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REVIEWS
- Duncan 'solo' & the DMcF Band
All our 'live performance' reviews are here - a lot of reading! -
please use the scroll bar for navigation - cheers!
Reviews of our CDs are on the CD page (attached to each
individual CD)
- though we must say
here....Our new album makes top reviewer Colin Randall's Top Ten Albums of
2007!!!
We are proud to be included in his list at ....http://www.salutlive.com/2007/12/promises-made-a.html#more
his actual review at....http://www.salutlive.com/2007/12/the-duncan-mcfa.html
Colin Randall spent nearly 28 years working for the Telegraph and is
an admired critic and reviewer. He has just posted his verdict on
the McFs splendid album: Congratulations Duncan. To get a verdict
like that from Colin Randall is high praise indeed.
Sir Robert
Peel – Longdogs Forum
We also made it into the ‘top ten album list for 07’ at
rootsmusic.co.uk
Some
snippets from the reviews of 'All Rogues & Villains' (see full
reviews on the CD page)
Powerful, dynamic, engaging and exciting. Strong guitar, good vocals
and a tight, driving band.
Excellent selection of songs, too. I will certainly be recommending
it to all our listeners.
-
FolkCast.com
A
definitive piece of English folk rock, the band deliver a finely
crafted performance mixing traditional songs, incisive lyrics and
talented musicianship. These are traditional songs given the DMcF
treatment - roaring guitar riffs, magnificent melodeon breaks and
sniping fiddle, with solid drum and bass to power through the songs.
This is what English folk-rock deserves to be, combining a keen
understanding of tradition welded to cutting-edge rock The depth of
tradition driven by modern folk rock treatments. A masterpiece of
the genre –
Folkwords.com
The sort of timeless English folk-rock that’s all too rare these
days, a rocking collection of traditional and original songs with a
very English feel –
Dirty Linen, USA
Also.....some snippets from various reviews of our 'Woodshed Boys'
CD (see full reviews on the CD page).....
Dirty Linen - The USA’s magazine of folk and world music (#113,
August/September ’04)
fRoots magazine, June 04 issue and from
Shreds & Patches (Issue 31) Folk Arts Magazine for in & around
Shropshire
The best snippets from all three . . . . . . .
The world can always use more good English folk-rock and this is
loud, fast music, based on the rhythms of
English country dance music with sharp-edged electric guitar leads,
electric fiddle, and gutsy, gritty singing.
The power chords in the traditional nautical tale ‘Bring ‘Em Down’
crash like surf on rocks
There’s a strong rocking arrangement of Nic Jones’ version of ‘Canadee-i-o’,
plus potent instrumental sets
like the ‘Twohey Step’ with duelling electric guitar and fiddle as
leads.
What we have here is essentially what used to be called folk-rock
with a distinctive English feel to it..........
There’s no distribution agreement as yet (which is a bit
surprising)..................
..........the band hangs together like
clockwork.....................
Essentially this is solid, energetic English electric folk, full of
pumping riffs and loads of energy
Never mind ‘’Celtic Rock’’, here’s what the mostly English can do
It’s nice to find a folk-rock band that understands both folk AND
rock and knows how to draw on one without diluting the other
Full-throated folk rock with as much attack as the Charge of the
Light Brigade. Could have done with a bit
less throttle at times,
but at least McFarlane and crew are eager and put some determination
into proceedings.
A loud party animal and totally unashamed.
We think
that's fair comment - come see us live! - scroll down for our 'live'
performance reviews........
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DUNCAN's
'solo' live performance reviews.....
Living Tradition - Duncan McFarlane at the
Black Swan Folk Club, York
Singer/guitarist/songwriter extraordinaire Duncan has been steadily
making a name for himself over the past few years, increasingly well
outwith the confines of his home county of West Yorkshire. Whether
performing solo or in "acoustic band" format, his live sets
invariably go down a storm, while his full-blown electric band has
been hailed (and justifiably so in my book) as bringing the
credibility back to that hoary old beast folk-rock.
