Way To Blue: Songs of Nick Drake Warwick Arts Centre, 23 January 2010 This near full to capacity show was the finale of the brief Way to Blue tour, which had touched down in Glasgow, Brighton and London in the previous 4 days. The tour’s intention was for a number of artists to pay homage to folk icon, Nick Drake and for those unlucky enough to have caught Nick live in his tragically short life (very few by all accounts) to also show their appreciation. The audience featured predominantly the middle-aged and the bearded. With Joe Boyd as compere, the evening featured a musical backdrop of seven piece string section, drums and percussion, piano, clarinet, acoustic and electric guitar, and double bass, provided by legendary Island Records stalwart, Danny Thompson. Taking turns with vocal duties were Vashti Bunyan, Green Gartside, Lisa Hannigan, Scott Matthews, Teddy Thompson, Krystle Warren, Robyn Hitchcock, Kirsty Almeida and Neil MacColl. A show of two halves, where the first half was solo lead vocalists, and the second, duets or combos. Some tunes sounded just like re-vocalised versions of the original recordings but some gave them a fresh face. More sensitivity could have been paid to Vashti Bunyan’s quiet delivery as the backing slightly overwhelmed it. Part 1 Highlights: Robin Hitchcock’s “The Parasite” truly emulated the thunder of London and it’s underground network with its psychedelic effects (akin to his matching polka dot shirt and guitar). Scott Matthews stretched himself with his soulful, strummed “Place to Be”. Lisa Hannigan’s “Chime of a City Clock” with her breathy delivery stole the show. Danny Thompson delivered a magnificent bass improvisation around “One of These Things First”. Part 2 Highlights: Following Joe Boyd’s tribute to Robert Kirby and anecdote about meeting Nick Drake’s mother, Molly and uncovering her songs, Vashti Bunyan performed Molly’s “I Remember, You Remember” with her usual delicacy (her extreme close mic-ing meant you could even hear her lips sticking to her teeth!). Krystle Warren’s baritone, powerful A cappella was out and out cool. The second half was slightly less rewarding than the first but all in all a memorable night – albeit some memories for the wrong reason: Teddy Thompson’s embarrassing flapping dad dance and Green Gartside’s elfishness. Willsk. Next