Gigspanner, The Bridge Church, Redditch
IN an age of tribute bands, how fantastic to see Peter Knight’s Gigspanner live and local right here in Redditch.
On a chill night the former Steeleye Span fiddle player brought real warmth, good humour and stunning musicianship to The Bridge Church to the delight of the near capacity crowd.
Accompanied by Roger Flack on guitar and Vincent Salzfaas on percussion, the trio kicked off with a medley built around the Irish tune ‘She Moved Through The Fair’ before the silver haired Knight cut loose and showed just how good he is on the violin.
As well as dazzling finger work we were treated to pizzicato, the fiddle as ukulele and then to cap it all, as a drum kit with Flack beating out a tune on the neck of the instrument (with his eyes shut!) even as Knight played it in a mighty hoedown.
The songs themselves were solid English fare covering flighty damsels, a jealous sister, the madhouse of Bedlam and Death itself, which climaxed in Knight letting rip on the electic violin.
In between we had the Steeleye Span favourite ‘Hard Times of Old England’ and even a cannon by Telemann and much, much more.
In all, a superb and uplifting evening so thanks must go to promoter Maureen Brown and Shindig, Live and Local and Redditch borough council for such a superb gig to go ahead.
Ross Crawford
