Just Saw Martin Carthy in Toronto

Subject: Just Saw Martin Carthy in Toronto
From: Susanl
Date: 20 Oct 03 - 02:56 AM

I just got home from seeing Martin Carthy at the Flying Cloud in Toronto. It was the first time I ever saw him perform live. It was the greatest live music I've seen in a long time. What a great musician and singer and most importantly, what a bunch of great songs! I'm sure many of you have already experienced his live show, but for anyone who hasn't, make it a point to be there next time he's in your town.

Subject: RE: Just Saw Martin Carthy in Toronto
From: alanabit
Date: 20 Oct 03 - 03:58 AM

He's alright, inne? I thought he was a straight talking, good bloke too. I hope he comes round my way again.

Subject: RE: Just Saw Martin Carthy in Toronto
From: Willie-O
Date: 20 Oct 03 - 07:06 AM

A most unassuming brilliance, which lets him actually inhabit the songs he sings. Remarkable. Wish he'd come to Ottawa on this tour.

W-O

Subject: RE: Just Saw Martin Carthy in Toronto
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 20 Oct 03 - 09:04 AM

Susanl - Do you remember some of the songs and tunes. It would be great to see a list of what you remember he did. Look at thread:   M. Carthy /Pawling Thurs   for a list of some of the things he did last week . He is brillient ! all the best Guy

Subject: RE: Just Saw Martin Carthy in Toronto
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Oct 03 - 09:34 AM

Why does no one ever think to tour EAST of Montreal....we like music down here in Nova Scotia. I would LOVE to see Martin Carthy.

Subject: RE: Just Saw Martin Carthy in Toronto
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Oct 03 - 10:49 AM

He's coming to St Johns in Nov, but I wish to goodness he'd come to Corner Brook as well.

Subject: RE: Just Saw Martin Carthy in Toronto
From: GUEST,James
Date: 20 Oct 03 - 01:02 PM

Does anyone know if he is planning to come to Nova Scotia. Do you know the november date and where in St. Johns ?

Subject: RE: Just Saw Martin Carthy in Toronto
From: Bassic
Date: 20 Oct 03 - 01:28 PM

Looking at the tour dates in this link it looks like you have missed him. Sorry Guest.

Subject: RE: Just Saw Martin Carthy in Toronto
From: Susanl
Date: 20 Oct 03 - 03:42 PM

Sorry Guy. I couldn't find the thread based on the thread name you gave me. I'm sure I'd recognize the titles of many of the songs if I could see them. The only title I remember is Wanton Brown. It was fabulous. But so was everything else he sang. It's hard to know where to begin and I'd only be guessing at the titles. I'm new to so much of this music. I remember listening to an album of his over and over many years ago and hadn't heard him again until last night. He didn't play any of the songs from that album. I still can't believe that I got to see a show that good for twenty bucks. It was really something.

Subject: RE: Just Saw Martin Carthy in Toronto
From: okthen
Date: 20 Oct 03 - 05:17 PM

Hi Susan is the one Guy is refering to, and this
should be my attempt to inform Ontarians about Martin Carthy's Canadian tour, next time I'll put his name in the title.

Subject: RE: Just Saw Martin Carthy in Toronto
From: okthen
Date: 20 Oct 03 - 05:21 PM

OOOOOOPS, try this

Subject: RE: Just Saw Martin Carthy in Toronto
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 20 Oct 03 - 05:43 PM

Othen thanks . I have your box packed and will send it out tomarrow as a thank you for getting me to the show ! Bless the old Mudcat ! Here is the list BOLDRENARD wrote in that thread. His memory was so much sharper then mine. !
         A partial play list would include Hard Times of Old England, Clyde's Water (The Drowned Lovers), Prince Heathen, Skewball, Jackie Tar, Georgie, Hamlet (?), and the Morris tunes Cuckoo's Nest and Princess Royal. I forgot my pen and paper also. so there are many others I have forgotten. Really a great show.
       All the best to all here, Guy

Subject: RE: Just Saw Martin Carthy in Toronto
From: okthen
Date: 20 Oct 03 - 05:57 PM

Cheers Guy, I look forward to it, shame I couldn't persuade more Canadian 'catters to see him, (their loss maybe)'till we meet on the threads...........
Strikes me there's a song there
"Meet on the threads
We're gonna meet on the threads
Once it's been posted
It all comes 'round again"
I'll get me coat.........

