Bob Fox at The Old Manor Folk Club - 11/6/2006

One word summed up this performance tonight - brilliant - it was my word, and Bass Man Bob came up with the same word when we met afterwards - Bob Fox is nearing the end of a long tour of the UK, nearly 30 venues in 5 months, and was on top form, despite having played in Sunderland the same afternoon and driving over to Wallasey in time to sound check before most of us had turned up.

The gig was also the 13th and final one of the Wirral Folk on the Coast festival, a grueling schedule for anybody that made it to all of them (ok, we did 12/13 - but then we were at Wychwood for the first one), but the room was full of expectant folkies, many fresh from an afternoon at Vale Park.

Bob Fox then, a "BBC Folk Singer of the Year nominee" according to his blurb, launched into a version of "Jack Crawford" - about na Sunderland hero, and we were instantly aware that we were in the presence of a top performer - Bob's guitar playing - Gill described it as generous, and this sums it up well - there's no skimping, plenty of spring to it, and Bob's Fylde guitar rang out loud and clear, whatever style it was asked to perform. I'm told that the instrument has been patched up and repaired several times over the years, and I'm often impressed by players who get through a whole set using only one instrument - I know there's nothing really in this, you can switch guitars to get new sounds or to avoid re-tuning all the time, it doesn't make you any less of a player, maybe I'm just impressed that so much can be got out of one instrument.

Bob's set was mixture of old and new, traditional and contemporary - and I enjoyed how, in several cases, he would play a traditional tune in the midst of a song, for instance Joe Wilson's "Bonny Gateshead Lass" was augmented by "Elsie Marley" and "Cock of the North" featured, most fittingly on the tail end (!) of "The Whitby Tailor". There was plenty of background given for the songs, delivered in Bob's engaging and witty North-Eastern manner, but not without a touch of scouse repost - there was an on-going adjustment to the levels for the stage monitor and at one point Bob said he thought there was a lot of reverb, "It's the Liverpool Echo" quipped Tony Gibbons. There was yet more laughter when Bob lost it during this song, laughing at the story that he must have sang so many times!

There were many songs from the great writers - Ewan MacColl's "Champion of Keeping 'em Rolling", John Tamms' "Remembrance Day", and several by Andy M Stewart. Highlights included the hanging chord that Bob left at the end of "My Love is in America", perfectly capturing the unresolved story in the song, and his gripping and moving rendition of Ralph McTell's "Peppers and Tomatoes" another fantastic song from the horrors of recent conflicts, this one from Kosovo. During this song there was the hint of a high harmony during the chorus, but no sign of anybody else singing ......

"Rambling Rover" was his ever faithful closer - a good philosophy to hang on to - and "Galway Shawl" was his popular encore, both very much local favourites and both "well sung" by the audience. Bob I know felt it had been hard work, with the heat and a few sound problems, but the audience was appreciative and we had a good time. A most fitting end to the festival.

A word before I go about Phil McGinity, who compered tonight's show, singing Richard Thompson's "In Limbo Now" really well, and performing several of Jake Thakray's complex songs. Phil is one of the local folk stalwarts with who we have had more and more contact in recent weeks, and you will be reading more about him here soon. (Nothing to worry about Phil ...!)