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Post by grant on Nov 6, 2016 13:00:49 GMT
Hello John and Jim, Just to let you know that I called at the box office today and bought the tickets beside you for Grant and myself. Gordon Thanks Gordon, Looking forward to it. Have booked my regular room at the Croydon Travelodge
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Post by grant on Jun 25, 2016 17:46:45 GMT
This is a sad day for The UK. It looks like the Labour vote has turned it. On the Contrary Martin, it was a great result. We get our country back! Yes, there will be a period of uncertainty but the FTSE is up 2 from Monday and sterling is rallying and will soon regain its strength as it always does. I gather Obama and Germany now want bi-lateral trade agreements (Woopee!) and Korea, India and Canada also want the same. We're the 5th most powerful nation for heavens sake. The EU hasn't been a "Union" for many years and every day becomes more of a dictatorship. had we stayed a member, my worry was that we would loose what little influence we have at the moment. Within a few years the NHS, the £ and everything else that Junker don't like would be just a distant memory. Even now, the EU is trying to bully the UK into signing Article 50 to get the process moving. Oh! And I also hear that the Netherlands are now considering a Referendum - how many more will follow? (that will be another 4 then!)
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Post by grant on Jun 14, 2016 9:08:03 GMT
Excellent report Martin.
Sorry you felt we abandoned you all. I also anticipated a gathering across the road at the Conrad. Eugene even said something to that effect but then someone said the bar we usually go to was closed for refurbishment; Eugene and party had gone off to a bar somewhere else so, with nothing else semingly on the cards we drifted back to our hotel and had a couple there.
Cheers Grant
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Post by grant on Jun 13, 2016 13:58:03 GMT
a great review Grant, and you hit the nail on the head when you said " our girl is better than ever" -let's hope the album comes out sooner, rather than later, and there is a tour to follow. Thank you, it was written from the heart
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Post by grant on Jun 13, 2016 13:41:48 GMT
HaHa! So did anyone else spot the deliberate mistake in my concert ramblings?? I hope not. That really was a senior moment. Thanks Paddy
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Post by grant on Jun 13, 2016 12:15:35 GMT
Hello everyone
Had a great time in Dublin despite the awful weather. Good to meet so many friendly faces on Saturday night.
So, time for a few words from me. Really sorry but I have no pictures as the NCH staff were proving un-cooperative. Joyce managed a few which I hope she will share eventually.
IT REALLY WAS A NIGHT TO REMEMBER WOW! (long pause while he thinks?) What a very special; very amazing night June 11th 2016 in Dublin was. It was also the longest time between Hayley concerts since I first went down to London to see her in September 2005. For me, there have been 78 performances (not all concerts) in between – this one was also the most expensive with Dublin hotel prices being double what I paid the last time I visited Dublin, but hey! It’s only money, right?? Who knows when we will next see her in concert. Hayley herself doesn’t know as she told me after the concert that she is concentrating on the new album. I think it saddens her too. Anyway, for me it was money well spent for a remarkable evening full of surprises (not all of which I fully appreciated on the night but more of that later) with a very special lady for whom I have much love and huge respect.
There had been some concern expressed on the forum in the weeks leading up to the concert with ticket sales not up to the expected levels. However, they did pick up and the concert hall looked pretty full on the night. Taking my seat, I’m as close to Hayley's microphone stand as it is possible to be and oh! I’d forgotten how comfortable the seats in the NCH are.
We already have a set list; like last time, the NCH have produced a quality flyer instead of a programme which has on it all the information needed without the obligatory advertising. Hayley's songs are an eclectic mix of early songs; current favourites and, of special interest, a fair bit of “new” material, so I’m looking forward to the next couple of hours with great excitement. The orchestra take their seats and begin to warm up. Presently, Conductor Robert Houlihan strides into view and takes a bow to enthusiastic applause from the audience. The music strikes up, there are murmurs; a few shivers up a variety of spines; some “tingles” as Hayley herself expresses it. Footsteps. The murmurs grow and soon develop into applause. Hayley is on stage wearing a full length brown dress and black sandals.
Hayley's first song is “Across the Universe of Time”. I know it of course, but it doesn’t sound familiar. Gosh, it’s a long time since I heard this one live. I soon give up trying to remember when, to listen to the wondrous sound of Hayley belting out a song as only Hayley can. There may have been quite a gap between concerts but if anything, our girl is better than ever.
