MEAN GUITARS AND RECURRING CURRY

I went to the Fairport Convention Cropredy music festival at the weekend – and felt totally inadequate. Why can’t I play a single note of music on any instrument? Why can’t I sing in tune? What a fabulous talent to have.

I went specifically to see Joe Brown (with guest Dave Edmunds) and The Levellers. I was not disappointed.

I’ve never really kept up with Joe Brown since his Bruvvers days, despite rave reviews from two close friends. I guess his cheeky chappie persona and songs such as ‘I’m Enery The Eighff I am’ left me with an image of this plinky-plonky Cockney tunesmith, when I should have been remembering the wonderful ‘Picture Of You’.

Not only does Joe play a mean guitar, he’s also a dab hand with the fiddle – which I never knew.

As for Dave Edmunds … fabulous, powerful guitarist. ‘I Hear You Knocking’ still sends shivers through you.

Then he and Joe got together for some early rock’n’roll stuff. ‘Singing The Blues’ (with me and a fieldful of aging hippies singing along) started the memories; ‘Hello Mary Lou’ almost had me in tears – it has a special meaning for me and my Lovely One, who was back at home, unable to face a night in a tent.

Just as well she wasn't there, really. How would she have reacted to the curry we lads had just before 1a.m. Actually, I do sort of know, because I inadvertently brought a big dollop of it back on my folded-up director’s chair.

It was a ‘Yuuuuuuuuucccccccckkkkkkk!’ that went on longer than Brian Blessed.