Magazine: Stephen Foster's GIGS OF THE YEAR 2011

THE STRAITS  - Regent Theatre, Ipswich – Thursday, October 13

No sign of Mark Knopfler of course but his absence didn’t matter one little  bit. Keyboards player Alan Clark and saxophonist Chris White flew the flag for the latter day line-up of Dire Straits and this was a far more satisfying gig than the last time the Sultans of Swing played Ipswich. A faultless evening of pure class. If they come back do not miss them!

BELLOWHEAD  - Corn Exchange, Ipswich – Thursday, November 10

Having closed their 2010 UK tour in Ipswich they chose to open their 2011 one at the same place and it was every bit as good. The Corn Exchange acoustics lend themselves perfectly to Jon Boden’s wonderfully eccentric project and the place was packed for a multi-award winning act who have raised the bar for modern day roots music by several notches. 

NEWTON FAULKNER – Haughley Park Barn – Saturday, February 26

A great opportunity to catch a big star in intimate surroundings. This was a high profile fundraiser for the John Peel Centre For Creative Arts and Newton, who’d only just become a father for the first time, was in outstanding form. His show-stopping rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody was pure genius. 

TEDDY THOMPSON – The Junction, Cambridge – Tuesday, February 15

The son of folk great Richard Thompson, Teddy has many of the musical attributes of his famous father but is very much his own man. In spite of a string of fine albums and his work on the soundtrack of the hit movie Brokeback Mountain Teddy’s star isn’t shining as brightly as it should which on the evidence of this magnificent night of well-crafted pop songs is a travesty.

JIM JONES REVUE – The Apex, Bury St Edmunds – Friday, August 12

A garage punk band with more than a twist of rock’n’roll. Whoever mixed their sound in The Apex didn’t cover himself in glory but the sheer energy of the group’s performance was a sight to behold even if the sound wasn’t! Not the obvious place for this kind of gig and not full by any means but at the end of the evening I drove back to Ipswich delighted to have caught a group with the musicianship to match their swagger.

IMELDA MAY -  UEA, Norwich – Wednesday, February 9

Success has been a long time coming from the artist formerly known as Imelda Clabby. This Dublin lass has grabbed her chance with both hands and her perseverance is to be admired. This was a date on her Mayhem tour and backed by a superb band including her husband Darrell Higham Imelda was in fine voice.

The best moments were undoubtedly the rockabilly tracks which more than made up for a drop in tempo midway through the set.

ROGER CHAPMAN AND THE SHORTLIST – Abbey Gardens, Bury St Edmunds – Sunday, July 24

The ex-Family frontman and his trusty colleagues were the opening act on a bill headlined by Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings and one which also featured Rick Wakeman and The Strawbs. Roger has lost none of the bite which made him a force to be reckoned with on the 1970s rock scene. His colourful language may have caught some by surprise but for those us who’ve admired the man’s music for decades it was all part of a show we’ve come to love. I’ve always been a sucker for Burlesque (if you follow my drift).     

SHAKATAK – New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich- Friday, November 11

What a treat for lovers of smooth jazz and funk. The original line-up which brought us hits like Night Birds and Easier Said Than Done played their first Ipswich show since their heyday and brought the house down. They aren’t the most fashionable of bands but who cares? When the musicianship is as good as theirs it doesn’t matter what era they’re from. A lesson in giving the audience exactly what they’d come to hear.

DR FEELGOOD – The Manor Ballroom, Ipswich – Friday, November 4

When you’ve seen the Feelgoods as many times as I have you think you know what’s coming and for the most part I did. However, for their first Ipswich gig for a couple of years the modern day line-up, which has now been together far longer than any previous incarnation, the group revisited the second Dr Feelgood album, Malpractice, for a rollicking rendition of Rolling & Tumbling. It was a master class in slide guitar by Steve Walwyn and  a reminder why I love this band in particular and the blues in general.

BOO HEWERDINE – Arts Centre, Colchester – Monday, December 12

One of the UK’s finest singer-songwriters was certainly at the top of his game on his latest visit to the Colchester Arts Centre. His dry sense of humour kept us all amused between numbers while the songs themselves were a joy to behold. This was very much a career overview with an ELO cover thrown in for good measure. Check out his new album with American bluesman Brooks Williams.