The first support act of the night were a duet from Blackburn called, called quite sweetly, `Bad Cardigan`. They were two young men - one rather portly with dark hair, and the other slimmer and blonde. Both very young looking. They were actually a lot better than their style would normally suggest to me. I am normally no fan of a young man with an acoustic guitar, but to have two, who harmonised their voices so beautifully, and whose two differing guitar styles made for a lot more than just a strummy-strummy nothingness was quit a delight.
I imagine they came on stage at probably 7.40pm, and were on for a half hour slot. In that tem they played 6 songs. The dark haired lead vocalist had a voce not dissimilar to Starsailor - which was pleasing to the ear. Their songs were a mix of slower and up-tempo - all very melodic and catchy. So an excellent band to start the night and who will never be stars, but would get regular pub slots I would have thought.
Then there was a quick turn around on stage ready for the main support act to come on just 10 minutes later. So then at 8.20pm The Moulettes took to the stageLike The Levellers, they too appear to hail from Brighton (although a very very well spoken). The descriptions I had read of them led me to assume they would be rather Mumford & Sons in their style. But no, they were actually so much more and were a band I will never forget. I would really like to see them put in an appearance on `Later With Jools` as they would go down so well in that kind of forum, as their style is so unusual, and really quite mesmerising.
They consist of:
Hannah Miller – mini cello, vocals, guitar - a GinGer, with her hair loosely tied up, dressed in a layered grey skirt, and black blouson style chiffon blouse.
Ollie Austin – Drums, guitar, backing vocals - with blonde short hair, bit of a beard going on, and dressed in black jeans and a grey criss-cross patterned shirt.
Georgina Leach – Violin, backing vocals - very sweet face, and long dark hair. She wore a fitted black skirt that flared slightly at the base with a black thin strapped top, and a flouncy grey cardigan over the top initially.
Ruth Skipper – Bassoon, vocals, autoharp - the most interactive with the audience, and the most facially expressive in her performance. She was a bit Daphne from Scoobydoo in her style of glasses and face, and had a scruffy multi coloured pony tail, and a knee length, brown, flared wench dress.
Jim Mortimore – Double bass, banjo, guitar, backing vocals - he had short dark hair, and a bit of a beard. He wore a black shirt with white embroidery, and black jeans.
They were on stage for 40 minutes and in that time performed 8 songs. Their style would be very apt for a backing track for the TV programme `Game of Thrones`. They were sort of a more classical and heavier and posher version of Clannad. So not as hippy and with more of an epic, dramatic and quirky style. I would see them again for sure. I would sort of like to have some of their music - but sense it works best live really. Their lyrics sounded quite fascinating - full of odd tales - my favorite going on about `blood-shed in the woodshed`.
The venue was now pleasantly full - but not at all squashed, So even throughout The Levellers themselves, you could remain in the throng of it all, and then take a break and return into it again, without losing your position. I was also able to get right to the front barrier at one point, and then venture back to my main location of around three heads from the front. A perfect view of all of the stage was maintained throughout, and although lots of dancing around, and a bit of a push and shove mosh pit going on, I never once felt unsteady or crushed. It was just the level of sweat (my own and other peoples') that was the unpleasant aspect of the night.
At 9.25pm the lights went down, the unfortunate sound of bagpipes played (never to be repeated, fortunately), and onto the stage came The Levellers, in all their ageing crusty glory.
Mark Chadwick (Lead vocals & Guitar) was a little more cuddly looking these days - but still had his appealing twinkle about him. he wore his trademark little hat - this one being a brown trilby style. His hair still curly and tousled, but a little more grey than brown. He was bravely sporting a broken leg, which was supported discretely beneath his jeans by some kind of casing. He wore blue jeans and a black shirt.
Jeremy Cunningham (Bass) was still desperately clinging to possessing his waist length burgundy dreadlocks. He wore a very fetching black, red and white Levellers designed shirt, with a sort of mish mash of Levellers style symbols and patterns. he wore black trousers. His nose as huge as ever.
Simon Friend (Guitars, Harmonica & secondary vocals) looked completely different to how he looked in the 90s. Instead of the shaven hair with odd rats tail thing or similar coming from it. He now had shoulder length curly ginger / grey hair, and rather country & western style facial hair. He also wore a bandana, grey jeans and a black sleeveless t-shirt.
Jon Sevink (Fiddle) as tall and thin as ever - but gone are the days of a burgundy crusty mullet, and instead he has quite OK grey short tufty hair. he wore another Levellers shirt - but with short sleeves. Still red, black and white. He wore light grey jeans.
Charlie Heather (Drums) had grey wavy thick collar length hair and wore a black shirt and black jeans.
Matt Savage (Keyboards) wore a little cream hat, black shirt and blue jeans. His hair just short and dark and normal.
Stephen Boakes (Didgeridoo)was dressed in red and black chequered trousers, and red and black striped long sleeved top, a black and silver top hat, with bright red hair and his face painted white as a sort of tribal clown. When on stage (just for a couple of songs) he took over the stage with his tribal cavorting and didgerido gesticulations. Hideous but fascinating.
They were on stage for 1 hour 35minutes, but by song 3 my pen had stopped working - so trauma of traumas I was unable to note down their set list. But going by a rather old one from their previous tour in November 2012, and what I remember of the night itself this is roughly what their set list comprised of (my favourites of the night starred):
England My Home*
Beautiful Day
The Game*
World Freak Show
Fifteen Years
The Road*
Sell Out*
Far From Home*
Hope Street*
The Cholera Well
Belaruse
The Boatman
Our Forgotten Towns
This Garden
One Way*
Carry Me
Dirty Davey*
Riverflow*
~~~~~~~
The Recruiting Sergeant
Liberty Song*
Devil Went Down to Georgia
They left the stage at 11pm. A wonderfully uplifting and energetic night. I think this must have been about the 7th or 8th time I have seen them over the last 23 years… and I hope to see them several more times in the future.