Big Country - Roadmender Northampton

A sense of 'Deja Vu'  outside of the Roadmender as the first two people in the queue were the same two here in November last year. That time being the anniversary of 'The Crossing' album.

This time it is the turn of 'The Steeltown' album to get the anniversary treatment.It was in October 1984 that the album peaked at number one in the UK album chart. It hold special significance for Northamptonshire as the title track is about the town of Corby. Telling the story of the many Scottish families who moved down to work in the steel industry in 1935.

Managed to get on the barriers stage right without any problems. Strangely no support band on tonight ? The floor fills up slowly but surely , similar numbers to the last time we were here I would say, maybe less.

The band were at full strength tonight unlike on the previous visit when illness struck down  guitarist Jamie Watson. Singer Simon Hough had also struggled through with flu symptoms.

The set kicks off with 1000 Stars, Flame of the West and East of Eden. AS you would imagine most of the songs are from 'Steeltown' and 'The Crossing'.

Simon Hough

 It's warming up nicely until someone at the front passe out and everything grinds to a halt. Water is given and she seems to make a recovery although here eyes tell a different story. We are soon back on track again with the title track and then followed by the crowd favourite 'Chance' giving everyone a chance to sing along. Did you see what I did there ?  

It's another high energy performance from the band. Bruce Watson shows no sign of slowing up, and his lad Jamie is a 'chip off the old block'.

We didn't actually get the 'Steeltown' album in it's entirety , I reckon there were three tracks missing. But the sentiment was there at least and thats what matters I suppose.

The set closes with crowd favourites;'Wonderland' and 'Fields of Fire'. The encore is a slightly subdued 'Restless Natives'.

It's been a good night though but maybe seeing them doing 'The Crossing' album just under a year ago has raised the bar just a little higher?

Blanket (Band) - Craufurd Arms - Wolverton

The first of two gigs in two nights, both of which are fairly  local though.
First is a trip over the border to the Craufurd Arms in Wolverton near to Milton Keynes.
An old Victorian Pub which is also a music venue. From the outside it looks derelict and boarded up. A bit grim you might say on a dark and damp late October evening. Inside the pub it isn't a great deal better really. It resembles a crime scene with all the walls covered in thick layers of plastic sheeting. Upon which are splashed blood stains and scrawled deathly messages. How much of this is in preparation for upcoming Halloween celebrations I'm not quite sure?

The horror theme continues with tombstones on the bar, skulls hanging from the ceiling . There are even severed hands adorning the beer pulls. Even the pool table has a black cloth!
In keeping with the macabre theme I have a pint of Hobgoblin.

I'm here to the Blackpool band 'Blanket. Described as cinematic or anthemic rock I got into them almost by accident last year. A friend of mine added their debut album 'How to Let go' to some downloads that he put together for me.

Before 'Blanket' though we have the support band 'Pijn'.  The name is taken from the dutch word for pain. I have to say I found much of the set quite painful to listen to. I did last longer than my companion who went back to the bar after one song.

The strange thing was there did seem to be more people watching the support than there were for the headliners 'Blanket'.

It's stirring enough stuff but there isn't the atmosphere that I would have hoped for. There seems a distance between the band and the audience somehow.

I can see them in a bigger venue with a full light show and the atmospherics that they really need to back up the music.

The highlight of the set was the closing ten minute epic 'Immemorial Sea'. Just to hear this was worth the trip alone !

Walking The Ridgeway - Lambourn Downs & Devil's Punchbowl

First real walk of the Autumn season and the colours are slowly starting to change. The trees have pretty much retained their leaves , helped by all the recent rainfall.

A big walk planned today that could potentially be a figure of eight route . In total it is going to be over 14 miles that is for sure . So perhaps not the best day to choose to wear my new walking shoes for the first time then?

Starting point is the car park at Sparsholt Down, one of the highlights today would be 'The Devils Punchbowl'  , more of that later as that will be at the end of the walk.
We walk in the direction of Uffington Castle, the point at which we made it to on a previous walk. At that point we left The Ridgeway (for now) on the direction of 'Seven Barrows'. A name that I recalled from being a keen follower of 'Jumps racing'.

Prior to the turn-off my guidebook issues a warning. 'Beware the chalky' track is slippery when wet.'
It had been raining since we left and I was in full ' wet weather gear' as the forecast was poor. They were right about that track though being slippery! It was like the 'Cresta Run' at St Moritz!
My companion took a flyer! As well as a few bruised he spent the rest of the day coated in a layer of chalk on his back. Somehow I managed to stay upright at least. Thankfully those new shoes offered some grip , but the safest method was to walk on the grass verge where possible.

