From Austin to Brissle

[perlmonger]

ramtops and I are just returned from Colston Hall, where we experienced an extraordinarily emotionally charged Show of Hands gig. If you were unaware, Steve Knightley’s son has been diagnosed with leukemia, thankfully one with a good prognosis, and is currently in Bristol Children’s Hospital. We weren’t expecting to see Steve - Phil and Miranda have been carrying this tour on their own - but Steve came down tonight from the Hospital, where he and his wife have been staying thanks to CLIC Sargent, and played.

If audience support has any healing effect whatsoever, Jack should be feeling it right now; the atmosphere was extraordinary both on and off the stage. Steve’s solo encore of I Promise You pretty nearly had me in tears; I can only try and imagine what he must have been feeling.

Slaid Cleaves from Austin, Texas opened, with splendid guitaring from Michael O’Connor. I’ve not heard either before tonight, but I’d recommend checking them out if they play anywhere near you: a fine noise, with yodelling even; country rock, country and folk with cheery lyrics that’ll put a smile on your face (why, even in the Canadian lumberjack folk song, only one person died: how cheerful do y’all want? :)