Bailey Carthy KirkpatrickThe Purcell Room, London.
2 November 2005.

Tonight London's South Centre's magical 'Folk in the Fall' series brings together three gurus of the genre.

Roy Bailey (above), described by Tony Benn as  "the greatest socialist folksinger of his generation", thanks those in the  audience who have sent in their best wishes and birthday cards on the recent  occasion of his seventieth birthday. He announces he simply hasn't got time to  reply to all 350 of them!

Taking the stage with Roy tonight are two trusted peers of the realm.

Martin Carthy (above), with whom he formed '3 City 4' back in 1964 with Leon  Rosselson, is best known for his solo works and many  collaborations with the likes of Steeleye Span, The Albion Band, Waterson Carthy  and many more. He has just won the 2005 BBC Radio 2 'Folk Singer of the Year'  award.

John Kirkpatrick (above) is 'the master of the buttons', an accomplished musician and  exponent of the accordion, concertina and many other squeezebox style  instruments. He was a collaborator with McCarthy in folk outfits such as Brass  Monkey and the Band of Hope and more recently has been a regular tour sideman  for Roy.

Tonight's fabulous concert showcases a wide variety of material  performed as trio, duo or solo pieces. But it's the music delivered by the complete trio that engages most directly with the three amigos at their very  best on songs about struggle and defiance.

This is hardly surprising when you consider one of Roy's more recent accolades includes picking up BBC Radio  2's 'Best Live Act' in 2003 for his performances with the aforementioned Labour legend, Mr Benn. Songs such as Tom Robinson's 'Blood brother', 'The Ballad of Vic Williams' and 'When Johnny comes marching home' are among the highlights  here tonight.

First set: Nottingham Captain; Captain Swing; Charming Maid; Limbo; The Poison Train (there's a light); Let your hair hang down; King  George III Minuet; Prince William of Gloucester Waltz; Bonnie Woodhall; When Johnny comes marching home; Ballad of Vic Williams.

Second set: Watermans  hornpipe; O Palestine; 3 jigs - Oscar Wood's Jig - Hyde Park - 1300 Jig; Rufford  Park Poachers; Send 'em back to Georgia; See it come down; Blood brother;  Carthy's march; Lemon tree; If they come in the morning; I ain't afraid;  [encore] Friends like these.
 

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