Craig Joiner, The Hayes Sisters – Over Hulton Folk Club – 1st May 2024

We have been treated to some great nights this year at Over Hulton Folk Club and this evening was certainly no exception. Many of them like tonight may not be household names but nevertheless the huge amount of talent and expertise is there for all to hear.

Another evening of quality began with Hayes Sisters minus 1, Jenny absent due to other commitments the sisters are currently touring as as a duo. However, their performance levels are by no means diminished and the close harmonies we expect are still prevalent.

Opening with Helplessly Hoping, a cover from the Crosby Stills & Nash catalogue – pitch perfect despite Angela claiming to be a little croaky. The Hayes Sisters are renowned for championing the role of women in society  in their songs so no surprise that Wooden Blankets focussed on women threatened with arranged marriages. 

Child slavery centuries ago wasn’t the sole preserve of African families. Slavery of men, women and children was suffered by British people too. Their gospel blues song told of a mini rebellion about the conditions they had to endure, while Tears In Her Coffee was inspired by the film I, Daniel Blake. Covering a folk standard from Richard Thompson’s rich collection of songs can be very challenging and risky if not carried off well, but their version of Dimming Of The Day was beautifully performed especially when they usually sing it in three part harmony instead of only two.

On a girlie weekend they found time to write a very emotional song: The Fisherman’s Tale tells of a man who lost his ability to sing following a stroke and the patience of his partner nursing him back to his full powers of speech. Delivered as a  traditional folk shanty, the song was sung with passion and sensitivity. Their rocky song about a child’s point of view when witnessing arguing parents showed that they are as closely matched  instrumentally as they are in their harmonies. In this song they replicated the style of the Everley Brothers.

Here’s The Irish Rover, a version of which closed their performance:

With their  catchy songs, harmonies and closely syncopated guitar work you could brand Catherine and Angela as the Stockport Everlys! Their support spot will surely be followed by a highlight spot hopefully sooner rather than later.

Craig Joiner returned after his own much appreciated support spot last year. His tour finds him promoting his excellent new album A Kind Of Calm, much of which appeared in his hugely appreciated performance tonight.

The themes for his songs are extremely varied and broad; a pet interest in She’s Beautiful Girl and the need for a manual for life in The Art Of Landing highlight this, but in both his smooth warm vocals remain compelling. Many today resonate with the need to persevere in tough times and his opening song Stand  promoted the need to be steadfast in troubled times.

A tribute to his heroes Paul Brady and Andy Irvine, who provided inspiration for him at a tender age, was shown in his version of Mary And The Soldier. The gruesome mid 19th century tale of twelve year old Fanny Adams may have been the origin of the term Sweet FA , he told us,  but this song ended with an amazing fingerboard solo, whilst another hero Nic Jones was covered with the hunting of The Humpback Whale.

Craig regular swapped guitars due to their different tunings yet before singing Coming Home about a young man seeking his fortune away from his small fishing town home, he treated us to some on stage tuning! He finished his entertaining first set with Making Of  A Life about emigration to South Africa. He resumed with  a song written when making the most of  the strange happenstance of a tree falling and flattening a neighbour’s shed. This opportunistic moment may seem amusing but at the time it did wreak havoc!

Through his songs, Craig always tells  a good tale without relying on flowery prose to embellish what is really a good solid tale. The Cottage’s Reply is an example of this when the desire to sell a cottage makes someone think twice.

Death and horrific incidents permeate through folk music and Craig has his own contributions in a song of a shepherd learning that if you care for your loved ones everything else should run smoothly. The stunning acapella opening to Row On  leads to a haunting deliverybut as in many of his songs the calmness of his tunes are like being wrapped in a warm blanket.

The flagship song from his latest album, The Wedding Day Of Eliza May, is a dramatic song of the forlorn efforts to save up for a wedding .  The repeated riff is a strong feature in this tragic tale. With The Lark and Grey we learn of his love of angling and the inspiration of a famous fly fisher who makes his own flies  is the theme of his life yet again showing the broad spectrum of his songs. A song with a cliffhanger completed his main set. Old Willie possibly press ganged left us all clinging on for more and he duly  obliged with a rendition from the hugely inspirational and enigmatic John Martyn’s  May You Never.

Craig may have only had an audience approaching 20 but after having performed on the Cropredy Stage with his group Romeo’s Daughter  several years ago  his solo performance his certainly worthy of a return to a bigger stage.

With just one more folk night before the summer break we look forward to another night of high quality  when the trio Caffrey, Mc Gurk and Madge make an appearance.

Craig Joiner online: Website / Facebook / Instagram / Youtube

The Hayes Sisters online: Website / Facebook / X (Twitter) / Youtube

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