Duncan has an obvious feel for the
tradition and a deep-rooted belief that it has a place in the
current folk scene, aspects which he puts across with lively
showmanship. His own songs show a canny grasp of, and response to,
the tradition, while his intrinsic seriousness of intent and
approach is often laced with a healthy irreverence that happens to
be hugely entertaining. And this latest
folk club gig showed him developing his craft even further into a
fine art, creating and building a great rapport with the audience
from the word go - and maintaining it wholly naturally throughout
two well-paced and good-sized sets.
This was another "first" for Duncan, in that on this occasion he was
accompanied by just two members of his trusty "band" playing
acoustically: fiddler Anne Brivonese and cittern/guitar player Geoff
Taylor. To the already full sound of Duncan's own tremendous guitar
playing, Anne contributed some excellent, sympathetic yet punchy
bow-stroking and some lovely supporting harmony vocals, while the
elfin Geoff (leaving his electric axe at home for the evening)
provided some extraordinarily subtle and interesting (often quite
experimental) shadings to enhance Duncan's vocals and guitar.
The set-lists contained plenty of confirmed hits from Duncan's solo
repertoire (Turn The Bones Around, Bed Of Straw, Floating B) as well
as a handful of newer songs (Strange Old Days Of England, Butterside
Down and his brilliant contemporary take on the folk ballad Not PC)
and a sprinkling of his enterprising and distinctly accessible
treatments of traditional songs (John Barleycorn, Three Gypsies).
These were interspersed with sensibly scaled-down renditions of
good-time band-set favourites (Can't Go There, Woodshed Boys, and
the rollicking encore Robin Hood's Bay).
So what if there were ramshackle moments and not everything was
note-perfect - it was Fun (though some say I shouldn't use that word
in connection with a folk club!), everyone had a great time, and it
turned out to be one of the best recent club nights at the Swan in
terms of atmosphere alone; three darned fine musicians having a
great time, and carrying the punters right along with them. If
you've never seen Duncan, do make the effort soon - he's one of the
most genuinely entertaining performers on the folk circuit at the
moment, and what's more, his original songs are worth getting to
know too!
'The Living Tradition' magazine, June
06
Tykes News DUNCAN McFARLANE
- BLACK SWAN FOLK CLUB, YORK, 16TH MARCH 2006
Good ol' Dunc - this latest folk club gig, less than a week after
surviving a traumatic car accident,
found him in fine fettle, up and about, still developing his craft
and showmanship, creating and building a great rapport
with the audience from the word go - and maintaining it wholly
naturally throughout two well-paced and good-sized sets.
It was another "first" for Duncan, in that on this occasion he was
accompanied by just two members of his trusty "band"
playing acoustically: fiddler Anne Brivonese and cittern/guitar
player Geoff Taylor.
To the already full sound of Duncan's own tremendous guitar playing,
Anne contributed some excellent, sympathetic yet punchy bow-stroking
and some lovely supporting harmony vocals, while the elfin Geoff
(leaving the electric axe at home for the evening) provided some
extraordinarily subtle and interesting (often quite experimental)
shadings to enhance Duncan's vocals and guitar. The set-lists
contained plenty of confirmed hits from Duncan's solo repertoire
(Turn The Bones Around,
Bed Of Straw, Floating B) as well as a handful of newer songs
(Strange Old Days Of England, Butterside Down and Not PC) and a
sprinkling of his enterprising and distinctly accessible treatments
of traditional songs (John Barleycorn, Three Gypsies). These were
interspersed with sensibly scaled-down renditions of good-time
band-set favourites (Can't Go There, Woodshed Boys and the
rollicking encore Robin Hood's Bay). So what if not everything was
note-perfect - it was Fun (at a folk club?!
- tut tut!), and it turned out one of the best recent club nights at
the Swan in terms of atmosphere alone.
Duncan really is one of the most genuinely entertaining performers
on the circuit at the moment.
Programme Notes, OTLEY FESTIVAL 03
Duncan is one of Otley's local stars, of whom we're justifiably
proud. When he isn't with his band, he can be found performing solo.
He is a brilliant guitarist, playing a steel-strung guitar
finger-style predominantly in C modal tuning, which is why you may
detect echoes of one of his heroes - Nic Jones, Duncan's own songs
are lyrical, thought-provoking, often humorous, always entertaining;
he also turns his considerable skills to traditional material and
contemporary classics.
