Fast and fluent playing by
folk guitar star Ken Nicol

30th October 2014
Acoustic virtuoso Ken Nicol returned to perform in the island at the weekend.

The upstairs room at the Jabberwocky café, Duke Street, provided the perfect venue to sit back and listen to one of the finest guitarists the UK has produced.
The low key ambience and air of quiet relaxation of the room went nicely with Ken’s laid back, gentle presence and sound, and made for a gorgeous night of music.
Ken played two sets of original songs and instrumentals, drawing on his impressive range and abilities, and bringing elements of folk, country, blues, jazz and ragtime along the way.
His songs ranged from whimsical musings on Shakespeare to reworkings of old blues standards, and just seemed to capture the atmosphere of the room just right.
But the star of his performance was his playing. It was something of a joy and a pleasure to witness that kind of playing at such close hand. His fingerpicking style was fast and fluent and, at times, just mesmerising.
There were points where it was feasible that there more than one instruments playing, such was the range of harmonies and sounds produced. It was genuinely stunning watching him play.
Ken is a well-known name in the folk circuits around the world. He played with the Albion band throughout the 1990s, and was also a member of UK folkrock legends Steeleye Span throughout the last decade. He arrived in the Isle of Man after touring across Australia and New Zealand and playing a full summer’s worth of festivals.
It is something to cherish to be able to watch artists of this calibre on the Isle of Man, and it sets everything up nicely for the forthcoming Guitarfest, organised by Jonno Gollow, who also brought Ken over. Martin Simpson, who is playing tonight (Friday) , is another such guitar virtuoso, cut from same cloth as Ken Nicol, and he really isn’t to be missed.
Supporting Ken was a local singer making a very welcome comeback to live performing. Anna Goldsmith, one of the finest singer/songwriters in the island, hasn’t played live for over two years.
Performing alongside guitarist Mike Reeney, there were very few signs of rustiness as Anna’s soaring, powerful, emotive voice made people realise what they have been missing.
It was a great performance, and hopefully the first of many more to come.

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Ken Nicol Music

Gig reviews

Fast and fluent playing by
folk guitar star Ken Nicol

Fast and fluent playing by folk guitar star Ken Nicol

Fast and fluent playing by
folk guitar star Ken Nicol