It's been a very difficult period for me personally of late but, since we had got tickets for the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards at the Royal Albert Hall, we decided to go anyway and I'm so glad we did. It was a great break for us and a most enjoyable evening.
MK was in very good voice, better, I thought, than the last time I saw him live, which was last October. As someone said earlier, this was an evening of folk music and, even though folk music encompasses a wider range of musical genres and styles these days, it does not stretch to a DS-style performance. "Haul Away" was chosen because it has clear folk music influences (sea shanties and other nautical working songs having long been part of the folk tradition). It was a strong, solid performance of the song.
None of the live performances were shown on the big screens in the hall, only the videos of the various nominees and the tributes to those receiving achievement awards, so those who caught the video side are at an advantage. However, the video is apparently being shown on the BBC Radio 2 website from some time tomorrow (Thursday), I think. One of you tech-savvy people will doubtless be able to do something with that.
John McCusker's speech was very good. I don't think I've heard him talk so much before. And he didn't sound like a lad from Bellshill. One of the Scots reading this may differ but he sounded a bit "posher" than I expected.
I thought Sam Lee singing "Lovely Molly" with the Roundhouse Choir was stunningly good. I don't keep up with the folk world much these days but I had seen the Sam Lee video that was shown along with the videos of the other nominees and I thought that was good. Live, with a larger choir, it was even better. I've never got into Rufus Wainwright but he sang well on Sandy Denny's "Who Knows Where The Time Goes" but then, it's such a great song anyway. Despite the passage of time (or even "thyme" - that's a weak attempt at a joke), Norma Waterson has retained her great voice and it was marvellous to see her. Ditto Joan Armatrading - and solo, too! I found the Irish group Lynched much louder than anybody else and, these days, I tend to think, "Oh no, not another Irish rebel song!". I was also disappointed with The Unthanks at the very end. I like the fact that they'll try almost anything to put over a song. I have't seen clog dancing for probably 50 years or more and I actually enjoy a bit of brass playing, though I'd've preferred a brass band. The main prpblem for me is that I couldn't actually make out the lyrics.
MK's photo appears twice in the programme booklet (once in a sort-of advert for the evening and once in the write-up of the performers - the same photo incidentally.
Must go - just about wound myself down from the night drive home.
