The Quartet feat. Syd Arthur live in Canterbury!

Friday 12th April 2019
St. Thomas Hall, Canterbury

St. Pancras Old Church yesterday. Last show tonight in Canterbury at St. Thomas’ Hall, Burgate. Doors at 7.30, Nelson Parade support - see you there... pic.twitter.com/lglya1wAF7

— Jack Hues Quartet (@JackHuesQuartet) 12 April 2019

Big love to all who came last night. What an atmosphere in Canterbury!!!!! Thanks for all the support pic.twitter.com/zIxHzd64pj

— Syd Arthur (@sydarthurband) 13 April 2019

 

Joel asked if I could come early and help with the door, which I was more than happy to do. I ended up setting up the lights too, as the crew were really pushed for time. And what an epic gig! I was standing on a chair at the back, looking over the top of the 120 capacity audience, all listening with pin-drop attention, and myself literally jaw-dropped for large chunks of the set. They opened with Radiohead's "Weird Fishes" (an instrumental version), the set also including Wyatt's "Sea Song" (Jack on vocals), Soft Machine's "Facelift" (mighty!), their jammed-out reworking of Beck's "Nobody's Fault But Mine" (as recently released on vinyl), Talk Talk's "Myrrhman" (off Laughing Stock, something I never expected to hear covered) and a very Crimson-esque Jack Hues original.

The Syd Arthur contingent was just Joel and Josh this time. Liam was at the back by the sound desk looking like he was really enjoying it. Not sure where Raven was. According to Josh afterwards, it wasn't as good as the previous night in London, so I look forward to hearing the recording that apparently got made of that!

Witnessing the Led Bib and Syd Arthur rhythm sections united for a monster "Facelift" in Canterbury with 120 other deep listeners had me feeling for about 15 minutes that all was well in the world! Hugh Hopper's widow Christine was at the back with her eyes closed, spinning around, looking completely blissed out. At one point, she, Emily (of Bagpuss fame) and Emily's partner Justin (trumpeter from the Happy Accidents) were spotted "prog line dancing"!

I'd never been in St. Thomas Hall before (it's attached to Canterbury's Roman Catholic Church, within the city walls). Turns out it has quite a prog/psych legacy!

There was a support set from Nelson Parade too, easily the best I've seen from them. Onward and upward...