Grace Petrie - Southampton Guildhall

This evening we found ourselves in Southampton, off to see the mighty Levellers. Their support, folky-protrest-rock type Grace Petrie. I hadn’t heard of Grace before this evening, although what I heard tonight I really enjoyed. She had to feel of an upgraded Billy Bragg, better vocally and lyrically; Grace has presence and warmth too. Her songs have energy, and powerful lyrics in the tradition of protest folk though brought modern. She appears at ease on stage, natural, and a sense of humour too, so easily lost in modernity. Grace engaged and involved the audience, it was a lovely experience. She said her job was to warm up the crowd for the levellers, and she did just that, and did it with gusto. If you get an opportunity to see her, take it.

Notable tree

I've always loved this wildly spreading oak on the edge of Sloden; with it's flamboyant animalistic characteristics it really makes its' presence felt. Definitely one of the forests notable oaks. You can't help but wonder how many other travellers have marvelled as they've passed.

Forest scene

The light through the stands this morning was special.

Dockens Water

 

Dockens Water, flowing again after its' long summer hiatus.

Pigs

A drift of pigs at pannage crowd the verge close to the ford at Moyles Court. A dozen or so of them, displaying a broad range of colour and pattern, busy hoovering up the fruits of the oak, they're being well fed this year. Always lovely to see them.

Shroom

One mushroom that's been particularly thin on the ground this year (at least about my roams) has been the Liberty Cap (Psilocybe semilanceata), you get years like that, the conditions just haven't been right. Though I feel inconsistency is becoming the norm, a consequence of the seasons slipping out of phase to to climatic change maybe. 

Wise words

Simple lyrics, two lines, stoic in tone.