elvis reunited with downhome music in south london aircraft hangar

Festival New Orleans @ the O2, 25th October

It's understandable that, after the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina two years ago, the State of Louisiana authorities would want to take some measures to give their ailing tourist industry a shot in the arm. This two day festival, laid on free of charge and featuring some big ole New Orleans names--Dr John, Allen Toussaint and Buckwheat Zydeco--drew a huge turn-out. It was just a shame that these three great musicians were consigned to a main stage area which allowed a big crowd to see them but only a small number of people to hear them properly. Drum beats bounced off the curved roof, more than thirty yards from the stage only an echoey gloop was audible...

The O2 prioprietors had clearly not foreseen the possibility that a free festival featuring internationally-renowned musicians would draw a large crowd and consequently failed to provide adequate bar and toilet facilities. (So how did they manage with Led Zeppelin? Oh yes, that's right. They were charging £100+ a ticket for that one.)

There was a good mix of styles though reflecting the varied musical heritage of the Big Easy: I also got to see (and hear, in the more acoustically friendly Indigo2 and Matter venues): Mardi Gras "Indian" dancers (the Hardhead Hunters), a gospel group (the Anointed Jackson Sisters) and some top class New Orleans brass band music (the New Birth).

Few people who, like me, are regulars at free events on the South Bank will not have come across the East End Elvises and, sure enough, they were there too, not only bestowing their general approval on the proceedings but also, invited up on to the stage by Kermit Ruffins, giving full reign to their hip-swinging groin-thrusting moves and almost total lack of rhythmic sense...

As Buckwheat would say "How sweet it is!"

more than just rugby songs

London Community Gospel Choir @ Millfield Theatre, 2nd February

Not everybody's cup of tea maybe but I don't think you have to believe that every word they sing is true to appreciate the emotional investment that these singers make in their music. Not to mention the actual power of some of the singing. There are some great voices here. For me a gospel choir at full throttle is a thing of beauty and, yes, power.

Some songs tonight I don't recognise (including a particularly funky "Happy Are The People"--I looked it up on youtube when I got home). Some I'm more familiar with (I've had a 12" copy of the Winans' version of "Let My People Go" since the eighties). And there are some all-too-familiar songs ("Kum Ba Yah" and "Amazing Grace") although the arrangements were a good deal more sophisticated than our primary school versions where out-of-tune recorders always featured prominently.

And no way would I consider joining in with "Swing Low Sweet Chariot" under normal circumstances but somehow, with the Welsh rugby team turning over the English at Twickenham this afternoon for the first time in twenty years, it somehow felt right...

Usual web links: Wikipedia, youtube, myspace

...and more generally: historical background of Gospel music, some Gospel radio stations

live stuff: overture weekend at southbank centre, 10/7/07

Some good free music to mark the re-opening of the Royal Festival Hall after a £91 million renovation project: some Gospel choirs, singing from the roof of the Queen Elizabeth Hall (the best of which were the Croydon Seventh-Day Adventist Choir--fantastic), Indigo Moss, purveyors of fine Anglo-Americana and the brilliant folk "supergroup" Bellowhead.

Other links:
- "This is tomorrow" - Saint Etienne's film of the renovation project
- BBC News preview of events and other SBC stories
- Billy Bragg's Big Busk
- Catfunt's photos of the "Overture Weekend"
- A NY perspective: account of the Monday's opening gala concert