Great finale to ACE Space season with rising stars of the folk world

Janice Burns and Jon Doran, support Joe Dooley & Friends

at ACE Space, Newbury

on Saturday, December 14

Review by SIMON COATES

THE ACE Space season drew to a close with an evening of live music from a mainstay of their open mic nights, Joe Dooley (and friends) and rising stars of the British folk music scene, Janice Burns and Jon Doran.

Joe Dooley, brother to the legendary Dooleys pop group, was joined on stage by young musicians Adrian and Jack, for a set of Joe’s own pieces, plus a couple of covers.

Simply performed, with lead, rhythm and bass guitars, and a couple of harmonicas, the highlight of the set was a rendition of Bonne Nuit Bay, penned by Joe with his brother-in-law Andrew Mackintosh, with moving lyrics, a strong guitar solo from Adrian and some lovely vocal harmonies. I did wonder whether some of the earlier songs in the set could have been given a similar harmonising treatment, so maybe something to look at for future gigs?

Headliners Janice and Jon performed a beautiful selection of traditional seasonal pieces, many featuring on their recently released second album, Great Joy to the New. A carefully curated selection from the Christian, Pagan and secular traditions, the songs were mostly unknown to me, and one of the few I did know, While Shepherds Watched, was given a beautiful new arrangement by Jon, far superior to the original.

Great Joy to the New’s striking artwork features two fun characters – Wren Boy and The Derby Ram, that are drawn from the traditional folk customs of wrenning and Old Tup, both featuring heavily in the pieces performed. If you love seasonal music, this is an album for your collection.

With crystal clear, tone-perfect voices Janice and Jon switched effortlessly between playing guitar, mandolin, bazouki and Indian harmonium, and held the audience in the palms of their hands with their easy charm and wit; it was a lovely, relaxed performance.

Despite the lure of Chris McCausland’s triumph on Strictly, there was still a good number of people, all of whom sang lustily in the numerous opportunities for audience participation.

The in-person audience was supplemented by one online, courtesy of the wonderful Live To Your Living Room project, that live streams folk concerts and allows music lovers, regardless of where they are in the world.