Hi °C | Lo °C Lindisfarne legend's mix of old and new will have fans singing in the aisles, says Damien Murray
Rod Clements, founder- member of Lindisfarne, is offering an open invitation for fans to 'meet him on the corner' in Armagh, Magherafelt and Belfast during the coming week.
For the popular Tyneside musician, who has become one of the most widely respected figures in British folk-roots, both as an artist in his own right and through his associations with such seminal figures as Bert Jansch, Thea Gilmore, Ralph McTell and Pentangle, has lined up a series of local dates.
When the singer-songwriter wrote Meet Me On The Corner in 1970, it became a Top 10 hit for Lindisfarne, paving the way for the group's many years of international success and for the guitarist to establish himself as a superb solo performer.
Clements' current live set comprises a mixture of Lindisfarne classics, material from his recent acclaimed solo album, Odd Man Out, and the folk/blues numbers which originally inspired him - all performed with wit, panache, heartfelt vocals and some spine-tingling slide guitar.
You can catch Clements at Armagh's Market Place Theatre Studio tomorrow and at Bryson's Town And Country Inn in Magherafelt on Sunday before his Belfast date at the Real Music Club at the Errigle Inn on Thursday.
** The 8th Gig 'n The Bann Festival kicked off last night and continues in Portglenone until Sunday with music from an impressive line-up of top performers, spanning trad, Scottish and folk.
Following the first of the festival concerts tonight (at The Bethel Temple) featuring The Low Country Boys and Danielle McGaughey, attention turns to the town's Wild Duck Factory for the remainder of the concerts, including a late show by Irish folksters, The Rapparees, this evening.
Tomorrow night's concert features Cruinniu plus The Seven Towers Pipe Band, with new Irish group, Providence, headlining the bill.
The final concert on Sunday will be a special tribute concert to the late Colm O'Brien and will bring together The O'Brien Family, Clann Lughaidh, Brendan Hendry, Brendan Mulholland, Paul McSherry, The Mullaghbawn Scor Group, Kieran Convery and former members of Deanta (www.gignthebann. com).
** It's no 'flook' that some of the most talented, new and established folk performers will be descending on Newtownards from the September 12-16 for the 6th Festival of the Peninsula.
For the curtain goes up on this exciting annual shindig on Wednesday evening with a much-anticipated concert at the town's Web Theatre by the Best Group winners at last year's BBC Folk Awards, the Anglo/Irish ensemble, Flook.
At the same venue on Thursday, The Living Tradition Concert features Kathleen O'Sullivan and Derek Williamson.
O'Sullivan is a highly regarded Irish singer, having performed internationally with The London Lasses and Pete Quinn, while Williamson, originally from Scotland, has an extensive repertoire and is well known for his traditional singing (more details about Festival of the Peninsula next week, or visit www.festivalofthepeninsula.info).
** The best of this week's other gigs include reggae star Natty Wailer, plus American singer-songwriter, Denise Marie, at Denvir's Hotel in Downpatrick tonight; Dublin's bluegrass, old-time, gospel and Cajun music band, Prison Love, at Belfast's Black Box tomorrow night; The 14th Flax Mill Yard Fest at Dungiven's Flax Mill tomorrow with The Tennessee Hennessees and Melatonin; and Dungannon's Flight of Earls Festival tomorrow with a Riverdance Troupe, More Power To Your Elbow and Frances Black.
