Once inside we soon begin to warm up, enjoying the dark charms of support act. John Francis Flynn, who performs some finely idiosyncratic tunes on guitar, voice and two tin whistles played at the same time, like an trad. Irish Rahsaan Roland Kirk. He says he hopes to have an album out next year, so definitely worth checking him out. He a has an excellent dry wit, too.
Waiting for Lankum |
Lankum in action by yours truly |
There were, inevitably, encores but no room for the band to do the walking off stage bit before being called back on so they just get on with it and in some style, including a peak moment when they get legendary singer, Frankie Armstrong, to join them on stage for a rendition of 'The Old Man from Over the Sea', which they learned from her 1966 recording. This was a heart-warming, invigorating night of music.
A wonderful gig and then a long, dark,drive back home, hoping to see these chaps many more times.