Music / Reviews
Review: Eliza Carthy, Bristol Beacon – ‘A feast in the best folk tradition’
Before every concert the empty, smoky stage; instruments on stands. And, over the sound system, a well-loved voice singing High Germany.
Then, lights and cheers for Eliza Carthy and her musicians. And Martin Carthy, whose tour it was? Toasting in front of the fire, said Eliza – though how well it was burning she wasn’t sure as grandson Finn was using the poker to play Norma’s triangle…
Martin Carthy’s daughter, Eliza, presided over a clutch of well regarded folk artists to pay tribute to the songs of the legendary musician she affectionately calls ‘the Daddy’ or ‘the Codfather of Folk’
It felt intimate. Identifying objects stolen from Martin’s house was a running gag; there were memories and jokes throughout, and Eliza described the joy of a farm full of song as the musicians congregated for an induction into the Martin-method of music.
Everyone has their Martin Carthy era and Nick Hart, Jon Wilks, Tim Eriksen, Tim van Eyken, and Finn Curran Carthy rose to the challenge of celebrating Martin’s 60+ years of song-collecting and gigging.
And they produced a feast, in the best folk tradition. Tales of incest, murder, retribution and spooky instruments made of human bones… plus soldiering, loving, rural hardships and mining.
There were guitars, fiddle, dobro, viola da gamba, whistle, melodeon, mandolin and Eliza’s fiddle was around, under, over, behind and before the tunes so faithfully reproduced, making them fresh and new.
She held the evening through sparse guitar and fiddle songs to full-throated ensemble pieces.
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The second half got into its stride with two a cappella numbers: Nick Hart delivering The Three Minute Hamlet to roars of laughter, followed by Tim Eriksen’s mesmeric variant of tragic Lucy Wan which held us spellbound.
And we had choruses – Eliza and Tim’s fronting of Scarborough Fair, a lovely version of To the Begging I Will Go, The Hard Times of Old England; and then the Watersons’ quirky classic The Good Old Way was a triumph of four-part harmony.
And, of course, High Germany – the first track on Martin’s first album.
Bristol’s Nick Hart (right) took part in the show and Martin’s grandson Finn (second right) is also part of the ensemble, this run of shows giving him his first opportunity to appear on stage
This was a privileged insight into the career of one of the greats of folk music. He may no longer travel for health reasons but is still a power in the land.
Last year, aged 84, he became the oldest nominee in the history of the Mercury Prize for his album Transform Me Then Into A Fish. As Eliza said, it is not over yet – it just means that people will have to travel to Whitby!
And what of The White Hare? (Trad, recorded 1968). Well, they couldn’t squeeze in the entire opus. But I was singing it all the way home, with a smile and a very particular voice and arrangement in my ear.
Bless you Martin, and happy retirement.
All images: Penny Billington
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