Thanks (very much) to Proper Music, I experienced Jon Boden’s new musical incarnation live at the Maltings. I was a bit apprehensive, as the last time I’d seen him was being very bawdy indeed at the QEH. This seems altogether a more serious enterprise. The Maltings is a vast barn, and I wish it had been more full. It took the first half for the audience to warm up.

No denying that it was a different atmosphere, much more sober and thoughtful - but utterly absorbing. Whatever one thinks of concept albums, this work is convincing - a truly interesting conceit to write the songs that a future generation has almost forgotten and are to be their solace in desolation. Overflowing with musical ideas, and with lyrics more convincing in performance than on the page, this is wonderful stuff. JB plays guitar mostly, and it roots him to the spot, which means that the wildly theatrical performance style is somewhat curbed - a different sort of drama. I was intrigued to hear some of the Painted Lady material adapted for live performance. I wondered how such a variety of sounds and orchestral mixtures could be made to work, but the arrangements were very effective. The Remnant Kings provided fantastic support, with Sam Sweeney somehow managing to play fiddle and percussion separately and together - virtuoso stuff! What a great ensemble performance it was.