St. Helens on a Sunday afternoon. The weather is changeable, the town itself closed (or more or less) and Victoria square has a stage
constructed to welcome five bands to play over a period of some 8 hours.
There's a fast food wagon, a bar - with a broken bitter tap - and precious little else. It would be good for the area (St.Helens is currently encouraging the development of an arts 'quarter') for this to become a regular event but a little more thought is surely needed.
But, moaning aside, I get to see the two bands I'm here to see and the weather holds out. KATHRYN WILLIAMS, from Liverpool has a lovely voice that manages to hold it's own, just, against a relatively quiet PA and the wind that blusters and at times carries the sound away from the front of the stage. She is accompanied by two musicians, Dave Scott playing subdued but effective guitar and Laura Reid, helping to create texture and depth via either
cello or piano. It was refreshing to see a so called 'folk' artist stretching the boundaries a bit, Kathryn playing electric guitar with a violin bow for example, or the inclusion of a sublime version of Big Star's 'Thirteen'.
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THE COAL PORTERS look dapper in their black suits but somewhat bemused at the relatively small audience. However they deliver an enjoyable set that veers between fairly trad. Bluegrass and a more popularist hybrid of country/folk styles. Ex-Long Ryder Syd Griffin, though centre-stage, doesn't hog the limelight allowing fellow porters to share in singing duties and audience banter, happily strumming away on his mandolin.
Once again the sound struggles, the mic'd up acoustic instruments at times drifting or alternatively causing feedback when too close to the mic. Hank Williams' 'Lost Highway' was given an affectionate and reverential treatment while The Who's 'My Generation' was thrown at us - tongue in cheek - as a slice of pure hokum bluegrass. And a great way to end the set.
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