BARBARA DICKSON - SWAN THEATRE, HIGH WYCOMBE
13 October, 2002
"Intimate" was the way Barbara described the first concert of her six-date autumn tour at the Swan Theatre in High Wycombe, and that was the perfect way to describe it. Accompanied by Troy Donockley (Uilleann pipes), Jerry Stevenson (guitars) and Neil Drinkwater (keyboards), this was a far more scaled-down affair than in recent years, almost at times an acoustic set.
Many fans had assumed that this might be a re-run of the set list from Barbara's May tour, but never one to settle for the easy option, Barbara had selected a varied mix of songs from all areas of her repertoire. Included were popular renditions of two of her hits, "Caravans" and "Another Suitcase In Another Hall" from Evita, but for the most part this was an evening of some of Barbara's own favourites.
Mention of "Blood Brothers" brought an immediate round of applause and it led into a heartfelt rendition of "Easy Terms", a powerful and poignant song which Barbara has gone on record as saying was what immediately attracted her to the show way back in 1983.
It was also wonderful to hear Barbara once again perform "The Skye Boat Song" which she originally recorded in 1984 and a song which she told the audience she had avoided singing for many years as it had been drummed into her at school!
"Wayfaring Stranger" was a traditional song I had never heard Barbara perform before (although I was familiar with the late Eva Cassidy's version) and it provoked an extremely positive response from the audience, as did the moving traditional Irish ballad, "My Singing Bird".
There was a lovely version of Sandy Denny's "Who Knows Where The Time Goes?" and one of Barbara's favourite songwriters, Randy Newman, was represented with "I Think It's Going To Rain Today".
The amazing thing about Barbara's music is the sheer eclecticism of her material, and nothing demonstrated this more than when she announced two songs from German dramatist Berthold Brecht. "The Wife Of The Soldier" is featured on Barbara's latest "For The Record" album, but it was the spectacular reading of "Pirate Jenny" from Brecht's "The Threepenny Opera" which really showcased just how versatile a singer she is, and the audience adored it.
Barbara also referred to "John Paul George Ringo...and Bert" and her love of The Beatles' music, and announced that she would sing two of their songs "just to keep my hand in!" "I Will Wait For You" was a popular choice, again featured on her latest album, but the highlight of the evening for me was Barbara's stunning version of Lennon and McCartney's "She's Leaving Home".
As the night drew to a close the packed theatre's rapturous applause enticed Barbara and her band back for two final encores.
Barbara has, quite simply, never sounded better, her choice of material was perfect and with the accomplished playing of Neil, Jerry and Troy this was just a glorious evening.
(Alan Clyde)
