NICK HARPER – 58 Fordwych Rd – review

NICK HARPER – 58 Fordwych Rd. review
Sangraal

Christ, I’m old. I still think of Nick Harper as young fella, m’lad. But then I remember that I was a young fella, m’lad when I first saw him play. On stage with his Da. What? Thirty five years ago? Good grief. Used to be a regular at his Edinburgh shows. Usually in converted churches. I remember taking a young lass to the charmingly named Southside Community Centre (formerly Nicolson Street Church, built 1820) many decades ago. She was very impressed with his finger picking. Less so with mine.

Although I always favoured the Saint Stephen’s Theatre (former church, built 1827). Not just because I like the nearby Baillie Bar. Hang on. Off to Google what happened to it after that Rockstar North fella bought it, promised the Earth, then dumped it. All clear, panic over. Ballet chap bought it, and it’s now home to the Edinburgh Festival Ballet and its School, having been converted into two theatres. Well done.

Where were we? Oh, yes. Nick Harper has a new album out. Blimey! Recorded live at The Jazz Bar, Edinburgh. Thought that had went bust. Hang on. Oh, right, it did. Thought so. So that established in 2005 nonsense is, um, nonsense. Fair play, though, it’s now a a Community Interest Company (CIC) run by former staff members. Good job, lads. Although I doubt I’d manage the stairs these days. Christ knows how I managed back in the days of 3am departures.

Where were we? Oh, yes. Nick Harper has a new album out. A tribute to the mid-1960s London flat in Kilburn, where his father, the singer-songwriter Roy Harper, and his wife Mocy hosted an after-hours hangout for legendary folk musicians like Bert Jansch, Davy Graham, John Renbourn, Paul Simon, Marc Bolan, and Sandy Denny, Nick turned into a Fringe show, before taking it round the world. Ish.

So, as the bit above suggests this features songs from Bert Jansch, Davy Graham, Jackson C Frank, Sandy Denny, some fella called Roy Harper and others. You can’t really go wrong with that sort of thing. Not when you’re an accomplished musician like Harper Secundus.

He’s a remarkable guitarist and really brings these old chestnuts to life. His voice has also matured over the years, and even though life is catching up with us all, that can, sometimes, be a good thing for a singer. It’s a very enjoyable experience, one for the three remaining people who are still alive from those days, and those of us who wish we were.

It’s quite a short album, musically, although the music only version is bolstered by a couple of bootleg recordings. As well as the plain CD, there’s a full show CD, with him chundering on in-between songs, and vinyl.

https://harperspace.com/