Bedford Bandstand

Bedford Bandstand presented a line-up I'd never heard of before at a venue I'd never been to before (the Indigo at the Dome in Greenwich). It was streamed online and in Second Life avatars were performing the gig live at the Blarney Stone pub.

Karl Morgan was sweet, had his brother in the band and his Mum & Dad up front cheering him on. They had a few good tracks (the title track of the album wasn't one of them on the night which could be down to being the last song he did with a flu throat).

The Jay Scott Project walked in played and sang some haunting stuff, did a song they finished that day which I couldn't imagine being more polished, and finished their set smiling as if they thought they had gotten away with something. We were the ones who got away with something, getting to see them at a gig for a fiver.

Liam Gerner was of the one -man-and-his-guitar variety that can hold an audience with his banter and friendliness as much as his talent ( and when they all have talent that can make the difference). His songs were of the story-telling tradition whether you call it a folk song or ballad and created images in your head of horses on boats and other such things. He sounds like a guy thats better heard live.

Jonatha Brooke has the Suzanne Vega/Joni Mitchell thing going on when she plays guitar. We were treated to some beautiful Woody Guthrie songs she sang with piano accompaniment for the first time live ever anywhere ( I'd love, tho, to hear them sang with a guitar). It was a good taster though of her next album, all of which will be Woody Guthrie songs. She's looking for a name for the album...and no she says she will not be using the title 'Woody' for obvious reasons.

Check out some of the past gigs on YouTube here what the Bedford Bandstand is all about and whats happening next month here.