Michael had spent the earlier part of his day indulging one of his lifelong pleasures - steam trains - by taking a trip on the nearby Bluebell line. It was a good omen - I knew he would later have to play the wonderful 'Mallard' (about the fastest British steam train) and he did, of course.

Chapman has been a musical hero of mine for over 30 years - and he didn't disappoint at this packed White Hart gig.  Playing a long set including a mix of vocal songs and instrumentals, I was reminded that there is truly no guitarist around who creates the kind of atmosphere that Chapman does. OK, his voice has changed over the years but it's still distinctive and it's somehow got added warmth.  But really it's the quality and uniqueness of the guitarwork. The audience was simply enthralled.

His long (almost 2 hour) set included: the aforementioned 'Mallard'; the lively 'Sometimes'; the hypnotic 'That Time of Night'; 'Memphis in Winter'; 'One Time Thing' (a favourite of mine from his acclaimed 1969 Rainmaker album); 'Wrecked Again' (another oldie but goldie); his one and only 'hit', 'Postcards of Scarborough'; 'Fully Qualified Survivor' (title track of his seminal 1970 album); the personal 'After all This Time'; 'Shuffle Boat River Farewell'; 'Rabbit Hills'; and four instrumentals: 'La Magrugada''; Caddo Lake; 'Uncle Jack'; and an extended version of 'Sentimelia', to finish the evening.  

Support was provided by the excellent Angie Palmer, who Bob Harris recently described as "One of Britain's best current singer-songwriters".  

Angie played mainly songs from her excellent recent CD, 'Home' ('Ballad of Love and Strife'; 'Coming Home'; 'Less Than I Need You'; and the wonderfully-named 'Down the Street of the Cat Who Fished'; Footprints in the Snow').  These she supplemented by an older song, 'A Long Way From Paris' (a place Angie refers to as her spiritual home); two new songs, 'Premonition Blues' and 'Rock, Salt and Nails'; and, as a finale, the bluesy Chip Taylor song, 'Papa Come Quick'.  Something tells me we'll be hearing a lot more from this lady!

After the gig, Michael joined us in the bar for a well-earned nightcap, and we all retired in that happy state that tells you the evening went well. 

Martin