Peggy Seeger

Venue:

Harpenden Public Halls

Date: 04/06/2015

This was an unusual gig simply because it was in Harpenden – not exactly a mecca for seeing good music. I had no great expectations but eft with a big smile on my face – probably one of the most enjoyable gigs Ive been to in long while. If you get the chance to see her on the current tour I urge you to take it. Protest songs , love songs, funny songs, sing-a-long songs and 17th century madrigals it’s all here. Also a big shout out for her new album ‘Everything Changes’.
Backed by her sons Neil and Callum Maccoll – the standard of musicianship on stage was just fabulous – Peggy is a monster banjo player and the three of them together produce that wonderful intuitive sound that family members seem to be able create when singing and playing together. Of course she did some Pete Seeger songs and a version of The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (written about her by Ewan Maccoll). The Maccoll brothers did an old Liberty Horses song (remember that band – an offshoot of the Bible ?) and Neil did a lovely finger picked version of Freight Train ( apparently he met Elizabeth Cotton and said I’ve learnt how to play Freight Train – played it and she said ‘No you aint’ !). Oh and ex Dream Academy and Van Morrison sax player Kate St John added a bit of accordion.

The audience:

The usual folky types and good smattering of locals. The funniest moment (for me) was Peggy getting the audience to sing along to a song about joining a union – Peter Lilley would have fainted, Im not sure the word union has ever been heard in a positive way in Harps before

It made me think..

This woman is steeped in folk history – hugely respected and yet here she is playing small low key gigs like this. I need to support any new music coming to this town you never know what you might see.

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