The quality of their music is a given, but you should never
under estimate the warmth that generates from a Kathryn Roberts and Sean
Lakeman show. It is very much an open door policy into the world of this
renowned duo, one well established as a premium UK folk act. You do not really need an excuse to catch one
of their concerts, and they often tour outside the album release cycle when
family commitments allow. On this occasion, the tour aligned to a new record, with
PERSONAE getting its due rewards in the press when the delights were recently unveiled.
The Midlands Arts Centre (known widely as the MAC) was one of the first dates
of the tour’s second phase and proved to be more fruitful territory than a
previous visit to Birmingham’s Glee Club. Over the duration of around an hour
and half, a sumptuous serving of the traditional, gorgeous, enlightening and
good old entertaining spilled out from the stage and set the scene for a
successful evening.For fans that have seen Kathryn and Sean before, it was business as usual. Kathryn owns the vocal content in true inimitable style, contributing to the musical output via fleeting flute and rotating piano. Sean takes the trusty acoustic guitar perpetually around the block, always framing the mood of each song with precise chord structures and playing tempo. Whether nailing their compositions or arranging the traditional picks, the expected high standard never waned.
Around half a dozen tracks from the new album featured during
the pair of sets straddling the ubiquitous ‘commercial’ break. By a fair
distance, the stand out song saw Kathryn on piano and a highly personal
introduction to the beautifully delivered ‘Independence’.
One of many revealing moments of the Roberts-Lakeman household and its extended
family. This was closely followed by a
song that Kathryn had considered putting into hibernation, but so many folks
requested ‘A Song to Live By’ that it
survived the cull. No doubt still inspired by gazing at the lyric postcard that
has long become a merch best seller.
In contrast, a song perfectly suited for the live arena is
the heart breaking ’52 Hertz’, which
never fails to move once its background of miscommunication in the depths of
the Pacific Ocean whale community, is shared. Joining this song from the duo’s
back catalogue included the traditional pair: the foreboding ‘The Robber Bridegroom’ and the bawdy ‘Lusty Smith’.
The third strand to the Roberts-Lakeman songbook is the occasional
treatment of covers. On the latest album, Kathryn has returned to a lifelong obsession
for the music of Sandy Denny and her version of ‘Solo’ sounds exquisite both on record and delivered live with piano
accompaniment. In line with Kathryn and Sean’s love for the classic realm of
the seventies American singer-songwriter, the closing number was a nod to the
work of Little Feat’s Lowell George with a cover of ’20 Million Things’. This joined previous shows where they have
celebrated the work of other iconic artists such as Warren Zevon.
For the entirety of this tour, the Black Country’s very own
folk ‘n’ blues picker Sunjay has entertained appreciative audiences in the opening
slot. For thirty minutes this evening, an array of diverse material flowed from
his acoustically stringed wand, ranging from old blues favourites to songs
penned by his Stourbridge-based advocate Eddy Morton, plus an impish response
to ‘playing some Bob Dylan'. In true mischievous style, Sunjay teased the audience
about a Buddy Holly number, instead guiding them towards his latest release
SUNJAY SINGS BUDDY. This album was the result of appearing in a touring Buddy
Holly theatre show last year. As adept as Sunjay has been in interpreting the
work of Lubbock’s finest, this is just the tip of the talent he possesses. If you
get the chance to see him live or listen to one of his records, where the song
choice is more than interesting, you will not be disappointed.
Kathryn and Sean’s appreciation towards Sunjay is as warm as
the aura that they create in their set. You could almost be forgiven for acquainting
with a small village on the edge of Dartmoor where they have put down family
roots. The environment is obviously conducive to the flowing of creative juices
and long may this prove to be fertile ground for quality music to flourish.
While this Birmingham show, and all other dates on the tour, are primarily
designed to spread the word of PERSONAE, you know that things will not halt
once the word is out. Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman have made superb music
for many years and there is no sign of this drying up.
Review of Personae
Review of Personae
www.sunjay.tv