CLECKHEATON FOLK FESTIVAL - 5th to 7th JULY '02
Cleckheaton's a lovely little festival . . . . 2002's festival
encompassed the wide range of activities you'd expect from any
festival . . . guest roster . . .mixture of headline acts . . .
Tanglefoot, Mundy-Turner, Colum Sands, Seize The Day, . . . . . . .
. . And local lad Duncan McFarlane, whose Bed Of Straw album made
such a favourable impression on the nation's critics - a crack
guitarist, idiomatic singer, and not least a writer of excellent
songs mostly in a traditional idiom, Duncan's gaining quite a
reputation on the festival circuit, so look out for him!
Extracts taken from the festival's own website - EVERY word is there
regarding Duncan - nowt left owt!
From 'Stirrings' Magazine's review of OTLEY FOLK FESTIVAL 02
. . . And Leeds legend Duncan McFarlane was on the best form I've
seen to date (and his gigs are always pretty damned good!), despite
a gruelling weekend schedule and the onset of the 'flu' bug. His
Friday night gig at The Grove Hill Club with those other local
heroes Slide and the irrepressible Hall Brothers was one of the best
of the entire festival – superb atmosphere, great music, good fun.
Folk at the Grove, Leeds - Review of Duncan solo - 2nd February '01
Duncan McFarlane, Duncan who? No not Duncan Goodhew, but Duncan
McFarlane.
Never heard of him! Judging by the number of people who were packed
in
the Grove Folk Club before 8.30 that night, lots of people had.
Why did they turn up? Well, this guy is worth seeing and does some
pretty
natty stuff like "The Devil and the Feathery Wife". Doesn't chat too
much
in between songs either, and some songs you can join in with.
He also did some self-penned things, one of which was "Bed of
Straw",
coincidentally to be the title track of his forthcoming CD.
This I'm sure will feature his masterly exploits on guitar.
The audience would have liked the evening to go on and on, with such
notable
floor spots as Whitney Gin and Mark Longster. Throwing-out time came
too
soon as the bar called a halt to the proceedings, but not before
Duncan had
treated us from folk-trads to self-penned songs right through
to "Day Dream Believer".
An unbelievable, super night at the Grove. Well done Duncan!.
If you're lucky enough to catch Duncan, you won't be disappointed.
...
Sometimes the written word is not enough. Sometimes you have to be
there.!
Rod
Calvert - Tykes News
OTLEY
FOLK FESTIVAL - Red Lion Concert - Saturday 20th September '01
I had seen Duncan at various places round our local folk clubs doing
floor spots, and singing in sing-arounds,
and had been very impressed with his songs and guitar work, so I was
happy to have the opportunity to see him
performing a full "set" in concert.
Duncan is an accomplished performer, so accomplished in fact, that
when I first came across him,
I wondered where he had come from. I was amazed to find he was quite
new to solo performance,
although clearly his background in rock music has stood him in good
stead.
Duncan treated us to an excellent set, ideally suited to a festival
audience, with plenty of "joining-in" stuff,
both traditional and from his own
and other people's pens. Duncan is not one of your introspective navel gazing
singer-songwriters, and in this set he treated us to "Bed of Straw"
- the title track of his new CD,
and "The Famous Floating 'B'" .. both of which
are so jaunty and infectious they run the risk of becoming instantly "trad".
Notably of other writers' material Duncan gave us "Anderson's Coast (by John Warner)"
.. which wins my personal "song of the festival"
award, and Dougie MacLean's "Talking With My Father" with a guitar
accompaniment which wouldn't have disgraced the master himself.
And as if this wasn't enough we also got "The Devil and the Feathery
Wife" for laughs, and "Begging Song"
and "Boys of Bedlam" for a storming
finish. Did the audience enjoy it? They loved it. Did I enjoy it? I did.
Did I buy the CD? Yup!
Tykes News
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The DMcF Band (electric) . . . . .'live'. . . . . .
Ilkley Gazette -
Thursday 27th September 2007
Otley
Folk Festival 2007
Beer runs out but the music doesn't -
By Judith
Dunn
Sunday afternoon and there was plenty of energy when the Duncan
McFarlane Electric Band blasted into action with
tracks from the new album. This was their third festival appearance,
each with different material which is typical of their
professionalism. Their professionalism combined with talent and
sheer enjoyment made this the high point.
