When music legends Lindisfarne played Newbury

Lindisfarne at Arlington Arts on Friday, April 5

Review by BRIAN HARRINGTON

IF anyone had any doubts about why the music of Lindisfarne has survived for 55 years this sold-out show would have comprehensively dispelled them.

Often credited, alongside Steeleye Span and Fairport Convention, as being pioneers of folk-rock, the big difference for me is that Lindisfarne never included traditional folk songs in their repertoire.

Instead they relied on self-composed songs which frequently reflected their roots in the city of Newcastle.

The only founder member of the original band in the current line up is Rod Clements on vocals, mandolins, guitars and fiddle, but he is more than ably assisted by Dave Hull-Denholm (the son-in-law of founder member Alan Hull) on guitars, keyboards and vocals, Steve Daggett on keyboards, harmonica and vocals, Ian Thomson on bass, double bass and vocals and Paul Smith on percussion.

Both in terms of musical excellence and, at times, almost choral harmonies they are outstanding.

They opened with All Right, very fitting as it is about drinking on a Friday night.

They followed with an excellent rendition of Squire and even included a phenomenal version of the iconic Lady Eleanor in the first set.

As a band with 10 studio albums, nine live albums and 33 singles to their credit, Lindisfarne have an enormous back catalogue to draw on.

Lindisfarne’s popularity is perhaps best exemplified by the fact that in 1972 they were supported by Genesis.

Contrary to what many people might have expected they did not save Fog On The Tyne as their encore song (as Rod Clements commented “no footballers were harmed in the making of this song”), but included a fantastic selection of their biggest hits, including Meet Me On The Corner, Passing Ghosts and Run For Home before their traditional encore song Clear White Light earned them a standing ovation with its stunning vocal harmonies.

Absolutely brilliant.