The Music House Acoustic(ish) Session at Jurnets Bar, Norwich with Don’t Lose Heart, The Johnny Fandango Experience, French Dog, Laura Goldthorp. Bootleg Swing at Norwich Arts Centre, plus Bedfords Bar and Bar Tapas. 13 March 2015.
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The weekly Acoustic(ish) music session at the lovely Jurnets gave me an opportunity to catch Don’t Lose Heart for the second time this week, in a setting I was looking forward to hearing them in. It did not disappoint with fine acoustics perfect for the songs. The set was varied from the BFR gig with some re-ordering and some different songs although I was pleased that Just the Singer, and the splendid Little Black Dress were kept in. For a Blues Music Society challenge they had to write a song that included the lyrics “Little Black Dress” which they succeeded in brilliantly with a sad song in the finest country tradition. I also enjoyed Nominate Me and a cover of my favourite Toy Hearts song – Captain. Lou sings so clearly, one can hear every word, whilst Dickie’s playing is always flawless. There was a good audience in who were attentive and most appreciative for all acts.
Don’t Lose Heart
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Laura Goldthorp has such a good voice and a nice style, she played a few covers, starting with House of the Rising Sun and Laura Marling’s New Romantic and certainly gave new interpretations and arrangements to classics like Heard it Through the Grapevine and I Walk the Line but her own songs stood up for themselves strongly too.
Laura Goldthorp
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I missed much of French Dog’s set, aka Jack Evison as I bumped into some friends I had not seen for a while, at the bar in the next room. A pattern for the night 🙂 However, I did catch the commanding set by The Johnny Fandango Experience which was theatrical with compelling enunciation, projection and delivery. Songs interspersed with some poetry it was certainly memorable.
French Dog
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The Johnny Fandango Experience
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The Johnny Fandango Experience
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After chatting for a little while with some friends I made my way across the city for the final hour or so of Bootleg Swing. A good sized audience were enjoying the He-Hew’s when I arrived and they, as always, were in fine form and humour.
The He Hew’s at Bootleg Swing
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Seeing a message from a friend on my phone I then made my way to Bedfords where Boiling Point had the Crypt absolutely rammed. Unable to spot my friends I went upstairs instead which was also full and lively and saw yet again some other friends and had a really good catch up with them in a lovely atmosphere. Bedfords had to close at some point though so the evening finally concluded at the amazing Bar Tapas where the mood is always lively and happy … once again I saw some more friends, some whom I had not seen in years so it was really wonderful, and one of those special Norwich nights – I completely lost track of time in here!
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Bedfords Bar
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Many thanks to Bedfords, Bar Tapas, Bootleg Swing and NAC, and Jurnets.
words and photos, richard shashamane 2015
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Norwich: Music City, UK 