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25 March 2006 Real-Music In The Kiln

Neil Dalton

The Stage was set and the excitement crackled as Neil Dalton walked on stage and in  manner akin to Live Aid his first words were "It's 25th March 2006 ...". By now we had all worked out that we were at an occasion. Neil instantly had the audience relaxing under the shade of his easy charm. As he sang "Welcome In", a song he'd written especially for this night, he could hardly conceal his pleasure as the Kiln resonated with the sound of communal chorus singing. No fluke this, as Neil's 2nd half performance of "Ricky" proved. Once again the audience were galvanised into another kiln-throbbing performance.

 The Brian Bedford Band

 I came expecting an Artisan+, mainly because I am more familiar with their work than that of Pint & Dale and Ben Walker. How foolish am I? Without Hilary there is no Artisan, and as I very quickly learned William & Felicia are absolutely tremendous (I know you knew this already, but I don’t get out much) and Ben Walker – how come he isn’t getting the accolades showered on the likes of Seth Lakeman, Spiers & Boden and Michael McGoldrick?

it is the artistic instinct that grabs you first. An innate knowledge of what makes a good song, of melody and harmony, of the ebb and flow of performance.