The first set comprised each member doing a three song solo spot starting with Steve Tilston followed by Anna and finally Bob and ended with a coming together for a glimpse of things to come.
It soon became apparent that these were three entirely different characters which was immediately reflected in their solo spots. Steve Tilston showed great guitar picking skills with a fine, strong folksy voice emphasising his great songwriting. Steve came across as the traditionalist, the more serious member of the trio. Multitalented Anna Ryder (for me the star of the night) started rather shyly by teaching her audience how to do trumpet noises to accompany her during her first number in which she played trumpet (right hand) and accordion (left hand). She showed a marvellous, almost naive, quality as she performed her (in every sense) original material. Anna had a sometimes off-key delivery to her voice which only enhanced the beauty of her songs. Bob Fox introduced himself by commenting that Steve and Anna were singer-songwriters but he was a folk singer because he just stole other peoples songs to perform. Clever and powerful guitar work with strong voice he performed three northern, modern day, folk songs. Bob's style was passionate and convincing. The first half of the set finished with the three getting together to whet the appetite for later.
The second half continued with interchanges of lead vocal and instruments. Tight, sometimes intricate but often simple songs combining their individual personalities and styles. There was never any lapse of quality and they certainly put resident sound engineer Shaun Halliwell through his paces with their constant swapping of instruments and stage positions.
Tonight was a lovely mixture of styles ranging from Steve Tilston's more traditional ground with jigs and reels coming through, Bob Fox's 20th century songs with social comment a'plenty and the fresh, gentle, contemporary style of Anna Ryder. Three talanted individuals combining to make one interesting and thought provoking unit.
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