Melodious Mabon
Mabon, playing live at the Peel Centenary Centre
THIS is one of those gigs where, years from now and the band you once saw are now playing to thousands of people, or appear on Jools Holland to widespread acclaim, you can say ‘Yeah, but I saw them at the Centenary Centre way back when they were only getting going’.
Mabon, or to be precise, Jamie Smith’s, are a six-piece folk group comprising of members from all walks of Celtic life, and each Welsh, Scot, English and Manxman among the band members are led by the young and highly-celebrated talent of band leader and writer Jamie Smith.
The growth of the band seems to have echoed this change, as their sound, to these ears, has become more direct, distinct and highly original in the time since Mabon last played here.
Their sound seems to be in a constant state of improvement and maturity, as if it has a life of its own.
Listening to one tune in particular, the Cake Baker’s Jig, you can hear the band almost breathe life into the tunes, building up from a soft accordion-led tune into a full band stomp, each band member imperceptively at first joining in until the sound is complete, and the rhythms build up behind the melody.
Stunning stuff.
Mabon have been recently augmented by Manx bouzouki player Adam Rhodes, formerly of King Chiaullee, and to good effect.
Adam has an understated presence on stage, but his intelligent and unpretentious playing adds an immeasurable amount to the hugely talented group.
Manx interest was also ramped up when Tom Callister, a leading Manx fiddle player, joined the band onstage, to the obvious delight of the crowd.
Given the quite substantial Manx connection to Jamie Smith’s Mabon, (two members are also married to Manx women), it’s inevitable that they’ll be back to perform here again, and you’d be advised to catch them quick, as based on this performance, a much bigger stage beckons.
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Weather for Isle of Man
Tuesday 21 May 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 9 C to 13 C
Wind Speed: 36 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 6 C to 12 C
Wind Speed: 24 mph
Wind direction: North west
