Preview

Croeso nôl i hen ffrindiau- y gitarydd gwych Brian Willoughby (cyn aelod o’r Strawbs) a’r gantores a’r gyfansoddwraig swil Cathryn Craig, cyfunant eu talentau â’u dylanwadau amrywiol i greu sain gwefreiddiol.

One of the finest acoustic acts on the circuit, Brian and Cathryn were a highlight of our 2003 season - they're featured on our Live at the Talbot CD - and we're delighted to welcome them back.

Brian Willoughby began his professional career backing Mary Hopkin, and has performed session duties with artists ranging from Monty Python to Sweet's Brian Connelly. He joined The Strawbs as lead guitarist in 1978, and his superb musicianship can be heard on seven of their albums. In addition, his acoustic duo with fellow Strawb Dave Cousins has produced two acclaimed albums. Brian has also recorded and toured with Texas folk legend Nanci Griffith, and in more recent times has released Black & White, a CD of his own songs, co-written by and featuring Cathryn Craig.

As a Nashville session musician, Cathryn has worked and recorded with Emmylou Harris, Bobby Bare, Shel Silverstein, Tom Paxton, Chet Atkins, Bill Medley (Righteous Bros.) and many others, and she's written with Silverstein, Tommy Boyce, Richard Dobson and more. Her two solo albums, Porch Songs and Cathryn Craig, have reinforced her reputation as one of America's finest acoustic performers

'beautiful, haunting, mature and mesmeric' - Time Out).

'The SOLD OUT sign appeared on the door early ... powerful and haunting ... had everyone hooked' - Border Telegraph

'Absolutely enchanting ... I enjoyed every moment' - Jon Stenson, NCM Magazine

Phil Bates: Multi-talented guitarist/keyboard player/singer-songwriter/session man/producer, Phil formed Trickster in 1976 (2 LPs on the Jet label), joined ELO Part II in 1993, and has collaborated with artists as diverse as Duane Eddy, John Miles, Bev Bevan, and Gordon Giltrap. As a solo performer, Phil's a master of musical styles ranging from classic rock to Celtic introspection.

Review

A comfortably-sized audience settled in for a night of nourishing acoustic music that simply oozed quality ... and opener Phil Bates was a revelation, nothing less. His lengthy career experience, which includes working with the likes of Duane Eddy as well as being a member of the second incarnation of the Electric Light Orchestra, was reflected in his confidently easy-going stage demeanour. Not only is this man a formidable guitar player, blessed with a terrific voice (shades of, say, Bob Seger, or current critics' fave Ray Lamontagne), but he also pens arresting songs across a range of styles, from the droll 'House of Blues' to the Springsteenesque 'Walking Back Toward the Light' via the touching ballad 'Still In Love with You'. In 'One Sky', Phil has a song of real world potential - this passionately delivered anthemic plea for global peace ought to be a regular staple on the airwaves, if there were any justice ... Phil also dazzled us instrumentally with a radically reworked McCartney standard and a furious Adrian Legg-derived 'Broken Fingers', before leaving us all wanting much more. He will emphatically be returning, we guarantee.

Of all the contributions to our Live! at the Talbot CD, the track that reviewers unfailingly pick out for special mention is 'The Snake' from 2003 visitors Cathryn Craig and Brian Willoughby, so it was entirely fitting that we should welcome these delightful folks back again. The combination of Cathryn's unfussy guitar and gloriously expressive and emotional Appalachian voice, adorned by Brian's passionate virtuoso guitar skills, makes for music of often heart-stopping beauty. Drawn from the lovely I Will CD, the title track apart, were 'Two Hearts', 'That Old Guitar', and 'Mr Jefferson'. From Brian's guitar tree hung a fruitful array of guitars, each of which was pressed into service in turn: 'Black & White' was a Telecaster workout, while his mouthwatering new metal-bodied resonator instrument graced the paired 'Carry Me Back to Old Virginie/Dixie' - and on the magical if oddly-titled 'Rod Stewart' Brian's cunning Ebow gizmo summoned up the lead slide-guitar style of David Lindley or Mac Gayden, without the need for a cumbersome amp. 'Rumours of Rain' is the pair's current 'Folk for Peace' single, while the elegiac 'Goodbye Old Friend' was dedicated to the memory of London folk diva Dorris Henderson, the sad news of whose passing Brian had heard only on the afternoon of the gig: RIP, Dorris. 'Cottonfields/My Window Faces South' and a stirring a cappella 'Amazing Grace' brought a richly memorable and atmospheric evening to a conclusion ... apart, that is, from shared musical anecdotes in the company of these established members of the Cambria Arts family over a beverage or two into the early hours. The perks of the job ...