Review: Book Review - Northern Sky

Subject: Review: Book Review - Northern Sky
From: GUEST,Graham Dixon
Date: 27 Jul 05 - 07:48 AM

NORTHERN SKY
MARK RADCLIFFE
HODDER & STOUGHTON

ISBN: 0340715685
£10:99


After several years away, a sudden violent outburst forces guitar playing, Nick Drake fanatic Edward Beckinsale to resign his position as a University Lecturer and return to his family home and his musical roots. He meets up with his old acquaintances at the Northern Sky Folk Club and is welcomed back to the musical fold, albeit with some justified trepidation about his tendency towards unsociable behaviour which seems to develop after indulging in another of his favourite pastimes – drinking real ale.

The promise of impending record deals and high-profile national media coverage, that should spell fame and fortune for Edward and his 'Folky friends' at Northern Sky, only serves to divide loyalties and cause inevitable back-biting, bickering and envy amongst the group of musical mates

There are two ladies in Ed's life. First of all Jeannie, his attractive but anorexic, Lowden-playing ex girlfriend with whom he desperately wants to rekindle the spark and re-form a duo, not so much musically but sexually. Then there is his dear old mum whose Hilda Baker-like grammatical gaffes made me roar with laughter all the way through the story. (Will someone please tell me where I can buy a pint of 'Theakstons Old Petunia')?

This is the first fictional novel from Radio 2 presenter Mark Radcliffe and reading between the lines I'm certain that his natural love for this genre of music has given him a wealth of material to work with without the need to do too much research into the subject. Any reader involved with Folk Clubs will realise in no time that this 'ex Radio 1 Jock' really knows his stuff. Like the opening chords of any classic folk song the first couple of pages invite you to 'hang on in there' only to be hooked by the promise of more good things to come. Northern Sky is an excellent read. You will recognise the folk club and the regulars therein because it's your folk club and your regulars – wherever you may be.

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