Dónal Donohoe

Having missed him performing in Trinity College Dublin about a year and a half ago as part of a tour he was doing with Robin Williamson (founding member of The Incredible String Band) I was delighted to come across a poster for a gig with John Renbourn and Jacqui McShee at Mick Murphy’s in Ballymore Eustace last week. It’s rare to get a chance to experience two musicians who have had such an influence on the British folk scene over the last four decades both as members of Pentangle and with their own solo careers in such a small and intimate venue. They started with ‘The Trees They Do Grow high’ and the set was a mix of traditional songs, old blues numbers such as Blind Willie Johnson’s ‘Can’t Keep From Crying’ and ‘Turn Your Money Green’ by Furry Lewis and some instrumental pieces by John on the guitar. Jacqui McShee is a superb singer who is equally at home singing acapella as she is singing with accompaniment and her voice has lost none of it’s beauty with the passing of the years and sounds just as fresh as it did back in the early Pentangle days.

© Donal Donohoe

John Renbourn is one of the most outstanding guitarists of his generation who along with Bert Jansch and Davy Graham was one of the pioneers of what became known as the folk/baroque style of acoustic guitar playing. His technique is phenomenal, his approach smooth and relaxed and his style embraces folk, blues, world, classical and medieval music. Since the sixties his playing has influenced countless guitarists and his solo instrumental contributions to the evening included his stunning arrangement of a medieval piece called ‘The English Dance’. His accompaniment to Jacqui’s singing was impeccable and they both not only complimented each other musically but oozed charm in the process. For anyone lucky enough in these culturally barren X Factor days to have made it down to Mick Murphy’s in Ballymore Eustace last Monday night, this gig was nothing less than an absolute gem.