Anthony John Clarke, Bek Jones – Over Hulton Folk Club

BEK JONES

In these difficult days of worrying attendances, it was good to see a well populated club appreciate a fine evening’s entertainment, starting as we did with an introductory set by local singer songwriter Bek Jones, appearing solo tonight, though other versions are apparently available.

Rich of voice and with a knack of introducing a reflective song with both depth and humour, the audience was drawn in from the start with her To Be Loved By You followed by  her tale inspired by the sight of a lady talking to a gravestone  and her reflection on the subject of grief.  Her preamble took us down and then brought us back with a laugh, not an uncommon event as the night progressed.  Her own songs have an intimacy that takes us into her world and her finger picking guitar style allows both her lyrics and voice to be appreciated, as both are delivered unhurriedly. 

As the all too short set drew towards a close, we were taken a little further into her musical world, as she offered the audience a choice between a cover of Nancy Sinatra or Doris Day.  Whilst the former was the first choice, the reception demanded that Doris also make an appearance.  Sometimes whatever will be will indeed be.  She was later generously praised by the headline act, which was well deserved and the fabulous shoes she was wearing also deserve a mention!

AJ CLARKE

Good as the songs are, there’s so much more to an Anthony John Clarke gig – a not inconsiderable amount of which comes from the presence of Julia Porter.  The interplay between them is delightfully warm – the product of a near and soon to be celebrated 50 year relationship!

The Northern Ireland native, scouse adoptee gives us as enjoyable a folk club set as you are likely to get anywhere.  The songs emerge from the banter, which re-emerges during the songs.  The interplay with the audience is apparently effortless – the result of another near 50 years’ experience, which also deserves celebrating!

From the start, there’s a seamless move from a musical amusement to one of emotional depth, We Pulled Through is AJ and Julia’s own celebration of their 50 years and not unknown to the audience, as they add their voices to the key points. You are gradually drawn into their world, so the feeling is one of having a night out, or even a relaxing night in with old friends, which so many of the audience appear to be!

The Broken Years is a serious reflection on the experience and the hopes of The Troubles, coming straight in after a fabulous story that starts gravely and ends in laughter, all followed by ‘I’m My Own Grandpa’ bloody clever lyrics, delivered at pace, a considerable feat of memory and opportunity for a little musical diversion reminding us that he can play that guitar a bit too.

CULTURAL REFERENCES

The set abounds with cultural references that resonate with his audience as well as frequently self-deprecating references to his career and the ongoing interplay between himself and Julia.  We are treated to a hark back to his days as a schoolteacher, the story of a bully with a twist in the intro and the song as demanded by an ex-student – but it isn’t to be given away here – these things are better experienced live – and you will thank us for the recommendation.

The first set ends with An Afternoon In August a reflection on the experience of visiting war graves and how it changed his perception of events and a song that has been covered multiple times, including finding favour with Joanna Lumley, and who among us wouldn’t want to do that?

And we start the second set with more of the same.  The audience are played like an extra instrument but beyond the repartee there’s a real tenderness to many of the songs and real knowingness to others. We reach the point ofTuesday Night Is Always Karaoke’- possibly his signature song these days – embellished by a full-throated audience singalong and interspersed one-liners!

MANFRED MEDLEY

After the appreciation of Bek and her appreciation of Nancy and Doris, a triumvirate of divas was completed by channelling Julie Andrews, as we are introduced to a litany of ‘favourite folk festival things’. After the masterstroke of working a Manfred Mann medley into a song about his mum, the well-deserved encore saw the duo become a trio with the addition of your host and club organiser Corrie Shelley, as we were taken out ‘Walking on Sunday’.

In between the numerous references to Nuns, harking back to his formative years and the treatment of social concerns, as in the story of the homeless and troubled Gloria, what Anthony John Clarke really offers, along with Julia of course, is true love and humanity, to a world that needs as much of both as it can get right now.

Bek Jones: Facebook

Over Hulton Folk Club: Website

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