The cricket club rocked as the crowd joined in enthusiastically. The
band played for close on two hours and the bar
ran out of Black Sheep well before they ran out of steam. The album
was well and truly launched.
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Rounds Festival 04: write-up from Northants local press
What an incredibly exhausting weekend it's been……….etc
Starting on Friday night with a Celidh ………..etc…………… Saturday night
was a totally different experience.
Doughboy Zydecaun kicked off the night in style, followed by the
incredibly talented Magic Carr
(had to get a copy of their CD
"Yellow Main Sequence") and then, well.................
The whole place rocked and reeled to the music and energy that is
The Duncan McFarlane Band.
If you haven't heard this band, get to a gig soon! They were
fantastic - great musicians, vocals and such style!
I want to know... how can Duncan McFarlane still have enough energy
to leap all over the place after 11 at night,
following a curry and
having played for over an hour?
The band's temporary drummer was not only very pleasing to the eye,
but simply superb!
Some of their die-hard fans came along with them all the way from
up't'north, and yet another cd was added to my collection.
(I have a copy of their gig list if anyone's interested - they are
playing soon in Southend and Cleckheaton and Otley and um.. can't
remember the rest) . Well worth a look though!
Another 2am crawl into bed with thoughts of Sunday in my head and
the strains of "Woodshed Boys" still whirling in my ears.
Jenny Clarke - Festival Organiser
The Duncan McFarlane Band – Live review The New Roscoe – Monday 20th
January 2003
Hmm…. the New Roscoe you say? Isn’t that where the tribute bands
play? Well yes I suppose it is, but periodically they offer a night
over to a group of performers who can really write songs and play
them without pretending to be someone else. So whilst previous
‘Roscoe’ bands are worrying about whether their wig looks authentic
Bon Jovi mullet or whether the pink spandex pants are ‘Iron Maiden’
enough, the pre-gig Duncan McFarlane band are relaxing and chatting
and getting to know their audience prior to flooring them with a
knock out show.
This six-piece folk rock band were formed for a one off gig in Otley
during one of the folk festivals and proceeded to take the place by
storm. Mr McFarlane himself a highly accomplished
singer/songwriter/guitarist with a long history of music in the
Leeds area, has now been establishing himself as a folk artist with
an infectious degree of enthusiasm for his subject material. Taking
the stage he was accompanied by a competent and obviously talented
team, Geoff Taylor (an old band mate from the 70’s rock era) on lead
guitar, Anne Brivonese on electric violin/vox, Tony Rogerson and
Nick Pepper –Bass & Drums. The one person missing was Steve
Fairholme –Melodeon and squeezy things – on his holidays.
The set was made up of originals and traditional material, all
arranged to reflect the strengths of the band. Songs like ‘Can’t Go
There’ a McFarlane song about showing yourself up whilst drunk and
never being able to return to the scene of the crime (If that’s the
case then Shane McGowan must be housebound!), sit alongside songs
like ‘Benjamin Bowmaneer’ a traditional piece rocked up. With lots
of imaginative intros and arrangements, this band were tight!
Duncan’s acoustic guitar playing provided the platform for the band
to drive the rhythms and melodies along, his inspired use of mainly
C modal tuning adding an extra dimension to the tunes whilst echoing
Martin Carthy’s technique and dynamic.
Duncan himself appears to find inspiration in the oddest of
tales…hence ‘Bed of Straw’ a story of two men hounded by a press
gang in Leeds many years ago. This ability to make stories visual
through song is the very essence of folk music and Duncan does this
without pretence or cliché, recording past events with the narrative
of an innocent bystander at the time.
The band kept their energy right to the end of the set. With great
harmonies, and even better playing, this is a band hopefully
destined for a wider audience on the festival circuit. Hmm…With that
in mind it would be wise to catch them now, or you could wait till
the tribute band forms!
Andy Aitchison
DMcFband (electric) at Otley Festival Sept '03 - from the Wharfedale
Gazette
The Folk Festival began shyly on Thursday evening, and after its
full launch in lifeboat conditions on that heartless wet Friday,
picked up speed through Saturday. It delivered at numerous venues
and arrived in triumph at the Civic Centre Main Hall for the Sunday
night concert with master of ceremonies Jim Lawton in charge.