I don’t intend to comment on every song – I’d be writing this up for days! But it was nice to hear Hayley sing some different and new songs and I particularly liked the arrangement of the Lennon/McCartney classic “Here, There And Everywhere”. My favourite for the first half though (and ultimately for the concert I feel) was “Who Will Echo My Heart” a collaboration between Hayley, Ronan Hardiman and Steven Baker. This was for me, a song full of surprises sometimes soft and gentle then soaring to a dramatic crescendo with Hayley seemingly giving everything she’d got, but no. The next phrases required even more from her and so it went on. Most of the concert seemed like this and it did feel as though Hayley was trying to give the performance of her life to make up for her long absence. Well Hayley, you did for me and, given some of the audience responses, I was not alone. The first half finished with “Wuthering Heights” and more enthusiastic applause.
Hayley returned to stage for the second part of the concert wearing a short, just above the knee red dress with a slightly flared skirt and with white and black beading around the hem and bodice. Her tights were smoke grey not black and she wore black platform shoes. With her lighter hair much more curly than on the photo she tweeted this was a look that really suited her. The second half began for me, very much like the first with Hayley singing “Beat Of Your Heart” Crikey! When did I last hear Hayley sing that live? (Answers on a postcard please!) It was after this that Hayley had her lapse of concentration talking as though she would sing it next. I think I was the first to applaud and many others joined in and Hayley laughed at herself once her mistake had been explained to her. But you know, this is what I love so much about Hayley. She is human after all and still manages to take little hiccups in her stride – even when they are not of her own making but especially when they are.
This is also probably a good place to comment on the relationship between Hayley, the conductor and the orchestra. On several occasions during the concert, she herself applauded them commenting on the ease with which they adapted to the different styles of orchestral accompaniment required during the evening.
A bit further into the second half Hayley sang Jolene, commenting that it is one she is most asked to sing at friends barbecues usually accompanying herself on guitar so this was, I think the first time she has sung it with orchestral accompaniment. Haven’t checked that though!
On particularly exceptional masterpiece was “Amazing Grace”. Why? you might well ask, but this time it was to a very different arrangement and one I love very much. Hayley sang the first verse normally – fine, then the orchestra played without Hayley and finally Hayley sang the Japanese arrangement. If you haven’t heard it you may need to get the Japanese album with it on. It’s worth it. Another new one for me was “Black Is The Colour (Of My True Love’s Hair) again saying she usually sings this to guitar accompaniment although it was a new one to me; as was “Greener Lands” another new one by Hayley, Tom De Luca and Steven Baker. The formal part of the concert ended with “Bridge Over Troubled Water” which appears to have overtaken “Wuthering Heights” as Hayley's finale piece. Not complaining though – love that one too!
We had to work hard for an encore and when Hayley did return to stage, it was to a standing ovation. Such a response to any performance must give a performer such a lift – Hayley certainly seemed to appreciate it. The encore song was "Pokarekare Ana" which is always good to hear and one of the early songs from which I knew that I was going to like this new girl in my life. Along with "Hine" these are, and will remain, two of my all time favourites from Hayley's growing repertoire.
Now it seems a second encore hadn’t been anticipated but this audience weren’t going to let Hayley go without one. Hayley even suggesting with a chuckle “It’s late, haven’t you got a train to catch” but no, no train to catch. Tim has no music for an additional song. Tim and Hayley go into a huddle by the piano and a plot is hatched. Totally impromptu, Hayley and Tim gave us “Over The Rainbow” and a very satisfied audience were on their feet again for a second standing ovation. Quite rare, even for Hayley but Oh so well deserved!
We left the auditorium to await the signing session that will follow but things are different. Sadly, the NCH staff have never been that accommodating although the last signing at the NCH did go on. Hayley has so many fans here in Ireland and lots stay to say hello or have something signed. One change meant that Hayley would not be having her photo taken with people. Joyce managed to take a few but I gave up in the end although it did give me the opportunity to watch the proceedings other than through a camera viewfinder. It was still gone 11pm before the last of us got to say Hi to Hayley and it was so lovely to see her again.
FOOTNOTE: After the concert Martin, Gordon and myself returned to our hotel to relax with a drink and share our thoughts and feelings. I was still wondering when I last heard those two songs that Hayley began each half with. “Across the Universe of Time” and “Beat Of Your Heart”. I though maybe it was as long ago as Toast New Zealand way back in July 2006. It wasn’t, and I got quite a shock going back through my set lists.
I guess I should have realised, they are such well known Hayley songs but I didn’t understand why I didn’t recognise them being sung live and there is a very good reason for that. I have never heard Hayley sing either live before Saturday night. I think deep down I knew but despite having seen Hayley so many times, I didn’t “find” her until after the Pure Tour and I guess then they would have been on every set list during that one.
