Morris On Band in The Great Grandson of Morris On, Trowbridge Festival England 2004.07.25, MD master aud FLAC



Sony mic/Sony MZ R90/USB transfer to adobe audition from Sony RHI >Tracks> Flac 8



From the BBC website re the CD -

"No more!" was Ashley's cry after Grandson Of Morris On. Yet a mere two years later, the irrepressible Mr Hutchings dusts off the perambulator and proudly wheels out his English dance music dynasty's fourth generation. Just like its predecessors (1972's Morris On, 1976's Son Of..., 2002's Grandson...), the new sprog positively bounces with energy, jolly tunefulness and the jingling and capering of some of the finest legs in the land.

Central to the customary cast of thousands, the Guv'nor's current core team boasts Roger Wilson, Simon Care, Ken Nicol and Guy Fletcher. A curiously under-fêted singer, Wilson does a fine vocal job on Hutchings/Nicol originals At The May Day Celebrations and The Field And The Farm (in which we hear the voice of the morris hanky!) while Nicol takes the honours on the brass-fuelled Every Year When The Wakes Come Along. Standout song, though, is the poignant First Day At t'Mill: words by Mabel F Harrison, tune by Bernard Wrigley, accapella vox by Judy Dunlop. It segues into The Godley Hill Set where the clogs of women's side Yorkshire Chandelier signal a welcome broadening of the morris spectrum beyond the Cotswolds.

It's the tunes, though, that really grab the ear, jiggle the feet and continue to vindicate Hutchings' original inspiration. Special guests John Spiers and Jon Boden mesmerisingly fiddle, squeeze and stomp through Banbury Bill and Shepherds' Hey, John Shepherd is a one-man-consort on London Pride and The Rose and Neil Wayne's concertina drives another good northern tune, Winster Morris Reel. Outside Capering Crew and Dog Rose Morris (honourable mention to the latter's fiddler Bryony Griffith for a lovely Swaggering Boney and other contributions) have a grand time.

This is a live offering though inside a large marquee at the Trowbridge Festival. Having set a cautious record level on the minidisc during a very quick sound check, the sound man proceeds to wack up the level to deafening proportions causing distortion on the first track. I quickly paused the recorder and lowered the record level (not quite enough in my view) and missed the first few seconds of the next track.

I didn't like this festival, too many people crammed into a small area, and in an emergency situation I doubt if they could all leave quickly. However, the playing was superb!!




01 intro
02 At the May Day celebrations
03 Tunes
04 Blue eyed stranger
05 Base over apex
06 Tom Long's post
07 Doggerel/Under the old myrtle tree/Morning star/Billy boy/Banks of the Dee
08 Gloucester hornpipe/Mr Trill's song
09 Little Johnny England
10 Garland gay
11 Cuckoo's nest
12 The snake
13 Postman's knock
14 Morris Tune?


Ashley Hutchings Bass/vocals
Simon Care Melodian
Roger Wilson Fiddle/guitar
Ken Nicol Lead guitar
Guy Fletcher Drums/fiddle