Joe
Administrator
Supporting Hayley since 2003!
Posts: 6,703
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Post by Joe on Jul 18, 2008 0:43:49 GMT
Hello Drew, Colin, Peter, and Grant,
Many thanks for reporting back so quickly! I'm pleased that you were led to the Green Room.
Looking forward to more photos...although the camera police were out n about.
Best wishes, Joe
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Post by grant on Jul 18, 2008 1:24:13 GMT
Hello again!
Part 2 Fiona opened the second half with one of her best, telling the audience “I think you should know this one, especially you guys on the front row!” It was of course Hava Nagila, for which we are all required to clap in time as Fiona’s playing becomes faster and faster. It’s clear to see how much she loves playing this piece, particularly when the audience joins in.
Hayley now returned to stage in the ‘new’ coral (or salmon) pink gown which earned her a few more whistles, going straight into “Mummer’s Dance”, explaining afterwards what it was about. Talk of Hayley's homeland; of lakes; of beaches and snow capped mountains and “Hands up who’s been to New Zealand” preceded “May It Be”. Almost as soon as she had walked onto stage at the very beginning of the concert, Hayley had scanned ‘her front row’, and it was during May It Be that she seemed to hold eye contact with me for several seconds. She was certainly very aware of our presence and several times acknowledged our vigorous applause or appreciative comments with a glance or a smile.
Both Hayley and Fiona had commented on the acoustics and how good they were and that they really enjoyed their sound check because of that. Notwithstanding that, Hayley sounded magnificent throughout all of her songs up to this point, but things were about to go up a notch!
When Hayley began talking about her trip to Japan and the Japanese album, there was only one possible reason, she was going to sing something from it! At last! “I Am A Thousand Winds” live!!! I was mesmerised and couldn’t take my eyes off Hayley – watching her every facial expression. I tell you friends, my goosebumps goosebumps had goosebumps!! Hayley even acknowledged my voiced appreciation with a sweet smile.
But just when you thought it couldn’t get better, Hayley followed up with “Songbird” – “A new song for me and one I’ve recently started singing” said Hayley. Next came Santa Lucia with just Andy on guitar for accompaniment. This is for me a very catchy song and one I feel Hayley always enjoys singing. Hayley's last song is Hine and she told the story of the kiwi bird climbing into the satellite dish at the end of TV transmissions “Of course, I’m too young to remember” giggled Hayley.
The level of applause ensured that Hayley would return for an encore and sure enough we were treated to “Sonny” – don’t think I’ll ever tire of hearing this one. I’m sure we would have got another one; Hayley returned but no musicians. They did eventually arrive, after Drew had suggested something A capella, but when they did arrive on stage, Fiona had already changed which caused much hilarity, so that was it for the music, but what a night!
Whilst Drew and Martin handed out flyers, we waited to go up to the Green Room. It seems that most of Steve’s family has been at the concert, plus a number of other people who work for Hayley and Bedlam; travel agents and the like, so there was quite a large gathering by the time that Ray came down to fetch us. Hayley was being kept busy being introduced and having her picture taken.
I guess we must have been up there a good half hour, for the most part I concentrated on getting as many pictures as I could whilst chatting to several of the guests, some of whom though I was a professional photographer there to record the event! Eventually, Hayley got round to us and we were able to tell her that we had enjoyed a fantastic concert; that we were so happy to have heard 1000 Winds and Songbird and also to stress our feelings about the Japanese album. To digress slightly here, there would appear to be no intention to market this album outside Japan although Steve said he hoped to get some copies to sell at concert signings. Both Hayley and Steve mentioned that there has also been an approach to do a follow up album.
With guests dwindling away and pretty much only us left, Ray indicates that they will need to get going, apparently Hayley is filming for the ‘Best Of’ EPK tomorrow – err today! And on Saturday (her day off) she is back in the studio.
Having said our goodbye’s, Hayley led us back downstairs, she going to collect her belongings from her dressing room, us to the stage door, at the end of another very special evening, and to our respective homes.
More pictures tomorrow.
Best wishes Grant
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Post by Karsten on Jul 18, 2008 4:50:36 GMT
Many thanks for your very quick reports, especially to Grant for his as always very detailed one. Please don't hesitate posting the pictures. All the best, Karsten
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Post by graemek on Jul 18, 2008 5:23:43 GMT
Great Work Grant !!!!!Like I was sitting there.... Graeme
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Post by timj on Jul 18, 2008 5:38:56 GMT
Thanks for the speedy report Grant.............TimJ
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Post by Stephany on Jul 18, 2008 6:46:52 GMT
Hello Grant Thank you very much for another amazing review It sounds like it was a very special concert with 'Songbird' and 'I am a thousand winds' added to the songlist. I'm glad to hear that Ian and Fiona were there as well. Looking forward to seeing your pictures, Lots of love Stephany xxx
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Post by Colin on Jul 18, 2008 7:27:19 GMT
Hi everyone I was wondering if anyone else who went to the concert were amused by the choice of music in the interval? It was one of the Traveling Wilbury's CDs, which I like and I have on my iPod. But what was amusing was that we'd just heard one of the best voices ever singing to us live, and now in the interval we were listening to Bob Dylan. Chalk and cheese comes to mind i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gifKind regards Colin
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Post by Richard on Jul 18, 2008 8:18:17 GMT
Thanks for your superb and speedy review, Grant! I'll add my comments later, because I've got a pressing engagement at the Barbican. I will say that this was one of the best concerts I've ever attended. Richard
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Post by meldy on Jul 18, 2008 8:20:26 GMT
Thanks for the review Grant:) The venue sounds like an intimate and comfy one. "Songbird"!!
Meldy
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Post by Mark on Jul 18, 2008 8:22:30 GMT
Hi everyone Thanks to Grant and to Colin, Drew and Peter for your reports. It sounds like a fantastic evening. The programme sounded quite like Aberglasney, with Songbird and A Thousand Winds - they were fantastic were they not I wish they would release the Japanese songs album in the UK. I am a little mystified as to Ian & Fiona being with Hayley, I thought Aberglasney was to be the last Does this mean that they will also be with Hayley at Kilworth ? The green room afterwards was a real treat. I know from past concerts, that being invited back stage is a chance to meet Hayley when she is at her most relaxed, sort of amongst friends. Glad you had a great time all and looking forward to seeing the photo's. See some of you on Monday at Kilworth. Best regards Mark
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Post by drew on Jul 18, 2008 8:48:07 GMT
It was a family affair: Steve, Steve's Mum and Steve's 'adopted daughter'.
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Post by grant on Jul 18, 2008 10:39:25 GMT
Hello everyone and thank you for your kind words. Appreciation of ones efforts makes staying up 'till almost 4am a pleasure! Here are a few more pictures from last night taken whilst Hayley chatted happily with the assembled multitude. More later Grant
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Post by grant on Jul 18, 2008 11:54:35 GMT
Hello everyone Just to keep you going, here of a couple of pics taken whilst Hayley was chatting with Steve's mum. Back later this afternoon. Best wishes Grant
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Post by graemek on Jul 18, 2008 12:26:14 GMT
Love your portraits Grant,
I can almost hear her talking,
Graeme
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Post by roger on Jul 18, 2008 12:40:05 GMT
Love your portraits Grant, So do I but I prefer the ones of Hayley! Roger
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