Reviews

This year's first official Vale Earth Fair fundraising event started where the Earth Fair left off last year by presenting the assembled throng in Pieces Bar with a varied selection of music both local and from the UK.

Damo.

First up on stage was Damo, one of the members of Fly Casual, who, armed solely with a voice and an acoustic guitar, proceeded to provide a relaxed start to the evening.

Though he only played a short set the quality of Damo's musicianship and song writing was evident throughout, at times evoking the laid back moments of 'Make Yourself' and 'Morning View' era Incubus and the gentler parts of Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly's output.

Though his set was short, Damo also proved to have the talent to keep an audience interested even though he was only one man with one instrument, which is no mean feat and proves the quality of his songs.

Following Damo came the first of the evening's visitors in the form of Roxy Johns, once again with only one instrument, this time a piano, she also proved that this simple mode of performance can indeed be captivating.

Roxy Johns.

Sounding something like a less whiny Alanis Morissette crossed with the lighter end of Amanda Palmer's (of The Dresden Dolls) work Roxy was something of a unique thing for a Guernsey gig, in that she was a solo artist with a piano who wasn't just performing 'muzak' in the corner of a restaurant.

This too goes to show how what has become something of a forgotten instrument in the world of pop and rock, a simple piano (without any fancy synthesisers), and a voice, can still have strength and remain compelling listening. Though tonight it seemed some members of the audience may have switched off during her set, I for one thought it enchanting throughout.

Next up things started to take a turn for the more upbeat and surreal as Toupé front man, and stand up comic, Grant Sharkey took his place behind the piano. Playing through a set of comedic numbers, the titles to most of which I could not post here, Grant really grabbed the audience which by this time was almost filling the bar to capacity.

Grant Sharkey.

A common criticism of musicians that try and be funny is that they don't have the music to back it up, here Grant Sharkey proves such evaluation wrong, as, not only is he hilarious both during and between songs, but he has the music to back it up. Mixing soul and funk to great effect, much like he does with Toupé, Grant's music tonight would have sounded appropriate being accompanied by straight lyrics as much as it did with his comedic observations about the audience's mothers.

At times Grant's jokes seemed like they could become a little too insular to members of the crowd but as a majority of people were laughing, this didn't seem to be the case, and he provided the perfect bridge between the more relaxed solo work of the two previous artists and the semi-acoustic funk rock explosion that was soon to follow.

It wasn't only Grant who aided this segue however as DJ Oneofakind was on the decks between all the live performers spinning a suitable and very dance-y mix of soul, funk and lighter hip hop which succeeded in keeping the audience interested while equipment was being moved and set up.

Chaddlebuck Benson gets Irish.

Finally taking to the stage was the semi-acoustic variant of The Bensons, Big Bad Bensons' Little Johnson. Making their way into the venue lead by the strains of a penny whistle and in 'traditional' Irish dress to mark the day, this incarnation of the band seems to exhibit the same sense of style and adventure as when they play a full electric show.

In fact the only real difference is that Larry Barry and Chaddlebuck play acoustic guitars and Barney-Boy plays a drum kit made from buckets and cardboard (something that really has to be seen to be believed).

Playing a selection of tunes from the record 'Tardrobe Wardis' along with a few other classics and a new tune The Bensons got a large number of the audience in the now jam packed Pieces Bar dancing to their funky rhythms.

The set's real highlights came in the form of 'El Rocco' (tonight re-titled O'Reilly) and 'Turbo Funk' with new song 'Chinese Burn' receiving a warm reception too.

Larry-Barry Benson.

The band's set came to a somewhat inauspicious end as Larry Barry's guitar gave up mid encore but until that point the band were on fire, as even if this wasn't their slickest ever show, they still retained the sense of fun, and the great tunes, that has made them true favourites on the scene.

With tonight marking the start of the build up to this year's Vale Earth Fair at the end of August, things look as promising as ever. If the VEF Collective can keep up this level of quality performers and attendance this year's fair should surpass even the glories of recent years.