Peggy Seeger and Sons at the Capstone, Liverpool

Belated birthday greetings to Peggy Seeger, who celebrated her 80th birthday yesterday (17th June). Seeger's solo gig in Sixmilebridge, Co Clare was top pick of 2011 gigs.  To celebrate, the folk queen has taken to the road with her  two sons and I caught the trio at the Capstone Theatre , Liverpool with my son in a terrfic evening of wit wisdom and great songs

Old songs, new songs-Songs and poems about love and loss, political songs, lullabies, comic songs- There was such a breadth of moods and styles in the set , all punctauted by whimsical snippets   from Peggy's folder of clippings. There was the odd singalong chorus, Pete Seeger style.  Whatever she sang, Seeger sparkled and that wasn't down just to her  irridescent eye make up.

The two lads added blokey self deprecating banter that never felt forced or contrived and sophisticated arrangements on a array of instruments including one I have never seen or heard before. Neill MacColl used two short bows to play a psaltery, a small harp like instrument. We had a tune from Playford's dance collection. The humble melodica appeared briefly in Calum's arsenal.

Most of the new songs are on Seeger's excellent new album, Everything Changes. We loved the wit and humour of Peter Berryman's Do You Be;ieve in Me .  Seeger's own songs When Fairy Stories End and Everything Changes offered more contemplative musical comment on life.

Seeger has had a lot of ill health recently and it was great to see her in such exuberant form. There  wa s sense of an artist savouring every moment.  Bravo Peggy Seeger.  You're a 'helluv an angel'.   We were so lucky to be there.

Seven dates left on the tour Details here https://www.ents24.com/uk/tour-dates/peggy-seeger

Seeger family   Guardian pic

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/aug/24/peggy-seeger-voice-of-experience

Album Review  Everything Changes Guardian 

Peggy Seeger in Clare

I am ambivalent generally about one man (or woman)  performances of any description but we had an inkling that we would hear something extraordinary when legendary folk singer Peggy Seeger was a guest of Sixmilebridge Folk Club County Clare. The intimate Courthouse venue was crammed  with circa 120 or so  which for  a midweek evening, even with a star of Seeger's renown is a feat of good marketing and PR work by the astute Brendan Walsh and the hard working committee members.  We arrived too late to hear Tommy Sands but in time for a cup of tea before Seeger took to the small stage. She was introduced by Cork based promoter John Nyhan who referred to encountering the Seeger siblings legendary recordings in trips to Crowleys Music Shop in Cork. Even for the uninitiated the Seeger name has a resonance following decades of collecting, recording and composing. 

 Wearing no make up and and with cropped grey hair, Seeger is a striking and commanding presence and looked elegant  in a simple black and white ensemble.  This is after all, the face which inspired  one of the great love songs of the 20th century.  With a matronly concern she advised her capacity audience to stretch their legs and get some fresh air before launching her set in the packed  intimate Courthouse venue.

Peggy's Box

Over the course of an hour or so she performed on a diverse collection of folk instruments and also accompanying herself very adroitly at the piano.  The songs range from simple unaccompanied ballads,  to witty comic turns and hard hitting protest songs.  Her consort of instruments included an Applachian Dulcimer rarely seen on this side of the Atlantic, the familiar concertina, banjo, guitar and autoharp. I particularly liked the soft gut string munitions box lute. At interludes she read some humourous quotations from a folder of clippings.

She spoke warmly about her upbringing in an musically  accomplished  household.  I was reminded of Andy Irvine both in the references to the parental musical influence in other genres,  the enduring  enthusiasm for the road despite maturity,  and intellectual rigour underpinning the performance .  Her song Bringing it Home  towards the end of the evening was for me the highlight of a wonderful  entertaining evening. 

Munitions Box Lute

Packed Courthouse

My only quibble is that the flourescent lighting was too bright  and militated aginst a soiree ambience. Following the performance Peggy Seeger retired to the back room to meet and greet and to attend  to the post concert commercial * end of the evening 
What wonderful energy, emotion and wit she brought to her performance at this intimate venue. Bravo Peggy!  A memorable and delightful musical evening!

*( Although an important part of the procedings, I do feel the promoter or host might make someone available to help with the business end  leaving the star performer free to sign and chat without the mundane task of finding 'change of a twenty')