Big Tent And The Gypsy Lantern - Nettleton Beer & Music Festival - 26th June 2011 (Live Review)
Monday, 04 July 2011
Written by Alice Findlay
Nettleton is a small village on the cusp of the Lincolnshire wolds. Sunday the 26th of June saw the quiet village transform into a louder village with the annual Nettleton Beer and Music Festival. Providing music and beer all afternoon and into the sweet summer evening graciously projected from the truck stage. The festival had been looked down on by the weather gods, the Lincolnshire brewed cider was sweet dry and strong. A gem for the week’s end.
This year the festival provided a treat for the local appetite with the visit of Caistor born Paul Newman and Lincolnshire local Thomas Lenthall, accompanied by George Kirkham. All of who are currently studying at the Birmingham conservatoire and gracing the festival with their trio Big Tent and the Gypsy Lantern.
Big Tent and the Gypsy Lantern are Paul Newman on 6 string, Voice and Ukulele, Thomas Lenthall on Accordion, Voice, and Ukulele, George Kirkham on Drum Board, Voice and Pot.
All three are currently studying music at the Birmingham Conservatoire. Which went some way to explain the in between song tuning (it must be the training), which was accompanied with relaxed and witty remarks to keep the listeners from alienation. The set they played was an insight to the musical minds growing time. It was compiled of both original and covered material. They opened with Hotel Forcea an original track by the band with Thomas playing Ukulele, Paul on Guitar and voice and George on Drum Board. Yes there is a particular name to describe this invention but I prefer Drum Board, it looked like a metal washing scrub but pronounced sounds of the drummed persuasion. Drum Board therefore describes perfectly what it is. As does pot for George‘s pot.
The musical manipulation of instruments was showcased in the third song with the creation of a Banjo. Magically transformed from a guitar to a banjo with the use of a sock. The result was a little plunkier and heavier than a banjo, but indeed definitely more banjo than guitar. The band played with a fiercely emotive essence that seeded from very tuned and deep musical study appreciation that is life long and held strong. The boys played for an hour… exclusive of tuning tweaks. A variety of original and covered material. Covers included Ben Fold’s Bitch Went Nuts played with humorous and light-hearted appreciation showing a lighter side to the compositional cerfuff reassuring that even the conservatoire training doesn‘t sap your sense of fun. The version rendered the track to Guitar, Ukulele and Drum Board. The boys ended with a Ukulele and Drum Board rendition of Mumford and Sons The Cave, three piece harmony’s that rendered the cover brilliantly capturing and captivating. Making me think Banjo though I love you greatly…viva la ukulele!
The boys have captured the rise and fall aspect of music to performance perfection; it’s goosepimply listening. Their track 'The Hangover', commented during performance to have evolved over two years from a caught riff, lyrically exploring what the title says. Cradling the lyrical musings of “Closer to confusion but far away it seems” implying the miserable hung-over musings that have gone deep and having “had a hangover for too long now” so combined with beautifully contemplative composition that seem to have the urge to raise that mundane morning after to much better. And why the hell not. Also included in the set was a traditional folk song Lord Exmouth, sung by Thomas and accompanied by him on accordion drone and harmonised vocally by Paul. The song was projected boldly telling a tale of woe and adventure, and performed with an poignant essence. Another of Big Tent and the Gypsy Lantern’s originals includes Curious for a political solution; played in this instance with Guitar, Accordion and Drum Board. The song’s haunting melodies complementing the daunting cry of “leave us all behind… make it up while you live at large”.
The trio creates a highly evocative sound that captures the musical exploration that the boys have engaged in, and take in the listener to enjoy the musical musings. The trio have gained a wealth of knowledge in their chosen study and the natural talent that is prevalent through their eased multi-instrumental interchanges.
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