A few take aways from this show, the second of three folk-tinged presentations at the MAC this side of Christmas (Martin Carthy appeared last week and the Furrow Collective play in December). Boo Hewardine and Heidi Talbot are well established and accomplished performers with the scope for further advancement and appreciation. The MAC continues to offer a flicker of hope that it can break out to be a more prominent music venue with subtle adaptions. Perhaps the best gigs are where a defined narrative is attached to the performance.
Both artists have tended to be names on pages rather than artists on the personal listening agenda for many years. Therefore two familiar acts appearing on a single shared bill was the perfect opportunity to add some context to the latter omission. Throughout their time on stage, a gifted and crafted aura wholly capable of owning the song journey shone through. The stage was shared for the entirety with a tested formula of largely rotating performances featuring minor bouts of collaboration shaping the show. The plan was for two sets with a break filling a time span of an hour and three quarters. It was a pity the break overran a little as we were probably a couple of songs short from a complete offering. This doesn't detract from the quality on offer, but lauding the appeal of a couple more.
The exact reason for moving this from the main theatre to the venue's Foyle studio is unknown, but smaller adaptable spaces can enhance the experience from limited ticket sales. The MAC continues a pricing policy of nearby seats in some cases amounting to a doubling in value. Whether the lower end is too cheap or the upper too dear is open to debate, the upshot is there really shouldn't be such a disparity for what is on offer at this level.
Although Boo Hewardine and Heidi Talbot have known each other for around twenty years, it was a surprise to see them hooking up for a nineteen-date tour. No precedence is aware either in performing or recording. Both artists were keen to promote recent records. Hewardine is always on the go and is set to visit the region next year for a show with a new outfit called The Outliers, where recordings are starting to materialise. Releases from Talbot have been sparser over the last decade probably for numerous reasons, although she is firmly back on track with a Dirk Powell-produced album arriving last year. There was an informal cosy feel to the evening with maybe the lack of a real story to be told. Hence a strong narrative and rich context can lead to shows resonating with a touch more than mere plush performances.
A flavour of the solo music of Boo Hewardine and Heidi Talbot was the immediate legacy of the evening. There is a strong case for seeing either own the space for an entire evening in an alternative setting. Then a sense of their true appeal would be savoured. One for the future that in hindsight doesn't really detract from the simple pleasure of enjoying two singer-songwriters on top of their game.
