The Riverside Folk Club, Monday 21st October

By Gareth Cornfield

The Riverside Folk Club, held every Monday night at the Loughor Boating Club continues to surprise & delight.

We get used to the dazzling display of local talent performing purely for the love of sharing music. It can take a special event to remind us of what a gem we have here.

Last night was just such a special event.

We were graced by the presence of Fanny Holm, a Swedish singer, based in Stockholm. She toured Wales last year and started that tour at The Riverside. This year, she returned solo, playing with local musicians.

Fanny has a solo album out, “Freaks, Oddities & Wonders” a copy of which she donated as the raffle prize. Check it out on : http://obladoo.se/blog/musik/2012/12/20/fanny-holm/

Fanny has a hoarse, care-worn voice that perfectly conveys the depth of feeling in her song writing. Despite not being a native English speaker, her lyrics do not have the awkwardness usually associated with not writing in your mother tongue.

She was accompanied throughout by Mr Ron Savory, of The Empty Shed Experience, on guitar and joined for some numbers by Mr Steve Jones on Harmonica. The space offered by this arrangement allowed the songs to live & breathe with a freedom that could have been stifled by a larger group, particularly in the cosy environment of a folk club. They performed un-amplified and were all the better for it.

Fanny Holm, flanked by Steve Jones (left) & Ron Savory (right). {photos by G Cornfield}

The audience were held spellbound by her performance and rightly called for an encore. Fanny did not disappoint with a beautiful song, which she performed on her own, using the guitar to provide a bass line backing.

We look forward to seeing her again and wish her luck for her stay.

The international flavour of the evening was further enhanced by Jose Barbeda. Jose is Portuguese and usually plays Fado songs on the Portuguese Guitarre. Last night he performed some traditional folk songs, accompanying himself on the Cavaquinho, the Portuguese precursor to the Ukulele, and the Viola Braguesa, a guitar-like instrument from the north of the country. It was wonderful to hear such songs, sung in Portuguese, to the delight of the audience.

Also of note was Nathan Lawrence, an occasional visitor to the club. Nate is a very skilled, natural musician. His guitar playing is excellent and appears effortless. He performed two songs, as did all musicians present and was called back for a third at the end of the night.

All-in-all a great night that crystallises, by the diversity of talent on display, why the Riverside Folk Club is pre-eminent in the Llanelli area. A terrific venue with a wealth of talent on offer. All for the entry price of a raffle ticket! It would be nigh on impossible to find better value.