Laura sings beyond her years

When I heard the Guardian rate Laura Marling alongsides Dylan, Laura being a mere girl of just 20 from England, you can imagine my scepticism.

However I am amazed to find she has a fantastic voice. This song 'Devils Spoke' sounds like a cross between Led Zep and Joni Mitchell. Her new album "I Speak Because I Can" is a great record.

The song below is the title track.



On the home front, we've bought a load of fishing gear and plan to fish us some snapper over Easter. They are called 'pannies' I think becuase they fit just nicely in the frying pan.

Citizens of Womadia gathered, danced, ate, sang and departed

New Plymouth hosted WOMAD over the weekend, and it was our third return to the festival where we became citizens of Womadia. It's such a great site, spread over the beautiful Brooklands park with 3 main stages and 2 smaller stages so there is always something worth seeing and a chance to talk to the artists during the workshop/chat sessions. More than ever the audience was mixed of all generations from babes & toddlers to grannies with walking frames -  a real family gathering.

Saturday was only dampened slightly by a feint sprinkling of rain and did not diffuse the joy and energy from the crowd or the bands.  Sunday the sun shone all day and I could see large doses of sunscreen being applied along with beer and other substances.

Best acts for me were Calexico from Tucson Arizona (saw them twice), Babylon Circus (France) and House of Shem (NZ). Hypnotic Brass Ensemble (Chicago) looked interesting but we missed their performance and saw their workshop where they played a little bit of music. It was hypnotic though.


Babylon Circus made the crowd dance and forget the light shower of rain... (I am near the front of this bouncing crowd)
 

Calexico rocked with Southern US and Mexican flavours...

Luckily we were able to stay with the lovely Patricia and Richard who looked after us splendidly. A good weekend all round. And the wonderful Mount Taranaki shed its usual veil of clouds for us ...

Angelina

This is pure poetry in this little known song.
And I always laugh at the line that rhymes Angelina with Subpoena.

Well, it’s always been my nature to take chances
My right hand drawing back while my left hand advances
Where the current is strong and the monkey dances
To the tune of a concertina