Chris Leslie gig.

An impromptu gig at The Song Loft in Stony Stratford tonight. Trawling the interweb net thing I discovered Chris Leslie ( he of Fairport Convention & St Agnes Fountain) was touring and doing a gig at The Cock Inn at Stony Stratford  a mere 15 miles away.
Tickets ordered a few days beforehand, we travelled up and retired to the bar until the Song Loft ( the local folk club) opened the doors. A pint of Old Speckled Hen for me & shandy for Tara helped while away the time. Also got talking to a nice couple from Northampton.
Filed into the hall & was surprised to get seats right down the front, it wasn't a big place, probably held about 50 or so people.
Its the 40th anniversary of the Song Loft & we heard a little of the history, Chris Leslie was the big finish to their anniversary year, then the support act came on, a very good singer called Zoe Wren. She was very young ( or am I showing my age!?) and a brilliant guitarist and song writer. A very pleasant voice as well. She did about six songs, all of her own composition bar one that was a Fairport song which the name of escapes me! We liked her so much that we brought her CD as well!
Chris Leslie came on straight after Zoe & what a performance he put on! He is an absolutely brilliant musician and what's more he also seems like a very self effacing and nice man.
He played a four string guitar, a normal six string, also a violin and a Hardanger violin finishing his encore with a uke!
He just makes the instruments sing and has a very good voice as well, though I didn't realise how high he sings until we were invited to join  in some of the chorus's!
He played a mixture of traditional folk songs, songs he has written ( a few off the Fairport album 'Myths and Heroes') and some tunes from the Breton region of France which appears to be an area he and his family like. We also got a few stories to introduce some of the songs including one about Morris Dancers. He lives in the village of Adderbury in Oxfordshire & dances for one of the three Morris sides in the village.
It was a great evening and ended all too soon. It was a very warm and friendly little gig, I'd go again!

The stage is set.

Zoe Wren

Bod from the Song Loft who's name escapes me.

Chris Leslie tuning his violin

and playing the guitar.