The walk to 'Seven Barrows' came as some relief as we swapped the rock hard chalk for the lush green gallop meadows of Uffington Down and Kingston Warren Down. We were right in the heart of Lambourn Racing country. 

We walked right past the 'Seven Barrows' entrance and home of 5 times champion trainer 'Nicky Henderson'. After Newmarket Lambourn is the largest horse training centre in the UK.

The Lambourn Downs are part of the North Wessex Downs are an area of outstanding natural beauty and  cover an area of 231 square miles (600 km²),from The Ridgeway in the north to the River Kennet in the south.

Author  J. R. R. Tolkien lived nearby and travelled to the downs with his family and friends. He was impressed by the downs with their sarsen stones, barrows and hill forts. I'm sure it must have been an inspiration for him in writing 'The Hobbit' and 'Lord of the Rings' .

The Seven Barrows

Back to the 'Seven Barrows, they very much do exist. They are situated in what is a nature reserve. The picture to the left  isn't particularly clear but they are all there I can assure you.

Its actually a Bronze Age cemetery and an SSSI. Excavators have found that one grave alone contained the cremated remains of 100 individuals dating from 2200 BC.
Some claim that there are around 30 barrows in total of varying shapes and descriptions.
It is though to have been one of the first areas to have been cleared by early humans. It is now home for grassland plants and butterflies.

As we pass 'Sheepdrove Organic Farm' there is an entrance marked 'Natural Burial Ground'. The view from the burial ground is spectacular; sweeping hills, miles of byways, woodlands, wildflower meadows and hedges make up the scenery.The natural burial wood is set in a four acre triangular deciduous woodland filled with native species of trees such as Beech, Ash, Cherry and Sycamore. The Woodland was planted over 20 years ago to increase the amount of Woodland planting on the farm and to create habitats for birds and wildlife.

A natural burial is a sustainable alternative to other burial options. They produce less waste, reduce carbon footprint and nourish the local ecosystem.   A bit of research by myself finds that  a natural burial costs £1200 with a £275 internment fee. Only 100% bio-degradable materials are allowed to be buried. Wool, cotton, wicker and cardboard are all acceptable. 

 After a long and hard trek we finally get back on to 'The Ridgeway'. This does come as some relief as my feet particularly the little toe on my right foot is hurting.

The weather has brightened up though! The wet weather coat is off along with the fleece. The waterproof trousers are staying put though as it's too much hassle to remove them.   

'The Devil's Punchbowl'  is soon in sight as it is so huge.You just never seem to get to it though.I  hope we do though before my aching knees give way.

The Devils Punchbowl

 The 'Devil’s Punchbowl' may look like a meteorite impact crater, but it originated as a depression formed by dissolution of Chalk bedrock over thousands of years. The water levels in it are linked to the rise and fall of groundwater.It is an impressive sight though.

Water levels in the Devil’s Punchbowl go up and down with the seasons, and often cheat expectations – surprisingly full in summer or unexpectedly dry in winter.

From there the car park is very welcome sight !

 

Stillmarillion -Newhampton Arts Centre Wolverhampton

Back to what is fast becoming one of my favourite venues in the Midlands. Perfect timing saw us arrive 15minutes before the doors open. Just enough time to get a bag of chips from the shop on the corner. The third and my most anticipated of the three 'Tribute Bands' I have attended recently 'Stillmarillion'.

I was particularly looking forward to re-acquainting myself with the very reasonably priced German lager they have on tap too. Particularly after the aforementioned chips had given me something of a thirst. Sadly there were no draught beers on sale though. I had to make do with a bottle of 'Greene King East Coast IPA'. Chilled within an inch of it's life I had to put it down to warm up a bit after the first swig.

There was a steady flow making their way in and we managed to get onto the barrier stage left easily enough.

 A very local couple stand next to me, he reeks of cigarette smoke and is armed with a four pack of Red Stripe. He says something almost indiscernible along the lines of 'hope I don't get lost tonight'. I have no idea what he means.

Tonight is all about the 1984 album 'Fugazi', it being the 35th anniversary of it's release. The follow up album to ' Script for a Jester's Tear.The album got in the UK top 5 and went gold, at a time when the charts actually meant something.

Naturally the evening started with the albums opening song 'Assassing' a song I've always really liked. Although I could probably say the same about 90% of those on offer tonight. It was also the second single to be released from the album.
The first single released 'Punch and Judy' followed and then maintaining the running order 'Emerald Lies'.

