John Conolly and Pete Sumner performed aboard the Balclutha at Hyde Street Pier in San Francisco last Saturday. This was their first time in the Bay Area.

Their show was excellent. John and Pete were a real treat and if you have an opportunity to see them don't miss it. Good stage presence, very tasteful arrangements and a fine choice of songs and tunes made for a very enjoyable show. John's knowledge and store of tales of the fishing industry in England made his introductions to songs interesting and informative. An added bonus was their playful and often quite funny interaction onstage. They performed without a sound system and I was very impressed when John stopped a song after the first verse and asked Pete, who was doing a very energetic mandolin backup, to play a bit softer so the audience could hear the words of the song.

The duo will be doing one last gig in Northern California at the Adelphian Center for the Arts in Alameda on June 3, from 3-5 in the afternoon. The Adelphian is at 2167 Central, phone (510) 748-8181.

Richard