After a support spot in May 2023, Sam Barrett returns to headline with his unique blend of traditional folk songs, with Americana and Celtic flavours.

A DROP OF THE MORNING DEW

Although his set tonight included many of the tunes from his last spot it was amazing to hear them again with other songs from his extensive repertoire and from his A Drop Of The Morning Dew album.

As usual he began with his unaccompanied traditional Irish song Derry Jail which harkened back to Folk clubs of old. The opening to his performance not only warmed up his vocal chords but immediately endeared him to hardy folk club members. But Sam is far from an old traditional performer; he as much a part of the revival of folk music into modern times as many new performers.

He announced that he was returning from a short enforced break from live performance due to the birth of his now 4 month old child. Several references to whom showed he was trying to get accustomed to this first brief separation, but many are the trials of a wandering musician as his song Driving Way Home explained.

The break has certainly not allowed any rust to settle on his act as an upbeat love song, Sailor’s Song, and the whisky drinking Back on the Jack followed. Americana is certainly live and kicking in Yorkshire. A proud Yorkshire lad loves to embellish his music with a Yorky link as his echoey vocals on Holmfirth Anthem showed. Here he displayed his astute microphone technique to the full.

A CELTIC LILT…

An amusing story from an incident in an Otley café, that fortunately hasn’t undermined his ego, is preceded by showing that his song writing is sometimes the result of avid research. The book, The Seeds of Love, results in a Cumbrian song, The Recruited Collier, with a Celtic lilt reminiscent of a Dougie Maclean style.

Clearly enjoying his welcome at Over Hulton, he loses his perception of time. Although he himself recognised folk from the other side of the Pennines had a dour reputation his performance is far from it as his music and delivery is uplifting and a feelgood feeling permeated the room.

A whistlestop tour of Northern England began the second set. A Scouse double bill allowed for some audience participation in songs about the Liverpool Packet. Then a trip to a notorious characterful Leeds pub where we met The Last of the Yorkshire Outlaws. The infamous songwriter from Tyneside, Bob Davenport, gets an airing before we return to Yorkshire for the song which is the title track of his latest album Drop of Morning Dew (review here) recorded at Bacca Pipes Folk Club, Keighley, where you can not only get good company and good music but also advice on retaining youthful looks.

THE BALLAD OF MICK & SUSIE

A new song, The Ballad of Mick and Susie, is a tribute to two travellers who not only enjoy singing in pubs themselves but fight for travellers rights. This was very evocative as you could almost imagine the clip clopping of horses pulling travellers transport along.

As well as steeped in Yorkshire roots Sam has a deep affinity with the deep southern states of America, as his song with a waltz rhythm Long Gone showed.

We seemed to have lost a sense of time as before we knew it, the show concluded with a Celtic love song, which resonated with him more since the birth of his daughter. Yet he couldn’t leave without one more jokey love song Love by Wings.

His guitar expertise, whether slide or finger picking is matched by the warm, witty and honest rapport Sam has with his audience. Now that he is back on the road I hope his reputation will continue to grow. So I’m off now to splash some morning dew over may ageing face but I fear it’s something of a lost cause!

You can check out all of Sam Barrett’s forthcoming tour dates here.

UP NEXT…

It shouldn’t go unnoticed that many a performer at OHFC pay respect to the hardworking background team, which included tonight’s support act, Brian Jones, for keeping folk music alive. A deserving accolade as they regular offer up high quality acts. Folk legend Bob Fox is up next in November before the year ends with the popular Tennessee Waltz returning in December. You can buy tickets for those shows, here.

Sam Barrett: Website / Facebook / Twitter / YouTube / Bandcamp

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