Review: Waterson:Carthy at The Shed 10.12.00

INFLUENTIAL guitarist Martin Carthy, peerless singer Norma Waterson and their charismatic daughter Eliza Carthy, who played Leicestershire small pipes and fiddle, showed why they are regarded as the First Family of English Folk music last night. Along with gifted young melodeon player Tim van Eyken, they filled The Shed - that intimate venue at Brawby, which attracts top class performers like bees to a honey pot - with wondrous sounds.

The Shed's Autumn Programme 2007

Martins individualistic guitar playing acted as a perfect foil for his daughter's fiddle and Tim's melodeon as they rattled through various instrumental pieces with Norma content to take a back seat. Their ensemble playing was electric and excited the cheek-by-jowl audience. Norma's singing had the polish of a consummate professional. Among the highlights were Black Muddy River and There Ain't No Sweet Man Worth The Salt Of My Tears.

The harmony singing by all four performers was impressive; Eliza's harmonies with her mother had that intangible musical quality known as "the tingle factor". And their versatility knew no bounds. To celebrate the season of Advent, they sang a full-blooded carol called Shepherds Arise, which reminded me of the era of boisterous gallery orchestras before they were banished from church by the coming of the organ.

Then Martin came up with an atmospheric vocal for a spine-chilling song called The Bows Of London. Eliza's fiddle was other-worldly - highly appropriate for a song about a fiddle made from a corpse found in the Thames. Waterson:Carthy can also do Hollywood schmaltz when required. For their encore, Norma and Eliza sang Somewhere Over The Rainbow as a classy duet. Pure magic.

© Richard Foster (first published 11 December 2000 - Yorkshire Evening Press)

The Shed's Special Projects

"Weird and wonderful" Daily Telegraph

Simon Thackray - "performs miracles from his eyrie" Yorkshire Post

The Shed Gigs Booking Now - "The smallest show on earth" Guardian

Lol Coxhill in a skip - "His latest scheme is rubbish." Guardian

Knitted Elvis Wigs - Vogue Knitting and No.1 on Google!

The Fish & Chip Van Tour - on the Richard and Judy Show

The Yorkshire Pudding Boat Race - Big Breakfast to Sky News

North Yorkshire Elvis Bus Tour - Afternoon Play on Radio 4

Mrs Boyes' Bingo - featuring Mark Sanders

The Shed Comes To Town - and Malton comes to life!

Hat - the original knitting performance

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