After the pantomimes, Christmas shows, brass bands and the odd festive drink or several, a night of traditional music and stories was just the most amazing way to end my year’s reviews and look forward to the big day. The star of the show was Eliza Carthy MBE, who is bona fide folk royalty, her parents being Martin Carthy and Norma Waterson, members of the legendary folk dynasty. Although a multi-instrumentalist, she devoted herself mainly to the violin this evening, as she was joined by some family and friends to create what amounted to a folk supergroup.
She opened the show with a traditional Christmas song which set the scene beautifully, before introducing her first guest, who was to spend most of the evening accompanying her on concertina and vocals, Jon Boden, of Bellowhead. There was a long gap between her announcing his name and him appearing, fashionably late. The pause was sufficient for the audience to be asked to whistle a rendition of Jingle Bells, led by Ms Carthy for two verses.
The wait was well worth it and the evening then continued with I Saw Three Ships, which the two musicians introduced by saying it was supposedly written in Hull, where the three ships were spotted. Whether it was a literal interpretation or not, I have no idea, I always thought the Three Kings arrived in Bethlehem on camels – ships of the desert – rather than disembarking at Hessle and getting cabs, a bit like the Ryanair business model.
The duo turned into a trio with the introduction of Emily Portman of The Furrow Collective who added extra depth, figuratively speaking, as her plaintive tones were sublime. They performed Wintergrace at the behest of Ms Carthy’s mother who spends most of her day on Facebook and had come across this song and fallen in love with it. They started off a cappella before adding instrumentation, beautiful.
The evening was not just music but stories of the Carthy/Waterson Christmases past. The family live on the North Yorkshire Moors between Scarborough and Whitby in a row of buildings with a farm at one end and converted barn at the other, various aunts and siblings live in the middle. Christmas is traditionally spent at the barn where food, drinks and games are enjoyed. The audience was invited to share their reminiscences of the Festive Season, which some of them did. I refrained as the guests, as they arrived were seated on a red sofa, in the manner of Graham Norton so I was afraid that, should the tale of my grandmother and my father’s home brew not being deemed interesting enough, that I would be unceremoniously tipped backward in my seat.
The final two sofa warmers were Marry Waterson and another cousin whose name I am afraid I didn’t catch. I have trawled the internet with no joy, except in that a folk music website which covered the gig didn’t know it either. It is a shame as his bass voice added a richness to the sound.
After working through the programme of wassailing, usually done just after Christmas, festive songs and carols, the mood took a much lighter turn with I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas.
The final song in the well deserved encore was Fairytale of New York. Cover versions, especially of classics such as this, are usually straight copies of the originals, pathetic attempts to add something, or, in this case, a superb interpretation bringing a whole new aspect to the work. Fortunately the folk rendition by Ms Carthy and Mr Boden is available on line so please have a look at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JmStv8g09M Sadly we didn’t have the benefit of the dancers but the performance more than matched up to this video.
Should you wish to experience the concert it was being live streamed and is available at https://www.folkscape.live/
For a list of next year’s gigs by Eliza Carthy please go to https://eliza-carthy.com/gigs
So, that’s it then, another Christmas has arrived and I am so thankful that, for the first time in three years, I got to enjoy the build-up in good health and see some amazing shows.
All that is left to say is ‘Have a wonderful Christmas and a healthy, peaceful and prosperous 2025 – and beyond!
Feature image from Opera North, photographs by Stan Graham.
To check out what is coming to Howard Assembly Room next year please go to https://www.operanorth.co.uk/event-tag/har/ For all Opera North productions it is https://www.operanorth.co.uk/
Tyke It To The Limit 