This was the other side of Roly Veitch - the Folkie, Geordie Ambassador. The historian of Tyneside, Northumbrian and Durham folklore as told in song by a roll call of long gone local heroes. Robson, Turnbull, Wilson and, of course, Geordie Ridley.
As someone brought up on the Cole Porters and Johnny Mercers I was pleasantly surprised to find how easily these local dialect songs were on the ear. I knew many of them but, in truth, had paid scant attention to the words other than in the well known choruses which, in the second half, we all joined in.
I'm not going to dwell on the individual numbers - Ann Alex has covered many of them in her CD review of the Blaydon Aces' current release Gan Canny - instead I'd just like to say that to hear two master guitarists adding their own touch of genius to material that is already firmly entrenched in our heritage is quite an emotional experience. JB (James Birkett) even played banjo - one up on JB (Julian Bream)!
I think Messrs Ridley and co would have loved it - I did!
Lance.
Lance.


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