Acoustic Night

Compere Julian Ramsey Wade.
Notes for the blog by Everton Hartley

Julian opened with a welcome poem who gave us all the vocal charisma expected from a poetic champion.
He offered an apology to all those who needed amplification but tonight we were about to be fully acoustic !

Mark started us off with two keyboard pieces ‘A place for Jesus’ and ‘Only one road’ Mark accompanied his full voice with piano playing which makes you feel like you are watching a film about changing landscapes. It was simple, constant and beautiful.

David Sollors who did not expect to perform nevertheless gave us a polished performances of ‘Nativity’ and ‘Wendy the elephant’ - two short poems packed with potency.

DAVID SOLLORS

Sam Dixon Accompanied by Everton. Sam sang ‘Don’t wait’ and a cover ‘Slow train’. She performed like a pro with a voice so full and warm you could snuggle up in it.

SAM DIXON & EVERTON

George Wade started with poem about different angels and one for first time performers – poems of virtuous content delivered by a seasoned orator.

Charlie Ansell was told folksong would die but here was the dynamite response to those who believe that. He sang the lords wedding / millionaires wedding – an intelligent update of traditional songs

CHARLIE ANSELL

Helen Gregory performed ‘this is not a love poem’ and ‘What do you do?’ as ever poignant yet sultry and stirring, complex and sweet.

Oliver Hoare Two songs ‘Goodbye song’ and ’Take me home’ sung with a powerful vocal delivery and accompanied on the guitar and mouth organ.

OLIVER HOARE
Simon the Magician This guy needs to be ‘’scene’’ to believed!!!!

MAGIC SIMON & GUEST (STOOGE?)

Jim Gallagher Jim seems averse to bespoke performance areas however the songs ‘Empty Canvas Open Sky ‘ and ‘The World is a beautiful place’ are cool and easygoing. His vocal delivery aptly matched them. There was an overall feel of America – James Taylor-ish …

Karl One piano piece which transported you all over from Acoustic Night to Bristol and all its suburbs and back .

Special Guest Peter Wyton

Gloucestershire’s own Poet Laureate who gave us words of wisdom spoken in true jest, informatively and in ample quantity.
Started with Laureate for Laura – now we know what the next popular girls name will be and why.
What our Gloucestershire ancestors did for us – summary nowt!! Greece: Gods and Goddesses competing with the summer holidaymakers
Keeping in touch: more effective and profound use of fridge magnets
Khatoon riding by: Lady who put Iraq on the map before the US took it off (Gertrude Bell)
Lifting the lid: answer from the grave to a philandering poet
Pick up the penguin: Lesson on sex from our black and white arctic friends.

PETER WYTON

Phil Baber A new Spanish song about a feminist performed with such gusto that you could hear the flamenco dancers, followed by a Russian/Polish/English song for another young lady.

Hazel Hammond Two poems, one about ‘The Jews Harp’ and one called ‘Do poems work like anaesthetic? From one of Acoustic Nights upholders, poems which transport you effortlessly into meaning, wonder and intrigue. Then leave you with the obvious.

John T. (not John Terry)

The songs may have been written over 25 years ago but tonight they were delivered with the same passion and fervour as I guess when they were first sung.

Guy Herbert Guy gave us a story called “What are you doing for Valentines day?” about what is possible as an answer but also what is probable.

Ian Sills closed the night with, as expected, a modern piece of ingenuity from one so observant of all classes as well as popular culture.

ACOUSTIC NIGHT STATS

AUDIENCE 41
PERFORMERS 18
VIRGINS 4

The PA amp has gone off to be sorted. Normal chaos will be resumed presently…