Venue:
Honiton Beehive
Date: 21/11/2024
I first discovered Christine Collister in the 80s via her collaborations with Clive Gregson, and always loved her stunning voice. She was also in Richard Thompson’s band for a few years, but her solo work rather passed me by. I was excited to find she was appearing at one our best local venues – the Honiton Beehive – and I then had a request to interview her for my radio show and I jumped at the opportunity. She was an absolutely delightful interviewee. Most of the chat was around her new album – ‘Children of the Sea’ – which is based around myths and legends of the Isle of Man, where she lives and was brought up. I highly recommend it – at the moment it is only available as a physical copy within a delightful hardback book with wonderful illustrations inspired by the songs and notes by Christine about the songs. It should be on streaming at some time soon, but I would grab the book and CD while they are available as there are only so many produced. I will post a link to Christine’s website for it.
Ticket sales for the gig were, frankly, disappointing, and it didn’t help that a severe snowstorm arrived the night before and there were consequently a lot of cancellations and no shows. The performance was moved into the cafe/bar area, which was brilliant for tnose of us there as we got a lovely intimate performance. Christine is an engaging performer with a nice line in self deprecating humour, and that voice is one of an angel. Now 62, her powerful yet subtle vocal powers are undiminished and she gave a mesmerising performance of many of her new songs from the album, accompanied by a soundtrack which was used on the recordings. The second half was just that voice and guitar, with songs from the likes of Richard Thompson, Sandy Denny, Tom Waits, Elbow (yes, that one!), and many more in a sublimely eclectic set.
Chatting to Christine afterwards was a real thrill and she is the most charming lady – the remaining dates of the tour are here….treat yourself!
Saturday 23rd, CORSHAM, Pound Arts
https://poundarts.org.uk/
Mon 25th,BIRMINGHAM,Kitchen Garden Cafe
https://www.kitchengardencafe.co.uk/event/christine-collister/
Wednesday 27th, SHEFFIELD,The Greystones
https://www.mygreystones.co.uk/events/
Thursday 28th, YORK, Black Swan
https://wegottickets.com/event/627630/
Friday 29th, KIRBY STEPHEN, Social Club
(Penny) 017683 72123 OR 07957890578 penelopemilligan@outlook.com
Saturday 3oth, OTLEY, Courthouse
https://otleycourthouse.org.uk/
The audience:
Mature, appreciative, small.
It made me think..
There are amazing talents who go totally under the radar and deserve to be heard.
Here is her website where you can get the album…
https://www.christinecollister.com/children-of-the-sea
Ordered! Thanks @nigelT for the heads-up.
Thanks from me too. This release had passed me by.
By the way, just in case you’re not aware, her albums with Daphne’s Flight, Dave Kelly & The Travelling Gentlemen and this:
https://www.christinecollister.com/product-page/hell-bent-heaven-bound-money-the-final-frontier (a mere fiver)
are also worth hearing.
Gutted I can’t go to Monday’s gig. Always a huge fan, and have a handful of her solo stuff to boot, as well as those consummate Gregson & Collister albums.
Another good review, over on fb, from erstwhile parishioner Azeem Ali Khan, not his nom de key when here.
She’s touring next year as well. We have tickets to Colchester Arts Centre in September.
She told me she has some dates with Dave Kelly next year, but sadly not down our way. Dave is here in Exmouth in February with Paul Jones, and I will hopefully be catching up with him in the new year for a chat.
Doesn’t she look disarmingly like Clive in that photo?
I thought that, too!
She’s been unlucky recently. Her gig at Bury Met last Friday was cancelled due to burst watermain.
Daphne’s Flight was my introduction. Yes, a great talent.