Oysterband

The veteran folk rockers have enjoyed a higher profile of late thanks to their award winning collaboration with June Tabor and the Ragged Kingdom album. And in the shape of the three remaining founders John Jones, Ian Telfer and Alan Prosser, the band remain in rude health, helped along by the recruitment of three Brightonians; long-standing member Dil Davies plus Al Scott (who produced Ragged Kingdom) and cellist Adrian Oxaal. So, Brighton is a special tour stop for the band, and they gave an appropriately upbeat performance, that not only delved deep into the extensive Oysterband catalogue, but also featured a number of new songs that will be heard on their very promising forthcoming album Diamonds on the Water. But it’s live where the band comes to life: their sound warm, full and dancier, and their amalgamation of traditional songs, political folk rock a la The Levellers, and the more recently found fondness for the mellower open road grooves of Springsteen, Mellencamp et al. Spirited to the end, and helped along on occasion by vocalist Rowan Godal, the sea of tapping toes, nodding heads and sing-a-long cheeriness were a testament to the joyfulness at the heart of their music, culminating in a very special off stage and in-the-round acoustic version of Put Out the Lights.

Saturday 7 December, The Old Market

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