At our latest visit to Over Hulton Folk Club,  Karen Pfeiffer and Paul  Walker performed at the early stages of their Spring tour where they continue to promote their latest album Auf Wiedersehen Me Duck.

The last time Brian Jones performed as support  at OHFC  his nervy set  affected his  delivery but this night a more confident chap took  us on a whistle-stop tour of  of Britain and some of his favourite songs he sings at the sing around evenings, which heorganises. In My Liverpool home, Manchester Rambler and Dougie Maclean’s Caledonia were included as well as a couple of trips over the Atlantic for Buffy St Marie’s  Universal Soldier and  the popular If I Was A Carpenter. His modest persona twinned with his  ‘’not bovvered!” approach made for a gentle warm up  to the main act.

Not having touched a foreign language since 4th year secondary my German was so rusty I can only remember Ich bin heute krank! None of which was included in Stuttgart born Karen Pfeiffer’s German introduction which is well as it means’ I’ve been ill today!’ Karen and Paul were certainly at full strength in their two sets mainly gleaned from their super latest album Auf  Wiedersehen Me Duck. Their uplifting music and warm approach ensured an entertaining evening with a lovely collection of traditional folk music with stories of better and worse times from Paul’s upbringing in the Potteries, English folk lore with tragic tale and love songs. Our Golden Age indeed highlights the declining industrial landscape reminiscent of many Midland and Northern towns. But as many of their songs reflect on changes to the industrial urban landscape and social attitudes they can’t take away our spirit.

The tragic traditional tale of the Ballad Of The Queen Of May a mysterious murder story (with the original German lyrics of Wooden Heart segued in) had a subtle twist and a dramatic cover of Joan Baez ‘s Diamonds And Rust left us in little doubt about who was her famous friend was and subject of the song, tragedy is of course no stranger to the folk genre and Paul’s new airing, a compelling song about the legacy of war is bound to be a regular on their setlist.

On a more jovial note the disputed origin of the oatcake was disputed as they sang The Oatcake Song and jaunty The Rose Of Coburg Street gave Karen the opportunity to play her musical drainpipe bass recorder cum saxophone. In fact her array of pipes and recorders on stage made one wonder if we were at a plumbing convention! However, when played by Karen along with her selection of small percussion the music was enhanced by her astuteness.

Also what folk night is complete without the ‘German Shakespeare’ – Goethe . A sweet melody again accompanied by Karen’s recorder and Paul’s ‘McTell- style’ guitar work. despite a previous unfair comparison he sounded alright to his Over Hulton fans despite his self professed membership to the Rejected Songwriter’s Club, this blues tune including Indian cymbals, castanets shakers and mini trombone masquerading as a kazoo amused the audience.

What If My Pockets Were Empty dealing with homelessness and the haunting Down To Numbers, written whilst in New Zealand and inspired by poet Linden Ellis’s The Dash all from the new album displayed their unique performance style. The main set concluded with their album’s sing a long title track, which highlighted Karen and Paul’s roots Auf Weidersehen Me Duck before the tale of an Irish farmers gambling exploits were told in a rendition of Steve Knightley’s Galway  Farmer.

The duo continue their tour promoting their extremely entertaining new album Auf Weidersehen Me Duck, which is a wonderful memoir of the evening.

Visit Paul and Karen’s website to find out if they are near you and if they are a pleasant evening is in store for you. At least your German will improve!! 

Up next at Over Hulton is Cropredy MC and quirky songwriter, the witty AJ Clark, who returns with OHFC’s very own Corrie Shelley in support. What a tremendous evening that promises to be!

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