Subject: RE: Just Saw Martin Carthy in Toronto
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Oct 03 - 09:34 PM

Here's a song list from last night at the Flying Cloud / Tranzac – I think it's complete but I couldn't identify 2 tunes:

Hard Times of Old England
The New Mown Hay
Lofty Tall Ship (Henry Martin)
Sir Patrick Spens
Bold McCarthy
The Cuckoo's Nest (Morris tune – instrumental)
Young Morgan
Georgie
Rufford Park Poachers
Swaggering Boney (instr.)

Jim Jones (Botany Bay)
?? (instrumental)
Hamlet (request)
Perfumes of Arabia
Royal Lament (instr.)
The Lochmaben Harper (the one about Wanton Brown)
The Jolly Little Tailor (Whitby version)
Famous Flower of Serving Men (request)
Heroes of Saint Valéry / Seige of Delhi (instr., request)
The Devil and the Feathery Wife
The Foggy Dew
?? (instrumental)

===

Yes, a wonderful evening! He's a terrific performer, what Willy-O and the rest of you said. I hadn't heard The Jolly Little Tailor before, nor The Lochmaben Harper, both excellent. Also enjoyed his stories and info about the songs. I thought he seemed more animated, maybe less tired, than when he played in Toronto with Waterson Carthy last year, especially good in the second set.

Okthen, it was a full house I think (about 150?) – with no tables and no leg room. If you persuade any more people to come please arrange for a bigger venue ;)

Subject: RE: Just Saw Martin Carthy in Toronto
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 20 Oct 03 - 09:50 PM

Great great news thank you Guest ! and thanks for the list . Very helpful for the old brain cells. THanks!!! Guy

Subject: RE: Just Saw Martin Carthy in Toronto
From: delphinium
Date: 20 Oct 03 - 10:17 PM

Oops, Guest 9:34 pm was me. I also find lists very helpful (got a mind like a steel seive).

The full house was despite the fact that many folkies were still away at the Ontario Council of Folk Festivals conference. But just joking about the bigger venue, we really like it smaller.

Subject: RE: Just Saw Martin Carthy in Toronto
From: GUEST,JohnB
Date: 21 Oct 03 - 09:55 AM

Second row from the front, Bloody Marvelous.
The last tune was another Morris tune, forget which now, Princess Royal ???
Famous Flower of Serving Men, live, right there in front of me, one of those died and gone to Heaven things.
NO MORE TALK of this bigger venue stuff OK.
JohnB.

Subject: RE: Just Saw Martin Carthy in Toronto
From: boldreynard
Date: 21 Oct 03 - 10:21 AM

I'm glad to hear there were so many attending the show you saw. It seems a shame that such a talent should play to audiences of under 30 people. Economically speaking, I don't know how either venue or performer can get by on an audience of 15 or 20.

Subject: RE: Just Saw Martin Carthy in Toronto
From: GUEST,Ballyholme
Date: 21 Oct 03 - 10:30 AM

I caught MC at both his gigs in Virginia where he performed several songs not on the Flying Cloud list. Two were songs from Northern Ireland (The Doffing Mistress and Eddie Butcher's Heather Down the Moor), Mike Waterson's A Stitch in Time and Bill Norrie.

Subject: RE: Just Saw Martin Carthy in Toronto
From: GUEST,steve wenderby "Corns of Salt"
Date: 28 Jan 04 - 07:35 AM

The man himself came to the Green Man Folk club at "The Golden Pot" Hampshire, England back in November. Very relaxed and considering he had come straight from a London Hospital visiting a close relative, very professional and commited to his art. Under the circumstances we would have quite understood if he had cancelled. To his credit he played a blinder.
Top Man!!

