You have to admire the Oysterband for almost shaking free of the 'folk' tag. I say almost but not quite as they do still occasionally find themselves tapping into the tradition by including 'The Bishop Of Chester/Peacock Followed The Hen' dance tunes. John Jones (lead vocals & melodeon) perhaps sums it up best when he says that the band indulge themselves (and a majority of their audience) by doffing the cap to those like myself who have followed their career most of the twenty-nine years they've actually been around. Mind you, it's the band's unrelenting powerhouse contemporary songs that have captured a whole generation and by the looks on the faces of those lucky enough to be at the gig everyone had a grand time. From Chopper's (well...choppy) cello introduction and guest musician James O'Grady's uilleann pipes the raw edge of the band immediately comes into play driven by a passion that is reflected in lyrics that are fairly spat out in a punk like attitude. But let's not lose… more »

You have to admire the Oysterband for almost shaking free of the 'folk' tag. I say almost but not quite as they do still occasionally find themselves tapping into the tradition by including 'The Bishop Of Chester/Peacock Followed The Hen' dance tunes. John Jones (lead vocals & melodeon) perhaps sums it up best when he says that the band indulge themselves (and a majority of their audience) by doffing the cap to those like myself who have followed their career most of the twenty-nine years they've actually been around. Mind you, it's the band's unrelenting powerhouse contemporary songs that have captured a whole generation and by the looks on the faces of those lucky enough to be at the gig everyone had a grand time. From Chopper's (well...choppy) cello introduction and guest musician James O'Grady's uilleann pipes the raw edge of the band immediately comes into play driven by a passion that is reflected in lyrics that are fairly spat out in a punk like attitude. But let's not lose sight that Jones vocals, whilst sounding almost venomous at times are regulated by a good sound crew. With hand and body gestures that would make a politician proud this is a man who believes in what he's singing and like some modern day Elmer Gantry easily persuades his followers that they can be included if they want. Unlike the title of one of their anthems 'Uncommercial Song' (no mention of a Daytrip there then?) the band over the years have proved that they don't really need to be commercial in order to capture a wider audience from their humble beginnings on the folk club scene. Visually the show features plenty of zooming camera angles on both the band and the audience giving a sense of the dramatic and there's also plenty of close-ups individually on the members' fingers Alan Prosser (guitars), Ian Telfer (fiddle) and Lee Partis (drums) to show that they really play their instruments. As is customary with most music DVDs the inclusion of a behind the scenes mini-documentary gives an all round picture of a bunch of lads that don't treat themselves too seriously and the added bonus of the snappy 'New York Girls' is filmed appropriately on board the Staten Island Ferry! So, all in all a bright and breezy performance and at least it beats standing at the back of a packed Trowbridge marquee!

PETE FYFE