The opening act was the electric and electrifying version of the
Duncan McFarlane Band. Singer/writer/guitarist Duncan and his
musicians have become such a central feature at Otley Festivals that
if the time comes when they can’t be there, even their absence will
be given special billing. The hall was as crammed as regulations
allow and the audience as intense as the music, which is potent
without being overwhelming.
The band is a 6-piece with Geoff Taylor’s lead guitar and Anne
Brivonese's violin rolling out a carpet of sound over which
the
action ceaselessly capers. It’s a finely balanced outfit which could
clearly hold its own in a venue ten times the size
of this
300-seater, but was in no way too much for its surroundings.
John Hepworth
The DMcFband (electric) at the Junction Inn, Otley, Tues 16th July
'03
Guitarist, singer, songwriter Duncan is based in Leeds, but has been
making a name for himself recently with his first CD,
Bed Of Straw,
which garnered deservedly excellent reviews, notably in fRoots and
TMM.
Contrary to what you might expect, here is no expat Scot with a dour
line in interminable tartan’n’haggis balladry,
but a damned fine,
ultra-energetic guitarist who has clearly learnt a lot from Messrs Carthy and N. Jones but has developed
his own vital take on
traditional song, mostly English in origin, while honing his own
pretty classy songwriting talent both
within the idiom and in more
contemporary stylings.
Indeed, that very song Bed Of Straw, based around a Leeds legend,
came a too-close-for-comfort runner-up in the Songwriting
Competition at last year’s Saltburn Festival, and the album has
gained a fair amount of airplay on folk radio. That album was
recorded very much “live in the studio”, just Duncan and his guitar
with virtually no overdubs, and conveys extremely well Duncan’s
fiery and forceful musical personality. More recently, however,
Duncan has begun experimenting with an expanded lineup, a six-piece
electric band, to play folk-rock for fun. Heard the phrase “rockin’
the English tradition”? Well, Duncan’s band does all that and more!
A selected few local gigs with a minimum of rehearsal had proved
astoundingly successful, completely against Duncan’s expectations,
and the leap of faith was duly taken to arrange more, of which this
July fixture, on defiantly home ground at that well-loved venue, was
the first. It was evident that there had been a certain amount of
more serious rehearsal this time round, with a distinctly improved
tightness in arrangements and execution, but the sense of everyone
enjoying themselves immensely was still there right from the outset.
Instrumentally, Duncan confined himself to the pivotal role,
striding abreast his amplified acoustic rhythm guitar, providing as
much a fulcrum as a figurehead/focus for the band, which sports at
least two star instrumentalists with quite different playing styles.
Electric fiddler (and sometime vocalist) Anne Brivonese contributed
some supremely exciting playing without needing to act the show-off,
while amazing lead guitarist Geoff Taylor (what a find!) stayed the
right side of showy throughout with his dazzling and inspired
(heavy-Mike-Oldfield-style) solo work.
Melodeon supremo Steve Fairholme (of Otley Folk Festival fame) did
sterling battle with the assembled forces and even managed (despite
certain problems with the sound balance – well, you can’t have
everything straightaway!) to make himself rise above the group
texture on occasions to demonstrate just how sensible and solid a
supporting player he is in this kind of context.
The rhythm section – bassist Tony Rogerson and new drummer Nick
Pepper – made all the correct noises and stuck together admirably,
yet brought a frisson to their bedrock that ensured the group
couldn’t be accused of meretricious plodding by the folk police!
The two sets mixed Duncan’s own material with well rocked-up
versions of traditional stuff that wouldn’t disgrace a Fairport or
LJE or even a Blue Horses. The more successful of the latter –
Canadee-I-O and Jug Of This – look set to be regarded as classic
arrangements in the folk-rock world, while even the more Steeleye-derivative
items (Cold Haily Windy Night and Boys Of Bedlam) had much to
commend them in the gig context, no mere crowd-pleasers. The latter
tag could apply to one or two of the instrumental sets perhaps, but
there’s no shame in that provided they’re done well, as here, and
Duncan’s own tunes (notably the Anna Morrison/Karine set) are
already becoming firm favourites.
