Musicport 2011

Previous years we have parked our camper on the site at Bridlington, home of East Yorkshires indoor answer to WOMAD. The rain-soaked walk back along the prom at 1am on a November sunday morning was never a highlight of the weekend so this year we booked overnight at Caitlin's B&B just 5 minutes from the Spa, very comfy and very welcoming from Caitlin, born in Glasgow but with the strongest cockney lilt north of Bow Bells. At £40 (OAP discount) money well spent.

Saturday was outstanding as we moved from one venue to the next, insulated form the rain and wind, and from Kentucky to Gambia, to Portugal, Tibet and Sheffield.

CELTALABRIA are a local duo who do a great show. The clue is in the name and they bring a fan base of local belly dancers in tow every time. The North Sea stage with its glass wall looking out over the surf and seagulls gave a bizarre backdrop

CHRIS WOOD Unknown to us (shame!) but "The finest and most original singer-songwriter to have emerged from the British folk scene since Richard Thompson" – The Guardian. did a stunning set. But then he was Folk Artist and Album of the year 2009. Seems to be back on the road in March so we shall be off across the Humber Bridge to catch him in Barton-upon-Humber http://chriswoodmusic.co.uk/ Also on in Bury St Edmunds, Claire

GEOFF BERNER, back on the North Sea stage, is a one-off. If you like punk tinged kletzmer music with biting politcal satire and a good knees up (you know you like it) then this is your man. http://geoffberner.com/ Apparently in his element in run down bars at night but currently in Scandinavia then heading back to western Canada for the new Year so no chance for a while.

RANDOLPH MATTHEWS & BYRON JOHNSTON were an unexpected treat, mixing spanish guitar with African soul, vocal gymnastics and infectious enthusiasm http://www.randolphandbyronmusic.com They seem to play the South Bank loby from time to time so FREE! if you are in the neighbourhood.

We both love Portuguese Fado and CLAUDIA AURORA is currently one of the best with a great backing ensemble. Haven't been back to Portugal since Salazaar died, probably Fado is the only thing that hasnt changed. http://www.claudia-aurora.com/ Must get there next year.

Another treat was BRIGID KAELIN from Louisville Kentucky, near where my ol' buddy Adrian lives. "ALT-COUNTRY CABARET MUSIC WITH KENTUCKY ROOTS" hardly covers it. Multi-instrumental, a great voice and excellent songwriting. http://www.brigidkaelin.com/Site/Home.html She seems to have just resettled in Edinburgh so as yet no dates set up but should be hopeful. I've advised Selby Town Hall to book her. Lots of good cheap or free downloads on her website.

JULABA KUNDA was an interesting combination of Scottish fiddler Griselda Sanderson and Gambian Riti player Juideh Camara . We also caught some of MARY COUGHLAN. Not part of my history but the same cant be said for the evening's mainline act HUGH MASAKELA. How is it that someone who was such a name in my youth is still playing so well? Part of it of course is getting together a really good band and this was so very good! Absolutely tight with amazing soloists, just reminds you what good music is about. http://www.myspace.com/hughmasakela

SUNDAY

A comfortable night and full english (for me) at Caitlin's B&B left us wIth time for a stroll round Brid harbour before heading back onto the Spa. Not fair to talk of a let-down but Saturday was so brilliant it was always going to be difficult to follow

JOHNNY KEARNEY & LUCY FARRELL were talented but still young and a bit too gentle for me. Worth watching out for. We took time out after lunch at one the ethnic food vans parked up by the promenade exit to see a Moroccan film "Ali Zaoura" about homeless kids in Casablanca. Not an easy view but ultimately uplifting unless you remind yourself how may kids live this way, and how few do get to have happy endings.

In the afternoon, IAIN MATTHEWS and KIM RICHEY were both good so it was by any other measure a grand day out (or in) but nothing really I would go to see again. How easily we get so picky, but there is only so many hours in a day.We missed FRAN SMITH as she clashed but also she is local, from Wakefield, and we could catch her in a local pub. Great songwriter pianist.http://fransmith.com

There we were a couple of good acts lined up for the evening but we agreed enough was enough so we retrieved the van from Caitlin's mate's driveway and headed home.Got home early enough to catch a couple of episodes of THE KILLING on BBC4. We've been watching both Danish and American versions simultaneously though not necessarily synchronized - quite fun but a bit confusing at times. Danish version definitely better of the two but US version good in its own right. Great to hear series 2 is starting in a month's time.