Lau-d and cheer
Award-winning alchemists Lau brewed up a winning formula of magical music and spellbinding craftmanship at the launch night of Ashover Well Dressed Folk & Roots Festival.
With a string of top honours to their credit, singer and guitarist Kris Drever, accordion player Martin Green and fiddle ace Aidan O'Rourke mesmerised a packed audience at the parish hall with their passion for performance and the calibre of their creations.
Like ground-breaking scientists Lau conjured up the excitement of a new discovery as they pushed the boundaries of folk music. "This is an experiment with traditional music," said Martin. "If we return to anything that you deem musical you must erupt into a roar."
Roaring success Lau gave a masterclass in musicianship with exquisite playing in a show which was as fascinating to watch as it was to hear.
Demon violinist Aidan's powerful bow work made him sway from side to side while Martin rocked forward in his chair as he pumped that accordion.
However good Lau's performance was, the crowd-pleasing champions on Friday night were Ethno In Transit, playing their second show on England soil.
This large and lively band which included performers from Italy, Estonia, Austria and Chile were a breath of fresh air.
They kicked off with a yodelling chorus, paving the way for a first-rate show which proved that music is a universal language.
A guest spot from north Derbyshire clog dancer Hannah James went down a storm with the audience and showed the versatility of this accomplished performer who had earlier delighted with her vocal-harmony trio Lady Maisery.
Performing only their second show, both of which have been at the parish hall, Lady Maisery resurrected the dying art of diddling which is nothing to do with filling out tax returns and everything to do with singing words like da, da, diddle over tunes.
Of their set, my favourite was their newest offering, the anti-war song Portland Town, in which Hannah's clogging added percussion and emphasis to the emotive song performed by her equally talented cohorts Hazel Askew and Rowan Rheingans.
Kicking off the night, Sheffield trio Skyhook reeled in spectators with awesome violin playing from Cath James and, Eion Teather and the deep, rich vocal talents of guitarist Martin Harwood.
The trio from Sheffield trawled the highlands of Scotland, the lowlands of Holland and visited the coast of Canada in their musical journey through reels and songs.
l The Ashover Well Dressed Folk and Roots Festival review continues next week.
GAY BOLTON
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Chesterfield
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
