Home » Music » Music Reviews » Noakes and Barbara Dickson – Milngavie Folk Club May 2014, Review Pauline Keightley

Noakes and Barbara Dickson – Milngavie Folk Club May 2014, Review Pauline Keightley

Rab Noakes and Barbara Dickson – Milngavie Folk Club May 2014

Songs by Rab, songs by Barbara. Songs together.

Rab and Barbara gave us a real treat with a showcase gig of their favourite songs. They both looked well, Rab in a smart suit and Barbara glamorous in black. They clearly enjoyed sharing the stage once again and spoke about how they met at Sandy Bell’s Bar in Edinburgh back in the 60s.
 
The gig started with them performing duets – Do Right Woman, Rab’s Don’t Say Money Doesn’t Matter; James Taylor’s ‘Something’s Wrong; an Archie Fisher song Years of Rage, and as they are both Everly Brothers fans – Sleepless Nights. ..
 
They then took turn about performing solo. We were treated to some of Rab’s well crafted songs, such as his song for Gerry Rafferty – No More Time.  He spoke about how he’d first met Gerry at Billy Connolly’s house, prior to playing with the Paisley musician in Stealers Wheel. Rab also performed I’m Walking Here from his new album and the murder ballad, The Two Sisters. He is a big Dylan fan and did an excellent job covering Tears of Rage.
 
To my delight Rab performed his well-remembered ‘Branch’. This has received good radio airplay and he performed the song a few years back on the Old Grey Whistle Test. I’ve seen Rab a few times but this was the first time I’ve heard the song live! 
 
Barbara sang a haunting song by Charlie Dewar, The Same Sky, and gave a charming rendition of one of those beautiful story folk ballads, the classic Scottish love song Rigs O Rye (which are like little treasures). She spoke about when she first worked with the folk legend Archie Fisher and of her shirt boxes of songs.
 
Rab always includes an older song at his gigs and they finished the set with Doris Day’s song Que Sera Sera – with us all singing along.  

For their Encore Barbara sang her hit song Caravan ( I still have it in my head too!) and Long Time Gone.
 
Barbara’s voice has a poignant and beautiful timbre and the combination of the artists’ different voices and styles worked well. Their mutual respect for each other was obvious and the two performers appeared very comfortable in their own skins and they know their musical roots.

The gig was rich in texture and variety with shadows, subtleties and tenderness and the messages in the songs were truthful and both soothing and uplifting.

Their ‘Reunited’ Ep April 2014 has a raw acoustic live feel, and such good songs. http://rabnoakes.bandcamp.com/album/reunited-ep 

Support Edwina Hayes

They were very well supported by Edwina Hayes form Yorkshire, who gave us funny stories and had a clear lovely vocal. She sang a Richard Thompson song and a song she had co-written with Boo Hewerdine, as well as her own songs.    

 
Photos and Review Pauline Keightley  – web www.musicfootnotes.com

Set LIst

• Do Right Woman
• Dont’ Say Money Doesn’t Matter
• Two Sisters
• Minorie
• No More Time
• As Wise as a Serpent
• Branch
• The Same Sky
• I’m Walkin Here
• Rigs O Rye
• Tears of Rage
• Sleepless nights
• Que sera sera
•  
• Caravans
• Long Time Gone

/>

This section: Music Reviews, Pauline Keightley