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Yorkshire Evening Post |
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Following something of a dry spell with top group appearances down to a minimum in Leeds and surrounding areas, things are now beginning to look decidedly brighter. Last time The Pentangle performed at Leeds Town Hall they had a full house so if you want to see them again on Tuesday Oct 6, I should get a ticket now. The group’s tour begins on September 26 at London’s Royal Albert Hall followed by a rather hectic 18 dates in a month, and luckily Leeds is included. The Pentangle comprising guitarists Bert Jansch and John Renbourn, singer Jaqui McShee, bassist Danny Thompson and drummer Terry Cox are making October their big month, and in more ways than one. Indoor Group. The tour signals the end of The Pentangle as an open air festival attraction. The group have never liked playing big festivals, and the subtleties and contrasts in their folk-jazz music really demand the acoustics of halls Apart from the pressures of the coming tour the group will be in the recording studios on Thursday and Friday this week. Their new album is scheduled for release in October, and should be on sale shortly after the Town Hall date. “Evening with the Pentangle” is how the group’s appearances are billed. John Renbourn, surely one of Britain’s best guitarists has a solo album, as yet untitled, for release later this month, and October (again) brings a solo L.P. from Jansch to add to his past glories. Contrast. But sure to provide a stunning contrast to Pentangle’s easy going “evening” will be another Town Hall offering on Thursday, October 1, from Emerson Lake and Palmer, three musicians who, on the strength of one performance so far have indicated they will be a force to be reckoned with in 1971. The group’s recent debut at the Isle of Wight left me shivering in my sleeping bag and convinced that organist Keith Emerson’s previous outings with The Nice had been nothing more than tea parties. I exaggerate of course, but there is no doubt that Emerson is playing with astonishing skill; that drummer Carl Palmer suits him better than Blinky Davidson of The Nice; and that the Moog Synthesiser - it’s a musical instrument - makes a frightening difference. Anyway, hear it for yourself. Quality. Another up and coming band, also with a synthesiser, is Hawkwind, one of a series of quality recording groups lined up to appear at a small, but powerful little establishment in Leeds known as Threshold, every Sunday night, at The Phonograph Club in the Merrion centre. Threshold organiser Stu Frais, having completed a brave venture into the heart of London’s pop world, can now announce appearances by Hawkwind, Bubastis, Skin Alley and High Tide at the club. All these bands have albums out, and all are being noticed. Last night Cochise - who starred at a recent open-air concert in Leeds and have a beautiful album on sale at present - played the club to much appreciation. Keep up the good work Threshold. |