Artist:Seth Lakeman
Venue:The Sage
Town:Gateshead
Date:25/05/08
I have to admit that recent experiences have left me more than a little wary of sitting for half an hour during support acts' sets. It seems that those which leave you feeling you've witnessed the 'next big thing' are few and far between these days. However, 25 year old Newquay native, Ruarri (pronounced Roo-err-ee) Joseph has gone a long way towards restoring my faith. He is ostensibly a jazz singer songwriter who writes, instead of love gone wrong, about family, friends, good times, faith and hope. He has been quoted as saying "I'm not here to set the world to rights. I guess I write about the little things, the tiny details that make people unique." These little things were revealed to us during his set in such confidently performed songs as Rude Man Talking, Suzie Don't be Sad, Romantic Cliché and the more folk/ acoustic flavoured Won't Work and More Than Most. What struck me is that Ruarri has a voice that simply captures your attention and then holds it prisoner until he is done. His first CD is due out in June; I for one am looking forward to hearing more from Ruarri Joseph. Something tells me he won't be an opening act for much longer.
I always find that going to see an artist perform live for the first time is very exciting, especially when it is someone about whom I have heard good things, but their music is relatively new to me. This was certainly the case with Seth Lakeman, who of course has now won numerous folk awards.
The first thing which surprised me was that he has a large enough following here in the UK to virtaully sell out, not Hall1, but Hall 2, of the Sage, which holds in the region of eight hundred people. The second was how many younger fans he appears to have among his following, which we all know among any kind of folk music, is unusual these days, but perhaps testament to Seth's ability to fuse traditional and modern folk music. I have to confess to wondering why it has taken me this long to look him up.
He bounded onto the stage to rapturous applause and immediately commented on what a beautiful theatre it is - I can't argue - The Sage, in my opinion, is the best place to see live music. He launched straight into a track from his new album, Poor Man's Heaven, to be released in late June. He remarked 'It's bank holiday weekend, if you feel like dancing go ahead. There's plenty of room on this stage.' Of course one lady took him literally and had to be brought back down from the stage by stewards. Seth just took it in his stride and at one point later asked her name.
Seth is not only a singer and a songwriter; he is a musician, switching effortlessly between guitar, fiddle and mandolin. produced His hands moved so quickly over the fiddle at times it was impossible to say if they were really moving! He used to play in a band with his two brothers, one of whom, Sean, joined him playing guitar. His band also comprised drummer Andy Tween, and bassist Ben Nicholls and together they created an incredible sound. I must admit to having what I can only describe as a 'Thea Gilmore moment;' that is to say I had expected Seth to be very much more a folk singer than a folk-rock singer but I was blown away by what he produced.
Seth's music is clearly deeply rooted in the history and folklore of Dartmoor where he grew up and many of his songs are stories of events through history. For example the stunning Kitty Jay about a servant girl who committed suicide and was buried on unconsecrated ground and the haunting Solomon Brown, about a crew of eight men which went down in Penlee in Cornwall 25 years ago. This song, despite being a refreshingly upbeat song about tragedy, actually brought to mind Tia McGraff's Devil's Gold, about a Welsh shipwreck. What is clear for all to see is how these stories of his homeland resonate with Seth and how much they have become a part of both him and his music and that he enjoys sharing these stories with his audience. The only thing which I missed was any real banter with the audience - he spoke to us only to tell us the names of songs and the stories behind them. We were treated to a variety of other songs from all three albums and the one as yet unreleased. Highlights for me included Haunt You, Poor Man's Heaven, Blood Red Sky and King and Country, where a more acoustic tone, and very subtle backing from the band allowed Seth to show of the true range of his vocals. Lady Howard also showed off the true skill of his band as the drum in the background added suspense and melancholy to this wonderful ghost story.
Suffice it to say that by the end I think I and everyone else present, was left wanting more, but knowing they had spent two hours in the presence of a truly talented UK artist. I am now looking forward to hearing his Poor Man's Heaven Cd when it is released next month and have already ordered his back catalogue. For an artist whom I went to see perform on a mere whim, that I think, is testament to what he has to offer. Something tells me this 29 year old Devonian native will just keep going from strength to strength.
Helen Mitchell
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