I saw Davey at the Mossley Festival in the summer, then on tour in Leeds and then at the Lowry. I listen to his old albums all the time and would be a fool to suggest that is performance now can in any favourable way be compared to those classic recordings. However, the man seems in my humble opinion to have to some degree steadily improved over these gigs. Has nobody considered that getting out and playing may be providing meaningfull activity for the guy and thus actually may be a positive experience for him ? Maybe I am naive (though this is not generally a quality attributed to me), but I have read Mark Pavey's words on the website and did not get the impression that he was in any way , the villain of the peace. Was he not initially a fan, then a friend of Davey who is simply trying to help his mate rediscover what he did best and consequently live his life in a more fullfilling manner ? Should Pavey not perhaps be applauded, as opposed to derided ? Could his actions be nothing more or less than alturistic ?

Has anyone heard 'Broken Biscuits' , Davey's new album produced by Pavey ? It is no 'Folk Blues & Beyond', but I don't find it too bad at all ! It is a grower, yep , a little clumsy and wonderfully eclectic as ever Davey was. Give these men a chance!!!