A blustery evening with fast dropping temperatures greeted the audience at Chequer Mead for concert, but they didn't have to wait long before the temperature was raised. As soon as John and Barry came on stage, it became evident that the duo was intent on getting a bit of audience participation. 

Each song started with a humorous introduction from John, and with banter between John and Barry. All of which were enjoyable in their own right, but I would not wish to over-emphasise the jollity, because these were songs were written from the heart; songs of the human condition, songs of love, songs of hardship and deprivation, songs of the futility of war and its consequences to real human beings, songs of loneliness and home-sickness and songs of the impact upon communities of political decisions made by governments and songs of the human spirit rising up and challenging nature. Some songs looked back nostalgically to times when heavy industry dominated his homeland but which have all but gone now, a necessity of changing times. They were obviously written by someone who is proud of their North Country heritage and were delivered with an amazing luminous clarity, a very slight hint on Gerry Rafferty in John's voice on occasion, with words pronounced with his distinctive Derbyshire accent. The songs were a pleasure to listen to and very easy on the ear. 

Barry played excellent but unobtrusive keyboards and supplied sweet harmonies to complement John's melodies. At times Barry's voice reminded me of James Taylor. The songs they played were a good representation of their excellent current album "The Reckoning", albeit without a slightly less full sound because of the absence of additional members of their band which were featured on the record. But not to detract from the performance whatsoever as the guitar and keyboard provided a surprisingly full sound for such a small ensemble and never cluttered the vocals and the overall sound mix was one of crystal clarity. 

There was a good intimate atmosphere in the auditorium and overall, a good night was had by all and the audience sang along heartily when 'instructed' to do so by John. 

Set list included: Lay Me Low; Amelia; Hold Back the Tide; Who Will Blow the Candle Out Tonight (sung by Barry); Harry Stone; Radio Ballads song (steelworks); a 'tryptic' of war songs (that Tams preferred to refer to as 'peace' songs) including a different version of 'Blame it On the Fathers'; a monologue; Right on Line; The Old Man Song; and, for an encore, Rolling Home.

Review courtesy of our good friend, Bob Preece