always-heading-home-tickets-89276104231 Rob returns to St Nick's, Beverley to perform songs and tell stories from his life. It's quite a story - including a period without a home, and losing his father in the 9/11 attack on the Twin Towers. Big themes in Rob's songs are forgiveness and the power of love to overcome bitterness and hate. Rob has also done work for Globalcare https://www.globalcare.org - a charity working with refugees in Lebanon on the Syrian border. Rob's set will include new material from his new CD Always Heading Home, as well as tracks from earlier albums. There will be an interval with a licensed bar, when you can have a chat to Rob and buy CDs and merchandise. There will be an opportunity to donate towards expenses, and any surplus on the night will go to Globalcare.

Jono Peatman CD release

On Friday we had a family get-together over in Lancaster for the launch of Jono's first CD. It contains two worship tracks that he has written and recorded with assistance from friends at St Thomas' and other churches.

The tracks are also on Spotify, Amazon Music and iTunes. They are starting to pick up interest on Spotify in a surprising variety of places around the world, so good work by the boy.

Here's one of them via Youtube.

Gareth Davies-Jones Christmas Acoustic Concert

A quick plug for an event coming up in December

Cropredy 2017 Review: Day 2

Life crowded in, and I'm not a completer-finisher, but here's the next instalment.

There was a chance of rain over the festival, and Friday saw a bit of very fine drizzle for a time. Luckily the ground remained firm, and things dried up before we all became wet and discouraged. I think it's probably fair to say that this day saw the most varied programme on the stage of the three days. Let me explain.

To its credit, Cropredy gives a slot to the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award Winners, and this year they were Josie Duncan and Pablo Lafuente. Beautifully performed songs, they have rightly made an impact on the folk scene. Josie comes from the Isle of Lewis, and Pablo is a "young guitarist and fiddler from Spain via Stirling". Well worth checking out.

I can't quite remember when the gentle hazy drizzle started, but I suspect it reduced my enthusiasm to engage with the next two acts. Gerry Colvin was up first. A singer from Barrow with his band, with a career going back to the 70s. I've rarely seen a performer so excited to be performing, and especially to get a reaction from the audience. I didn't know much about him before the festival, but it's quite a CV on the website.

From the top of the arena field, once the weather improved.

Next on were Quill - folky rock with its roots in the Midlands, driven by lead singer Joy Strachan Brain, and a band that has been going since the 70s. Cropredy always has excellent musicians, and there's no doubt that Quill are, but they just didn't quite capture my attention like some acts. However, it could have been the weather...

Gigspanner followed, led by Peter Knight - perhaps best know for being part of Steeleye Span. They were a band who definitely fall into the folk category, but whose music has influences from further afield. Again terrific musicianship from a very experienced musician and his band took us up to just before 5pm.

CC Smugglers were up next. The lead singer was so excited he got a bit shouty between numbers, but great energy and fun to watch. They have also played Greenbelt, so they're obviously in demand for festivals. What genre? Well here's the description: "Listen to CC Smugglers and you’ll hear the ghosts of American folk music, swing, jazz, country, ragtime and bluegrass. Listen more closely and you’ll hear contemporary touchstones such as hip hop, metal, dubstep, house and dancehall. Nothing is off limits for this outfit." Now you know.

One of the highlights of my first Cropredy in 2016 was the Pierce Brothers making their debut. Two lads from Australia, who had been touring small venues in Europe turned up, having just played a bar in Belgium. "Which stage are we on?" they apparently asked, expecting a small side venue. It was explained to them there was only one stage, and it clearly blew them away to have such an opportunity. They went down so well they got an invitation to come back this year, and they were great. Humour, energy, and still really excited to be there at all.

A lovely touch was when they told the story that their sister required medical treatment that wasn't covered by insurance. When they crowdfunded for her, Cropredy goers chipped in and helped, which showed the connection they had made.

The contrast with the next act couldn't be greater. At the tender age of 84, Petula Clark was playing her first ever festival. It was a strange choice of artist. Let's be clear - she can certainly still perform, and has an incredible CV and a remarkable set of recollections and stories. And I remember as a small child her hits like Downtown being on the radio. They were all in a very polished set, but it did seem a bit out of character with the rest of the line-up. Still, there were plenty of people singing along.

Although Petula Clark was probably technically the headline act for Friday, Richard Thompson followed her. An original Fairporter and a great musician in his own right. Personally I preferred his acoustic set, which treated us to a number of favourites including this - Vincent Black Lightning 1952.

This was the third time I have seen him live, and I am always fascinated by his acoustic guitar technique. As a friend put it - he is a musician's musician. I'm not quite so keen on his electric material, but there is no doubting his legendary status and musicianship. A good way to finish Friday.

Cropredy 2017 Review: Day 1

This was my second visit to the legendary Cropredy festival, and I'm running the serious risk of being labelled a folkie. My only answer to that is that the line-up of 2016 and 2017 have been much more diverse than the reputation might suggest. As we approached and saw people walking through the village, we recalled my friend Bob's comment last year that "some of them don't even try to look like muggles." We were again lucky enough to have Bob and Ann's home to stay in and commute, as they live nearby, and are brilliant hosts.

It's a gentler festival - one stage, everyone is friendly (and quite a few - but not all - are a bit older). The arena field slopes gently down, and most people bring chairs, cold boxes of drink and food and we get to know each other between sets. I even sat near someone who I knew from over 20 years ago when I was his curate!

Fairport always start and finish the gig - playing an acoustic set at the beginning of the programme. This was the current line-up, all of whom are great musicians and honour the Fairport sound. The first day was quite a mixed bag in itself. Feast of Fiddles includes members of Fairport, Steeleye Span, Show of Hands and more. All great musicians and an enjoyable set, but perhaps not my top pick for genre.

Dogs are also welcome. These two were near us - complete with trolley

Phil Beer had a busy afternoon, as he reappeared alongside Steve Knightley and Miranda Sykes with Show of Hands. For me, this was a great set - superb musicianship, with challenging songs that have a conscience. Catch them on their tour of cathedrals this autumn.

I didn't know what to expect of the Trevor Horn Band. Lol Creme from 10cc had joined him, alongside some great younger musicians and vocalists. We were treated to a live set of songs that he had produced or been involved with performing, along with a couple of 10cc hits. We had the full range - Kiss From A Rose, Video Killed the Radio Star, 3 Frankie Goes to Hollywood hits, Cry, Owner of a Lonely Heart (vocals: Matt Cardle) and he even managed to find someone to sing Slave to the Rhythm. Plus we got Rubber Bullets and I'm Not in Love. The production of the original records was really important in most cases, and yet the band managed tight, complex arrangements without the need of backing tracks. Probably the set of the day.

Following that was always going to be a tough one, and the lot fell to the Divine Comedy. Somewhere I have a CD of Fin de Siècle, featuring the hit single National Express. However, I have to confess we slipped away after a few songs - at that stage in the day I think we needed something more engaging. In fact if the order had been reversed, I think Trevor Horn would have held the audience much better. But it was a good day, and we got a slightly earlier night than we expected.