Cormac Byrne the usual rhythm player is absent and instead theres a lady called Lucy who provides the rhythm on a box called a 'Cajon' or bodhran and does a great job of it too. Seths brother Sean is a flourish on guitar and really layering up the sound around Seth tonight and big Ben Nicholls has his double bass set up loud and it really works to have the bass booming above all the instruments.
Dressed in black Seths guitar and violin playing are extraordinary as usual and the whole band are clearly happy to be here as headliners. Huge grins are plastered on their faces as they unleash an amazing first track of Riflemen of War that gets a hearty response and its a celebrated homecoming tonight. Seth promises to play most of his third album Freedom Fields and Ben swaps his bass for a banjo and we get a storming version of Blood Upon Copper the band have no nerves playing such a big venue and seem to relish it, there seems to be a lot of friends in the crowd tonight.
Lady of the Sea has Lucy and Seth playing the song unaccompanied by the rest of the band. What a fantastic song and Seth plays it wildly his body straining and in full voice.
The band rejoin them for a Dartmoor tale the wonderful White Hare and theres a few of us swaying in the audience and the front few rows of mainly female admirers are enrapt. The band doesnt need clever light shows or video backdrops for the music carries us with its infectious rhythms and the subdued lighting and plain sheet mean there are no distractions from the music.
The band really let rip on Colliers and Seth dedicates King and Country to his Grandparents and it really is a terrific song. Final Lot is full of energy and Seth says were about to get Solomon Brown giving it a big introduction only for him to swap his tenor guitar for his fiddle and the band play Fight for Favour.
The power of the music is shimmering from the stage and everyone is captivated for Take No Rogues surely the song of the night and by the time Seth introduces The Storm there isnt a single person unimpressed in the house, the applause is nearly as impressive as the music. A drinking song with a jig feel to it How Much? has me dancing but not much of the crowd are joining me, I do hope album four has Seth returning to the more lively tracks from this his debut album Punch Bowl.
The band leave Seth alone again for Kitty Jay from his Mercury nominated second album of the same name with Seth unaccompanied cept for his foot stompin. Ye Mariners All has Bens bass turned up incredibly loud and both songs have me dancing away happily to, possibly because of the beefed up rhythm. The Punch Bowl song is traditionally Seths closing number and sure enough the band leave the stage before Seth returns for the gentle tune Send Yourself Away before the band let rip with a knees up with Christmas cheer - lively reels and the Scrumpy Song.
And cheer we do after the reels close, and weve had a good dance. The crowd wildly applaud. I have to say I wish Seth would throw in a few more lively tunes like this and get the crowd up and dancing. Perhaps drop a couple of ballads and add a bit more oomph Thumping feel good music and a mesmerising homecoming. Seth and his band are a prodigious talent, as everyone keeps saying hes bringing folk back home.
FUTURE GIGS
- date performer venue price
-
Sun 7 Jul 2024
Seth Lakeman
Leek
Foxlowe Arts Centre
[ST13 6AD] £25.00
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Thu 10 Oct 2024
Seth Lakeman
Lincoln
Lincoln Drill Hall
[LN2 1EY] £27.50
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Fri 11 Oct 2024
Seth Lakeman
Nottingham
Metronome
[NG1 1AP] £27.50
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Sat 12 Oct 2024
Seth Lakeman
Wolverhampton
Wulfrun Hall
[WV1 1RQ] £27.50
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Sun 13 Oct 2024
Seth Lakeman
Carlisle
Old Fire Station
[CA3 8QW] £27.50
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Mon 14 Oct 2024
Seth Lakeman
Leeds
Brudenell Social Club
[LS6 1NY] £27.50
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Wed 16 Oct 2024
Seth Lakeman
Oxford
O2 Academy (1, 2, and 3)
[OX4 1UE] £27.50
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Thu 17 Oct 2024
Seth Lakeman
Frome
Cheese and Grain
[BA11 1BE] £27.50
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Fri 18 Oct 2024
Seth Lakeman
Tenby
De Valence Pavilion
[SA70 7JD] £27.50
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Sat 19 Oct 2024
Seth Lakeman
Southampton
The Brook
[SO17 3SD] £27.50
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