HUGELY disappointed in this wasted opportunity.

There were no songs from Sussex. If there were whatever was performed was NOT in the old 'from the heart' singing that Shirley Collins frequently proclaims a love for in her various interviews.

The traditional folk songs and music from the Sussex Downs - were not represented in any shape or form - the title of the show was completely misleading - not good.

The Southbank was greatly amiss in NOT stating that Shirley would not be performing in the programmes / publicity (what there was of it) and at the start. Indeed as far as we understood she would not be present at all. However she did make a brief (very) appearance at the very end.

The concert itself - lacking traditional songs - seemed to be all amplified folk-rock from Shropshire - hardly the style of performances that represented Shirley or indeed Sussex. The band performances seemed far too loud as is folk-rock generally - being over-amplified, and with a full drum set, somewhat up-tempo.

I think the traditional pub singers of late 1800s Sussex would be turning over in their respective graves. Copper Family singing style this was not. Nothing from the heart.

The other highly irritating aspect - and one that seems ubiquitous in the folk scene - is the 'mumble.' This is due to the assumption that if a speaking voice is amplified then everyone can hear it clearly. However the introductions and explanations (even a joke or a story) could NOT be heard from the upper half of the Hall due to the appalling acoustics, the over-amplification and the incompetent sound guys. None of the performers asked the audience if they could hear clearly. Why don't folk singers learn diction or public speaking to make themselves clearly heard?

Sam Lee (I think) made a long preamble for over 12 minutes - yet not a word could be understood because he was one of the worst mumblers. It was a total waste of time him being there. The rest of the band were the same - except for John Kirkpatrick.

Oh - and why on earth were there a men's morris team and a women's morris team performing in the show. Morris dancing never was a Sussex folk tradition in the olden days.

All in all this was a missed opportunity to really represent the repertoire of Shirley Collins and Sussex traditional singing.