JOHN Tams cuts a figure you would not easily forget. With his luxuriant moustache, thick grey hair (belying his 60 years) and his tidy black waistcoat, he could be part Wild West sheriff, part veteran snooker professional.
He is, in fact, regarded
as one of Britain's finest singer-songwriters. His performance at the NCEM, accompanied by the talented keyboard and vocal skills of Barry Coope, served only to reinforce this status.
Tams is probably best known for his acting and musical contributions to the Sharpe TV series, and indeed his rendition of "Over the Hills and Far Away" was one of the highlights of the evening. It will have come as no surprise to first time listeners that Tams has spent much of his working life involved in theatre and radio drama projects.
His sense of story, combined with one of the most emotive, powerful voices you will ever hear, captivated the York audience. From the beautiful opener "Who will blow the candle out tonight" Tams' guitar and harmonica led us to landscapes and communities which should not be forgotten; the steel workers of Sheffield, the fishermen of Whitby, the soldiers of the First World War.
A song inspired by Michael Morpurgo's "Warhorse" book was a personal highlight of the evening, but there were many. Tams' affection for the North and its communities is a thread running through his work.
The same is undeniably true about the songs of supporting artist Brighouse's Roger Davies. Rapidly establishing himself as one of the finest young singer-songwriters in the country, guitarist Davies' opening set was warmly received by the NCEM audience.
Davies writes from the heart about his beloved West Yorkshire, sometimes with tongue firmly in cheek, but never less than affectionately. The witty "Northern Trash" deserves to become an anthem for any proud northerner and Huddersfield should be rightly proud of the lovely "Huddersfield Town." As with Tams' songs, there were too many highlights in Davies' set to easily pick out one.
However "Peter Brook's Paintings," a tribute to the Pennine landscape artist had this reviewer immediately wanting to seek out the West Yorkshire artist's work.
Many thanks to John Tams, Barry Coope and Roger Davies for a memorable evening.