So, a huge “Thank You” Hayley for including those songs you made the night and the concert so special, even if I didn’t realise it at the time!
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Post by grant on Jun 7, 2016 17:43:51 GMT
I'd have to say yes Comet. Saturday will be my third visit to the NCH to see Hayley and I believe she has played there at least once before. I have seen her perform twice at St James Church London, St George's Church Telford, Gawsworth Hall, Fairfield Hall and Venue Cymru, so I suspect most other places would be a maximum of two. Saturday will also be my fourth consecutive concert in Ireland. Union Chapel seems a long time ago and Gwyl Gobaith (Aug. 2012) a lifetime ago! Cheers Grant I have seen Hayley perform at least five times at the Royal Albert Hall, and I know she has also sung there in my absence. But those were all guest appearances; not Hayley concerts as such, so maybe they don't count Mmmm! Wondered about the RAH. Comet used the word "performed" which doesn't necessarily imply concert, so it appears to be between the NCH and the RAH. Will have to see if Hayley has the answer. Cheers Grant
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Post by grant on Jun 7, 2016 17:40:54 GMT
Wh'd be daft enough to let a football match interfere with a Hayley concert? ? Well I could have used that line! Or are you sugggesting that avid football supporters aren't mostly daft? Me and Martin D excepted, of course! I think. Dave HaHa! Just waiting to see whose cage would rattle first. Sorry Dave!
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Post by grant on Jun 7, 2016 12:31:21 GMT
Question : Is the National Concert Hall in Dublin the venue that Hayley has performed most often in ? I'd have to say yes Comet. Saturday will be my third visit to the NCH to see Hayley and I believe she has played there at least once before. I have seen her perform twice at St James Church London, St George's Church Telford, Gawsworth Hall, Fairfield Hall and Venue Cymru, so I suspect most other places would be a maximum of two. Saturday will also be my fourth consecutive concert in Ireland. Union Chapel seems a long time ago and Gwyl Gobaith (Aug. 2012) a lifetime ago! Cheers Grant
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Post by grant on Jun 7, 2016 12:24:04 GMT
I hope none of you concert-goers are England football fans because Hayley will be serenading you throughout the England team's first match in the European Championships on Saturday! It's crossed my mind that the clash may have harmed the concert attendance to some extent, even though it's in Ireland, because some football supporters will want to watch all the matches, wherever their allegiances lie. Cheers, Dave Wh'd be daft enough to let a football match interfere with a Hayley concert? ?
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Post by grant on Jun 3, 2016 13:50:11 GMT
Thanks Comet and Paddy, nice interview and a few snippets of info about the concert. Looking forward to hearing the "new" songs Also looking forward to meeting up with everyone again. Grant
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Post by grant on Mar 22, 2016 18:46:38 GMT
Love the picture of Chloë in the green tee shirt. That's as good as you can get without buying professional cameras and lenses. Try and remember Libby that several of our members on HWI are as good or better than professional photographers. They usually carry cameras as big as a brick and super lenses that may have cost well over a €1,000, Some of them will take up to a thousand shots at a concert. We are very lucky to have them among us at various concerts. But as you well know, any photos are better than no photos at all, so thanks for the pics Libby, well done. Well said Comet. Your pictures are fine Libby. Even professional cameras can struggle in low light with a moving subject and spotlights are a nightmare! which is why the face on one of your pictures appears burnt out. You did very well - expecially the one with green teeshirt and white skirt - you have nothing to apologise for Cheers Grant
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Post by grant on Feb 25, 2016 18:45:46 GMT
Now I know who bought B16! Welcome back to Ireland. Actually I haven't booked yet, but if seats are selling quickly perhaps I should. I think I need a new passport too! Plus the usual fun with flights and hotels, so I was hoping for a quick confirmation. Perhaps I need to re-read the reports from the last concert to remind me which flights and hotel I used. Martin D I've sent you a PM Martin
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Post by grant on Feb 23, 2016 18:35:54 GMT
B19 Booked!! My 80th Hayley concert and the fourth consecutive one in Ireland! Phew! Not to worry,Grant. I'll find two shillelaghs to help you ..... It's my 80th concert Paddy, not my 80th birthday! HaHa
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Post by grant on Feb 23, 2016 9:57:56 GMT
B19 Booked!! My 80th Hayley concert and the fourth consecutive one in Ireland! Phew!
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