100 Not Out – Feckenham Village Hall
IT’S not often a true music legend comes to play ‘Live and Local’, but here’s Ashley Hutchings, a founding member of the seminal Fairport Convention, Steeleye Span and the Albion Band plus countless other ensembles on stage at Feckenham Village Hall, of all places.
The Guv’nor counts Bob Dylan as a pal, jammed with Jimmy Hendrix and knew Leonard Cohen, and here he is, touring his 100th album – ‘More Songs From the Shows’ – accompanied by the amazing singer-songwriter Becky Mills.
What follows is an enthralling yet relaxed evening of songs, poetry and anecdotes from Hutchings’ 60 years in the music business, as well as a showcase of just how good Mills is on guitar and vocals.
They play two sets, both, as befits a founder of the English folk-rock genre, shot through with plain tales brought magically to life with words and music.
They open with ‘Welcome to the World’ a story of young love and close two hours later with a medley on a rollercoaster of a love affair later in life.
In between we have tributes to Bob Dylan – Lay Down Your Weary Tune – and Leonard Cohen – Bird on a Wire – as well as the classic Crazy Man Michael from Fairport’s breakthrough album Liege and Leaf, Hutchings happy to play along on bass while Mills shines.
They shamelessly plug ‘the shop’ like newbies who’ve cut their first few discs and are happy to chat with browsers and buyers.
Luckily he hasn’t brought all 100 albums, but there’s enough there to keep the fans, myself included, in music for a while.
The gig was brought to Feckenham Village Hall by Live and Local through the Arts Council with support from Redditch Borough Council.
There’s more on offer too, with Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman play the Bridge Church at Headless Cross this Saturday, November 18.
This is followed by ‘Midwinter’ back at Feckenham Village Hall on December 2 featuring Orchestra of the Swan.
Ross Crawford
