Hove Folk Club

Damian: Friday 5th December 2008.
Report by Harry Bolter.

On a cold bleak evening in December, the faithful at the Hove Folk Club were treated to an evening of musical mastery and entertainment by Pressgang front-man Damian.

Damian started with some songs on the Hurdy Gurdy, an instrument I must confess had previously left me a little cold - but the music Damian got out of the instrument was very up-beat indeed and started the audience clapping and stamping along. To my mind he made it sound more like an Irish fiddle playing a reel.

The highlights for me were the tunes that Damian played on the Hammered Dulcimer. The instrument is like a harp on its side with the strings running across in pairs. The sound is issued out of a sound box similar to a guitar. It is played by striking the strings with "Spoons" which produce a beautiful sound rather haunting and pure.

As well as playing these instruments Damian sings rousing traditional songs as well as his own arrangements and compositions. Just to add further variety he sings some of these in vanishing world languages such as Breton.

To round the evening off Damian played some of Pressgang's songs such as "Flanders", a splendid song with lots of opportunity for the audience to join in.

A great evening led by a true entertainer with roots not just in folk but punk, world and pop music.

MySpace: www.myspace.com/damianclarkeuk

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