An ageing well gig reporter goes to see an ageing well folk legend

Martin Carthy Durham Launderette 27 April 2024

Peter our music correspondence reports on this gig. It does not seem a year since I last saw Martin Carthy at the Durham Laundrette. The first time I had the pleasure of being in the company of Martin Carthy was when I saw him, then a member of folk-rock band Steeleye Span, supporting Jethro Tull at Sunderland Empire in 1971. Roll on 53 years and I am once again witnessing a performance by a man who has, quite rightly in my view, earned the title of "the Father of British folk music".

The Durham Launderette is a quirky, exquisite venue. It is by day an ordinary launderette, used by the public to bring along their bags of washing. By evening it transforms into an intimate venue, which hosts concerts by folk artists and others. It cannot hold more than 60 or so people.

This folk legend comes with the best ever credentials:

"Arguably the greatest English folk song performer, writer...... of them all' Q Magazine

"Carthy is a master of the ballad of substance, songs that tell stories, whether they are traditional, his own or from contemporary writers.' The Telegraph

And so it was that my carer Jan and I joined a packed house of Carthy fans and devotees to see a folk legend in this lovely venue. He has built up a strong following who seem to know all his material and have become good friends of Martin.

Martin was once again very debonair wearing a brightly coloured shirt, and two gold earrings in his left ear. He is a great storyteller, starting each song with a prolonged introduction setting the scene for the tale which would unfold in the song, and explaining to us from where, and from whom, the song originated. Sometimes he might have to think a little to remember the names of the song's origins, but hey, respect to the guy who is now in his early 80s.

Each song comes from a poem, an old folktale, or an ancient ballad. He crafts each one carefully. He includes the traditional "Scarborough fair" which features on his first, early 1960s, album and was since made famous by Simon and Garfunkel.

Many of the songs have become familiar to me from last time I saw Martin perform. I also bought a copy of his first album on eBay, and he kindly signed it for me (see picture). His set included at least two tracks from that album: "High Germany" and the aforementioned "Scarborough fair." Other songs that I recognised from last year included "Napoleon's Dream" a traditional song with a long, interesting history which Martin gladly related to us.

Martin treated us to two sets with a short interval. I really enjoyed it, I had a bottle of Budweiser at the start of the evening, and a Jack Daniels later on in the evening. Towards the end of the evening Martin started taking requests from the audience. Some he gladly sang; others he had to admit he could not remember the lyrics "I haven't sung that one for 40 years!"

On a couple of occasions members of the audience assisted him in remembering the lyrics. This all added to the charm of the evening. It was very much a meeting of friends He continued into the night but sadly, our taxi was awaiting us, so we had to sneak out before the end, which was a shame. A wonderful evening, with the legend, folk singer, storyteller, and lovely gentleman that is Martin Carthy.