SETH LAKEMAN

Live Review

Town Hall, Birmingham

When they handed out musical talent not only was Seth Lakeman at the front of the queue but he also went back for seconds. Before he even showed on the stage it looked like a music shop with such an array of instruments you would have thought it was a sales conference rather than a concert.

He came on to the thumping beat of More than Money then linked straight into Blacksmith’s Prayer using the bouzouki, picking up the tempo with his distinctive voice coming clear over the instruments.

Seth Lakeman at Town Hall, Birmingham
picture copyright Danny Farragher

The all-rounder Lakeman was then joined on stage by guest singer Lisbee Stainton for the ballad The Sender from his Tales From The Barrel House album.
With a change of instrument, one of at least 10 throughout the concert, Lakeman pulled out Solomon Browne, a song inspired by a shipping disaster which although it had a heavier back beat also had the feeling of a skiffle number.
Showing even more of his versatility for Apple of his Eye, a song about cider making, he took to his fiddle and played pizzicato.
There was another change of instrument for the White Hare ballad which really showed the depth and clarity of his voice and the group then moved to Blood Red Sky which had a Latin undertone. He moved back to the fiddle for The Hurlers and then made another change for the Take No Rogues, an up tempo sound which featured a banging solo from the double bass.
The Longest Day/King and Country slowed things down as a simple acoustic ballad.
On stage with him was his older brother Sean who will be appearing at the Newhampton Arts Centre, Wolverhampton with Kathryn Roberts on Saturday November 10.
Lakeman did his signature fiddle solo to end the set with his machine gun movements building up to a Vivaldi Four Seasons-style crescendo which looked even more impressive than usual under the two spotlights highlighting him on the stage.