Subject: RE: Just Saw Martin Carthy in Toronto
From: GUEST,Rain Dog
Date: 28 Jan 04 - 07:39 AM

I saw the title on this thread and got a little worried.

I am hoping to see Martin Carthy in Faversham, England tonight. I thought he was going to have be travelling fairly quickly to get from Toronto to Faversham.

Subject: RE: Just Saw Martin Carthy in Toronto
From: HUGH JAMPTON
Date: 28 Jan 04 - 08:02 AM

Let us hope this promised "blizzard" is not going to put a spanner in the wheel. We are told supermarkets have been cleared of tinned soups
and all sorts, folks believing we are in for a tough time. Can we not cope with normal January English weather without making a drama out of it? Anyway, even struggling through the snow and frost will still be worth it.

Subject: RE: Just Saw Martin Carthy in Toronto
From: VIN
Date: 28 Jan 04 - 08:17 AM

Hi folks, If you get a chance to see Martin with his family i.e. Waterson/Carthy you'll be in for a treat! First saw Martin (with Dave Swarbrick) at the Manchester Sports Guild (England) in the late 60's (i think) and he was brill then (both of em were). His knowledge, singing/guitar style and, above all, approachableness makes him, in my opinion, one of the all times greats on the world world 'folk' scene!
Ok Martin reckon you owe me a pint for that.

Subject: RE: Just Saw Martin Carthy in Toronto
From: GUEST,Hugh Jampton
Date: 29 Jan 04 - 05:45 AM

Contrary to my foolhardy words, I couldn`t beat the snow last night and get to Faversham. Did the night go ahead as planned?

Subject: RE: Just Saw Martin Carthy in Toronto
From: Moses
Date: 29 Jan 04 - 07:22 AM

Martin played St Albans a few weeks back (Wandering "Windward")in the church hall opposite the King Harry;- after the bellringers had finished practising.(A night not to be forgotten for several reasons)

Great evening - good songs - and, to his additional credit, he sat and listened to all the floor spots and looked as if he was enjoying it.

Lovely Man!

If you get the chance, go and see him.

Subject: RE: Just Saw Martin Carthy in Toronto
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 29 Jan 04 - 09:46 AM

Yes, but did MC get to Faversham? Like Guest Hugh, I started off but realised it was unlikely I could get back, so scared are English train drivers by a bit of snow.

He's always like that at clubs. I suppose he remembers what it was like way back when he began himself. An all-round good guy who always has time to explain a source or a tuning.

Subject: RE: Just Saw Martin Carthy in Toronto
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 02 Feb 04 - 10:09 AM

I first heard Martin at Hamstead Folk Club ("The Enterprise") in the early 60s when he was with "The Thamesiders". I subsequently heard him with "Three City Four", then solo, and then with Swarb, all at the same venue - but then he only lived just up the road in those days.

After he released his first album with Swarb it was difficult to go into any folk club in the country without hearing at least a couple of the songs from it.

Subject: RE: Just Saw Martin Carthy in Toronto
From: GUEST,Rain Dog
Date: 05 Feb 04 - 06:56 AM

Yes Martin Carthy made Faversham ok on Wednesday 28th. He arrived there by car at approx 19.00 hours despite the snow.

The snow did cause delays to the trains and cars.Made a lot worse at the end of the show when it all kindly turned into ice. Making you have to tale small and careful steps on the way home.

Show was enjoyable and he seemed in good form. Finished up at 23.10.
They had a number of guest singers on during the show. Personally I could have done with less of them and more of Martin Carthy. Each to his own I guess

It was my first time at a Folk Club and I found the people to be friendly. Spent some time chatting with an American who had made his way down from London to see the gig. He had to leave early to get his train back. I just hope that it was running then.