BOB FOX
November 2024
One of life's great pleasures is to write a Bob Fox review. You know you're going to get superb musicianship, you know that you'll get a wonderful selection of songs reflecting almost half a century of performing live, you know you'll get pathos and humour in equal measure, and you know there'll be a story behind every song. And so it proved when Bob returned to Mottram St Andrew seven years after his first visit.
For more than two hours he delivered a superb selection of songs steeped in history, mainly reflecting his North East roots and heritage, and also his time as The Songman in the highly acclaimed and award winning stage play War Horse.
He opened with Fairport's Chris Lesley song. My Love is in America, it was followed by the Sundeland based songs, Jack Crawford and Greek Lightning, before a War Horse double of Snowfall and Jolly Ploughboy, before his wonderful version of Ralph McTell's Peppers and Tomatoes. The Song of the Iron Road brought the first half to a close.
The second half continued the outstanding song selection. Virginia was followed by Bonny Gateshead Lass/Elsie Marley, When the Boat Comes in, The Whitby Tailor, Sally Wheatley, Champion at Keeping them Rolling and then Waters of Tyne and the epic Big River brought the gig to a close. The encore of the spine tingling Only Remembered brought a stunning evening of music to an emotional close.
Only Remembered, not easily forgotten, a fabulous return for The Fantastic Mr Fox.
NANCY KERR & JAMES FAGAN
June 2024
Nancy Kerr and James Fagan are not only two of the most engaging people you could ever wish to meet but also two of the finest musicians you could ever wish to see, and they proved this time and time again when they played for us at Music at Mottram.
Every song had a story, every cover version had a reason for its inclusion in the set. The musicianship was wonderful, Nancy alternating between guitar and fiddle, James moving with aplomb between guitar and bazouki, and both providing vocals of the highest quality and emotional depth.
Highlights of the first half, which opened with Queen of Waters, included Sir Richard's Song (based on a Kipling poem arranged by Pete Bellamy), a trio of instrumentals, the traditional Barbra Allen, the beautiful Through the Trees, the Anglo Australian Convicts Lament before Broadside heralded a well earned break.
The second half started in furious style with the Northumbrian instrumental Sir John Fenwick and a fabulous version of Nic Jones' Farewell to the Gold. The Ant and the Grasshopper/the Dark Honey followed, along with the self penned Fragile Water and a cover of Roy Bailey's The Herald of Free Enterprise. Gingerbread, Roll Your Sweet Rain and When the Boat Comes In brought the set to a close before they returned to the stage one more time for a stunning rendition of Streams of Lovely Nancy.
Thus ended a superb evening of music by two fabulous musicians who demonstrated exactly why they are, one of the best duo's you are likely to see live this, or any other year.