Friday May 14^th (Ralph McTell)
and Sunday May 16^th, (Dervish/JC and Angelina)
Medina Theatre, Newport

The Song and The Fiddle

Two separate concerts at Medina Theatre filled the auditorium for both English songwriter Ralph McTell and traditional Irish band Dervish. Both events brimmed with crafted songs and storytelling.

McTell is a troubadour who needs no introduction. He requires nothing more than a guitar and himself to entrance his audience. In a continuous two hour set the artist weaved stories and songs together in a seamless performance.

There were popular favourites like the Hiring Fair and the audience sing a long the Streets of London. These are just the tip of a proverbial iceberg.

The material tonight and the tales extended over his three decades of performing. From ragtime instrumentals and Woody Guthrie covers to his acclaimed tribute to Dylan Thomas and his Sand In My Shoes album. Put simply it was class.

Two days later the Medina Theatre was packed again to hear the jigs, reels and songs of Irish traditional band Dervish supported by Islanders JC and Angelina Grimshaw.

JC Grimshaw opened the concert with a self penned ballad, as yet untitled but filled with his troubadours soul. Then joined by his sister Angelina the duo performed material from their two CDs. The latest Dance When Your Living is receiving extensive national airplay on Satellite Radio for Europe.

The combination of JC's masterful guitar and mandolin and the dusky vocals of Angelina brought an ovation from the audience.

The seven piece Dervish rose to the spirit of the occasion with a 90 minute set chock full of delights. These six men and a lady from the county of Sligo brought the soul of their native land to life.

The set was a rich tapestry of full blooded jigs and reels mixed with gentle, evocative ballads. This was end to end stuff that didn't flag until the final whistle.

Dervish blended dazzling fiddle with flute, bouzouki, mandocello, guitar and accordian. They underpinned the songs with the Irish drum, the Bodhran It all sounded like Dervish were the 'Sligo Symphony Orchestra.'

Cathy Jordan sang beautifully. Her voice carried that unmistakable Irish burr. From the moment she came on stage she and the band hit an instant rapport with their audience.

There was laughter, for instance, when she explained a ballad about a lady who loses her heart to two men. 'And she goes after the pirate and when she finds him he is not so beautiful anymore, he has an eye patch (pause for laughter) and a wooden leg . . .' It was stories like these which preceded the songs and reels that made this a very special night.

This was Dervish's first visit to our Island. One of many I hope.

Mike Plumbley