The gig also showcased a high proportion of Duncan’s own excellent
songs, naturally including some of his catchiest numbers (Bed Of
Straw and the newer Can’t Go There), interspersed with some
well-chosen and unusually enterprising covers (Richard Thompson’s I
Misunderstood, Vin Garbutt’s Danny Daniells, Dougie Maclean’s Mairi
Bahn, the Levellers’ Fifteen Years and Beautiful Day).
The whole gig was a knockout, minor warts and sonic difficulties and
all, with a really great atmosphere. Do get to see Duncan’s band if
you’re ever in his neck of the woods, but if not it’s well worth
catching him solo when he gets to venture further afield, as he’s
really a force to be reckoned with I say.
He’s got plenty that's original to say, and a highly captivating
performing style with which to say it.
David Kidman
The DMcFband (electric) – Live review
The New Roscoe – Monday 20th January 2003
Hmm…. the New Roscoe you say? Isn’t that where the tribute bands
play?
Well yes I suppose it is, but periodically they offer a night over
to a group of performers who can really write songs and play them
without pretending to be someone else. So whilst previous ‘Roscoe’
bands are worrying about whether their wig looks authentic Bon Jovi
mullet or whether the pink spandex pants are ‘Iron Maiden’ enough,
the pre-gig Duncan McFarlane band are relaxing and chatting and
getting to know their audience prior to flooring them with a knock
out show.
This six-piece folk rock band were formed for a one off gig in Otley
during one of the folk festivals and proceeded to take the place by
storm. Mr McFarlane himself a highly accomplished
singer/songwriter/guitarist with a long history of music in the
Leeds area, has now been establishing himself as a folk artist with
an infectious degree of enthusiasm for his subject material. Taking
the stage he was accompanied by a competent and obviously talented
team, Geoff Taylor (an old band mate from the 70’s rock era) on lead
guitar, Anne Brivonese on electric violin/vox, Tony Rogerson and
Nick Pepper –Bass & Drums. The one person missing was Steve
Fairholme –Melodeon and squeezy things – on his holidays.
The set was made up of originals and traditional material, all
arranged to reflect the strengths of the band. Songs like ‘Can’t Go
There’ a McFarlane song about showing yourself up whilst drunk and
never being able to return to the scene of the crime (If that’s the
case then Shane McGowan must be housebound!), sit alongside songs
like ‘Benjamin Bowmaneer’ a traditional piece rocked up. With lots
of imaginative intros and arrangements, this band were tight!
Duncan’s acoustic guitar playing provided the platform for the band
to drive the rhythms and melodies along, his inspired use of mainly
C modal tuning adding an extra dimension to the tunes whilst echoing
Martin Carthy’s technique and dynamic.
Duncan himself appears to find inspiration in the oddest of
tales…hence ‘Bed of Straw’ a story of two men
hounded by a press
gang in Leeds many years ago.
This ability to make stories visual through song is the very essence
of folk music and Duncan does this without
pretence or cliché,
recording past events with the narrative of an innocent bystander at
the time.
The band kept their energy right to the end of the set. With great
harmonies, and even better playing,
this is a band hopefully
destined for a wider audience on the festival circuit.
Hmm…With that in mind it would be wise to catch them now, or you
could wait till the tribute band forms!
Andy Aitchison
The DMcFband (electric) – Live at the Wheatley Hotel, Ilkley 30th
March '02
- From Tykes News, Summer '02 edition
I am the Assistant General Manager and Entertainment Manager/Events
Coordinator at The Wheatley Hotel in Ben Rhydding, Ilkley. I have
recently initiated a live-music and entertainment schedule and would
like to tell you about one of the bands that recently performed here
on Saturday the 30th of March… The Duncan McFarlane Band.
I have listened to a lot of bands in my time, having been the
Landlord of the now closed Duchess of York in the city center of
Leeds. In a word, The Duncan McFarlane Band is… awesome!
Some of the finest folk/rock I have ever heard. The band consists
of on fiddle & vocals - Anne Brivonese;
drums - Nick Pepper; bass
guitar - Tony Rogerson; electric guitar - Geoff Taylor;
and on
electric guitar & acoustic guitars, vocals, traditional
arrangements, original tunes & song writing,
conductor, musical
director
and just about anything else he can get his hands on! –
Duncan McFarlane.
