Fully Acoustic Strawbs!

Private party near Henley-in-Arden

31 January 2004

Great to see the guys again at this amazing party. It was a dark and stormy night and the power lines got knocked out, but the Strawbs simply moved to a corner near an emergency light and the show went on unamplified! And what a delightful privilege to hear the guys' music that directly, you could really appreciate both the power and quality of both Daves' voices.
Here Brian is using his nylon-stringed guitar while Dave C is on the banjo.

Dave Lambert's singing was powerful but still refreshingly warm.

Dave's guardian angel looked on as he played a serene melody line.

It was a joy to be able to hear Brian's exquisite leads so clearly.

Here's Dave playing a slide passage.

At half-time there was a raffle to defray the costs of the buffet...

... and if you were lucky you could win a free Strawb! :)
I thought the DL teddy was a swiz though - seemed to be missing its little slide and e-bow! :)

Making his debut among the support musicians was Strawbs' webmaster Dick Greener, opening up for the the second half.

This is how DL and Brian play the rhythm parts on Round and Round. Dave plucks the very bottoms of the strings, and uses his left hand to slap his fingers across the strings together.

DC played his mandolin for a couple of songs...

... and great to see Brian enjoying it so much too!

Even the sound of Dave's e-bow could still be heard distinctly, as Dick said in his review.
In his lips you can also see his plectrum, which has a red Strawbs' logo against its yellow background.

If the night had begun gingerly, the sheer skills and power of the Strawbs' performances were more than equal to the challenge!

DC had had to be hauled back from the bar because he had had no idea the crowd would roar and roar till they did an encore.
And she's really got the hots for DC now too! :)

After the Strawbs had finished, Nick Evans (centre, who had also organised the evening's various other support musicians) led the audience in a singalong rendition of Part of the Union ... then Dave Lambert joined in too! Host Bob Richardson shows his approval while hostess Louise holds up the lyrics for everyone. There's Dick in the chorus line too.
Thanks to all the entertainers and everyone else whose efforts, professionalism and sheer determination in the face of adversity made this a night I shall fondly remember.