The sound is excellent and the venue has filled nicely without being rammed. Formed in Scotland in 2008 they have a real gem of a singer in 'Martin Jakubski'. I've  seen him once before with the Steve Rothery band and was impressed then. He has the strength of voice, stage presence and humour to carry off the 'Fish' role to perfection. That isn't to say that it is a 'warts and all imitation' far from it. the band put their own stamp on proceedings and let the music shine through. I have to say though Martin did remind me in looks and voice of a larger than life 'Ally McCoist' the ex Scottish footballer.

Martin

I had noticed that the chap next to me had already disappeared off twice. Both times returning smelling of ciggies and the second time with more cans of 'Red Stripe'.

We veer away from 'Fugazi' with the title track from the debut album 'Script for a Jester's Tear'. There is lots of audience participation singing along and clapping all adding to a tremendous atmosphere that just continued to build.  The next track is back to 'Fugazi' with the highly underrated (in my opinion)  'Jigsaw'.

'We are now going to do a song from 'Clutching at Straws' says Martin, 'Hope it's not too modern for you'... 'If it is you're going to be even more pissed off a bit later' he says with a huge grin on his face. The songs in question are 'Torch Song' and 'Slàinte Mhath' .It may sound a bit lame but I'm going to say it anyway 'Close your yes and it could be the great man himself out there on stage' . There is no higher tribute I can pay. 

There is a new boy in the band tonight in the shape of' Stuart Clyde' on Keyboards.Martin tells the crowd that he has mastered the songs in no time which is amazing. Unlike Barrie on the Bass who still can't get things right after ten years!It's fast and furious stuff alright with one great song after another. 
Guitarist 'Mark' has the unenviable task of filling the shoes of 'The Master' Steve Rothery. He takes it all in his stride without any fuss and does a more than credible performance. 

We head right back to 'Fugazi' with Cinderella Search and the song that always splits opinion 'She Chameleon' . It's not my cup of tea but I suppose it has grown on me a little over the years. The next song is though in my top 5 of all time Marillion songs 'Incubus' and arguably the best of the many great Rothery guitar solos.  It is then that we move into the more unfamiliar territory (for some) of  'Seasons End'.
The first album with new singer Steve 'H' Hogarth.

It being the 30th anniversary it seemed only right to throw in a few tracks from the album. Not something that the traditionally 'Fish years' band are known for doing. I don't see anyone rushing for the exit doors ,except of course for the man next to me who is gone again . Soon to return with more 'Red Stripe' smelling of 'oily rags' and no doubt a bit lighter in the bladder.. We are treated to; The Univited Guest,followed by Berlin (never played before and totally winged). We then had a debate if the audience would rather hear 'The Space' or 'Seasons End' Oh 'F**k it lets do both was the outcome. Roll up, Roll up We've got 'Seasons End' wheel of fortune here tonight folks !

We're gonna be here until Tuesday at this rate says Martin, nobody would have minded I don't think ? It's one of those kind of nights. 
Next to come is a 'mash up' from the breakthrough album 'Misplaced Childhood' Kayleigh/Lavender /Blue Angel/Misplaced Rendezvous/ Heart of Lothian and it is wonderful. Really looking forward to hearing the band come back next year to do the album in it's entirety. 

What time is it ? Asks Martin . A wag shouts back 'It's six o'clock in the tower blocks' .... .... Still loads of stuff to do better make that finish on Wednesday then !

 The last two songs are the stirring 'Tux On' the 'B' side to Sugar Mice of course from 1987.  The second 'B' side tonight after 'Cinderella Search'. The final song is the most commercial track on 'Clutching'  'Incommunicado'. Guaranteed to get the crowd jumping. Its been fantastic , a blast, nostalgic call it what you will I loved it.

Possibly the best is yes Yet to come (arguably) No it's not Grendel, all though it's had it's usual shout outs.

The band return to the stage to the haunting intro notes of 'Fugazi' and never fails to make the hairs on my neck stand up . It's an epic song and this my friends is 'Brixton Chess'. One of the greatest songs ever penned by Fish without doubt.
We finish with what else but 'Garden Party' which filters perfectly into 'Market Square Heroes' . Even the chap next to me hasn't moved for these last three. Some achievement in itself! 
Tonight has been something special, the crowd have love every second , and the band are one together on the stage exchanging banter and having fun . Can't wait to see them again soon !