They performed traditional material as well as their own
originals.
We were busy that night. I was even bringing extra tables from the
main pub into our function room, The Bull Room,
where they were
playing in order to accommodate people. Some of the songs they
played through the night were:
Twohey Step – an original Duncan
McFarlane tune… Jug of This – great traditional tune…Cold, Haily,
Windy Night
– another traditional tune... Dee Jig - a fast original
instrumental… I Misunderstood… a Richard Thompson tune.
At the end
of the show, there was a request for a Levellers tune (What a
Beautiful Day). They played it and the individual
who requested the
song was so overwhelmed, that they allowed him to come up and sing
along with them.
Many photos were taken and we certainly plan to frame one and put
it up here at The Wheatley.
Everyone in the room loved the
atmosphere and the music.
ALL of the band members are excellent. Geoff is certainly one of
the very best guitarists in our local area… undoubtedly one of the
best guitarists in the north of England. Great people… all of them
lovely. I am having them back on Saturday, the 18th of May and
looking forward to it.
I wholeheartedly recommend The Duncan McFarlane Band to anyone who
is interested in the best in Folk/Rock… and Duncan’s CD, ‘Bed of
Straw’ is premier. I hope you will find this review useful. Warm
Regards,
Robin Dover - Wheatley Hotel
The DMcFband (electric) – Live at the Junction, Otley, 7 July 02
The famous folking M rocked up a storm with his excellent electric
band at a packed Junction in Otley.
Blistering originals and
rejuvenated traditional songs kept the pace frenetic throughout.
Tony Rogerson and Nick Pepper (bass and drums respectively) gave the
band a foundation you could build
a Norman castle on, whilst Steve Fairholme’s melodeon added splashes of subtlety and colour.
Geoff Taylor’s splendid, defiantly ‘70s lead guitar kept the decibel
level way above a roar, but the eye in the middle
of this particular
electric storm was Anne Brivonese. Standing serene at the centre of
proceedings and adding elegant
and exciting fiddle riffs to such
standards as ‘Canadee-I-O’ and ‘Jug of This’, as well as lead vocals
for ‘Lowlands of Holland’, she is a real star.
What of the man himself? Well, Dunx was in fine form. His voice is
just as suited to rock as it is to folk, and his guitar playing is
brisk and energetic, but it’s his songs which lift this band from
being merely very good to being exceptional.
New songs like ‘Rawfolds Mill’ and the one about just how many feet
you can put in your mouth, were rapturously received. Throw in some
well-chosen covers (Richard Thompson, Levellers) and you have just
about the best folk-rock band on the circuit.
Wayne Stote - Tykes News
From Tykes News, The DMcFband (electric) at OTLEY Folk Festival '02
. . . Other highlights across the weekend included Last Night's Fun
. . . and the Duncan McFarlane Band, who played for over two hours
without a break, to a packed house in Kork's on Saturday night. I've
waxed lyrical about this band previously but suffice to say, by the
end of the night, I was hoarse, almost deaf and had blisters on my
hands. Typical Dunx gig!
Wayne Stote
The DMcFband (acoustic) - 'Live' at the Three Horseshoes, Otley,
13th Aug '03 -
(A gig which was recorded for a 'live' CD)
Duncan McFarlane, with or without band, is no stranger to the Otley
Folk scene.
What made last Wednesday's Folk Night at the Three Horseshoes extra
special is that it featured
a four-piece acoustic line-up - and out
of it will come a new 'live' CD.
As usual, the upstairs room was full and the audience joined in
heartily. Difficult not to - fresh from Holmfirth,
Saddleworth and
Cambridge Festivals, Duncan diplayed his usual infectious enthusiasm
for his material.
He claimed to be nervous, but his abililty to
carry a song was as powerful as ever.
The band was on form too - Anne Brivonese on fiddle and vocals,
Geoff Taylor on acoustic guitar
and Steve Fairholme on melodeon and
vocals.
Duncan has a happy knack of giving generous credit to everyone,
even starting a song over to give due attention to Steve's bass
harmonising.
The two sets included eight of Duncan's own songs and the CD is
something worth looking forward to.
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