Live Reviews

Local reviews from gigs in West Wales

Gig: Social Forum Cymru at The Coopers Arms, Aberystwyth

Artists: Caroline Aiken with Bill Fleming

+ Namaste

Date: Saturday 29th April 2006

Reviewed By: Harry Rogers, Wild West Wales (web editor)

CAroline Aiken

This event was superb by anybody's reckoning. What more could Social Forum Cymru ask for as an opening night for their conference programme entertainment? I just knew it was going to be special when Caroline Aiken was getting applause for the pre gig sound check. At first the room was only around a third full when Caroline took the stage with her 12-string guitar. This renowned singer songwriter from Atlanta Georgia opened her first set with a mesmerising instrumental which immediately had the audience sitting up and paying attention, they were made aware that here was a quality performer and this showed in their response. However, once Caroline started singing she had them eating out of her hand. Make no mistake about it this is a seriously good vocalist in the tradition of Bonnie Raitt (who she later reveals is a personal friend). She sang a selection of songs from her latest Grammy nominated album "Are We There Yet Mama?" all of which showcased her voice and guitar perfectly. She plays a very nice semi acoustic Fender Stratocaster as well as the 12 string, and her sheer stage presence and playing made it hard to believe that she was performing solo. This music is just something else, warm love songs with a hint of bitter sweet, she is just lovely. Then half way into the set she reminded us why the gig was happening in the first place with a frank introduction into her views on the way in which big business coupled up with a corrupt administration are raping the Alaskan landscape in the pursuit of oil, and the link between this and the illegal war in Iraq and this led into a great song "We're Having A War" which just blew the whole audience away. It is so comforting to see that there are large numbers of American people who are just as incensed by what Bush and Blair have done as most of the people over this side of the pond are. She let us know in no uncertain terms that these crooks in power are a complete embarrassment to her. For the last two numbers of the set she was joined by legendary Pedal Steel Guitar player Bill Fleming. The album title track "Are We There Yet Mama?" was simply sublime with Bill filling in some beautiful slide parts between the vocals and these two friends from Atlanta Georgia had the whole audience whooping with joy, absolutely a top drawer performance by an incredible artist. You can Google her website and find out where to buy her albums and I recommend you do.



After a short break local six piece band Namaste took the stage and when they started playing it was clear that here was the perfect accompaniment for Caroline. The guitar, bass, sax and congas line up with two young women vocalists playing a mixture of Rock, Blues, Jazz, Country, World music was just perfect and crowd were well pleased, as was I. The stand out song for me is rousing latin rock song called "Barcelona", this should not be confused with the well known TV football anthem this was enhanced by the addition of Bill Fleming and his pedal steel guitar again. Bill is some player, he is totally at home playing in almost any musical genre and this has given him a great reputation amongst the musicians in and around Aberystwyth. He is no spring chicken and I know he commands great respect in the South London music scene where he has spent some time over the last few years working with an eclectic range of musicians pulling together CD albums along the way. He is currently working on a music CD project with musicians from West Wales and Atlanta Georgia recorded in part at Red Kite studios and in part in Atlanta which should be released on Wild West Wales Records later this year. Back to Namaste with their superb mix of musicianship and sultry hypnotic vocals from the beautiful Kate Billingsly up front well supported by Annie Fermanagh. This band are just knockout and I hope to see them later this year at an outside event.



Namaste come off stage and Caroline and Bill come back for a second set and very quickly Caroline calls the guitarist, bass and conga players from Namaste up to play with her and Bill on an absolutely stunning version of the old Traffic number "Forty Thousand Headmen". This is a perfect vehicle for Caroline's hauntingly wistval vocal and some tremendous playing by all. Next up comes the Little Feat classic "Dixie Chicken" which gets the whole audience singing along. After that everybody is on there feet and the whole plays has turned into boogie land, and Caroline is majestic at leading everybody in dancing for good half an hour. Then she calls Kate Billingsly up to duet with her on Bonnie Raitt's "Angel From Montgomery" which turns into one of those electrifying experiences that are only born out of serendipity. Caroline encouraged Kate to really show what she can do and her voice transported us all into the stratosphere, it was truly great to see such a fabulously experienced artist as Caroline Aiken truly is bringing a young talent into the forefront of public attention. As the gig finished I knew that we had all witnessed a great show. I can't wait for Caroline to come back this way again and I definitely recommend everyone to catch the excellent Namaste as soon as you can. As for Bill Fleming?.....watch this space we will be bringing you his Welsh American collaberation/compilation CD "From Ear To Ear" later this year on Wild West Wales Records.



Harry Rogers

Wild West Wales Reviews

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