Eddy Morton & The Bushburys at Red Lion Folk Club (Birmingham, UK – Mar 4, 2015)

Also on the bill: Sunjay

Eddy Morton kicked proceedings off for this packed Wednesday night crowd with a short solo introduction set which included the biting social commentary on the plight of ‘ordinary Jack’ in this country with the song ‘Union Jack’. Eddy’s repertoire of song topics are spread far and wide…he’s a travelled man and this is reflected in his songs such as Starlight Rd written on the Isle of Man a few years back and the song ‘Brother Can You Help Me’ about the conservation plight of whales.

Eddy’s set engaged the audience perfectly for the introduction of ‘young gun going for it and armed to the teeth’ Sunjay to the stage. Already well through the front door of the folk and blues scene in this country with a celebrated debut album and nominations over the last three years in such prestigious realms as the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award 2012 and British Blues Award Nominee for 2014. He hits the stage stomping ‘bluesman style’ with a powerful rendition of ‘Love You Like A Man’, he also delivers a lovely rendition of John Martyn’s ‘May You Never’ and oozes a confidence and style with youthful aplomb. Other notable features are covers of Sleepy John Estes ‘Drop Down Momma’, Tom Rush’s ‘No Regrets’ and even a sing a along crowd favourite in Herman’s Hermits ‘Something Tells Me I’m In To Something Good’. He wears his musical style like a fine tailored suit…but they’re all borrowed threads at the moment, that’s not a criticism, it’s more an eager anticipation of the time to come when this young man begins to craft his own, because then his musical suit will be a bespoke one and he’ll be the dandy from head to toe. It was good to see and hear though that he included a couple of covers of Eddy Morton songs alongside the other’s I’ve highlighted…because if you have to steal or borrow then do it from the best and it was a respectful touch that Sunjay gave Eddy an equal profile. Sunjay had the crowd in his hand straight from the off…and his wallet at the end of it with the queue for cds…go and see him…women want to adopt him…great stuff!

Eddy Morton has a new album coming out in April called Rainbow Man…but tonight’s set when he teamed up with The Bushbury’s was a journey over past ground starting with an old favourite ‘Rainy Nights In Birmingham’, swiftly followed with Down On River Street. The line up consisted of Bushbury’s faithful Mickey Barker on drums, Buzby Bywater on bass, Gerry Smith on keyboards and accordion, Lucy Collinge-Hill on violin and Paul Hodson on guitar and mandolin. ‘Trying to Catch The Sun’ was followed by the song Eddy announced was the first song he ever played at the Red Lion many years ago ‘Wild English Rose’.

The solo vocal folk ballad called ‘The Ballad of Albion’ was nailed perfectly by Eddy. Then the crowd was treated to old faves such as London Road, early Bushbury’s classic ‘Town Called Hope’ and ‘Rebecca’s Heart’ from Eddy’s ‘Stourbridge Town’ album. The finale was the Bushbury’s classic take on Donovan’s ‘Colours’ which The Bushbury’s made their own many years ago.

It was a delightful evenings music…and a packed Wednesday night in the Red Lion proving once again to this reviewer that Birmingham and the Black Country’s live music scene is in fine health currently.

Well done all.

Raga Muffin MC    

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