Kangaroo Moon @ The Square and Compass 19.10.19

Tonight we found ourselves packed inside the thick Purbeck stone walls of the 18th century Square and Compass pub perched high on the hills above Seacombe Cliffs with dramatic views along the Jurassic Coast.  The assembled were gathered to enjoy a performance by legendary musical troubadours Kangaroo Moon, who blend myriad musical influences to create all sorts of wonderful aural magic that touches the spirit. If you've read my posts before you know I've a tendency to effusive verbosity and, man, I could wax lyrical about tonight's performance, but I'm going to try and spare you my clumsy prose (of course, I will go on a little bit) and just say this evening's performance was bloody marvellous! The word that best describes Kangaroo Moon's performances is 'real', and in our fake world you can't put a value on that. Tonight the band comprised of Elliet Mackrell on violin and whistle, David Williams on things with strings and other things, Gem Quinn on drums, Nick Marshall on guitar and Mark Robson on keyboard, didgeridoo and everything else. As if that wasn't enough, they were joined by Gong's Dave Sturt on bass, adding some funk to the proceedings...nice! Something really special about tonight's performance was the relationship between Elliet's violin and Dave's bass, man, that was something else. What a superb line up. Every one a musician highly skilled at their art, which was obvious throughout their performances, and none more so than during their various stellar solos. There were two sets, both a lovely mix of fast or slow numbers, every track was bliss, creating a wonderfully uplifting and joyful atmosphere, there was dancing and smiles all round, the ensemble appeared to be enjoying themselves too. Kangaroo Moon's blend of traditional and globally infused psyche folk flavours resonates deeply, it's proper music, real, touching that part of your subconscious where ancestral memories live, that was enhanced by being performed in a 250 year old building who's walls are soaked in centuries of tradition and memories of similar evenings throughout the ages...it's timeless music. As I said, bloody marvellous! Thank you Kangaroo Moon and Mr Sturt, you're beautiful people, and thank you Square and Compass for putting on these elevating evenings, keeping our spirits buoyed on the turbulent seas of our times. Kudos y'all. If you're wondering why the photo is of an empty stage, it's because the rest of my shots look like they were taken by Mr Magoo.

Kangaroo Moon @ The Square and Compass 27.7.2017

Ah, the Square and Compass, you don't know it? Man, you need to rectify that. The Square and Compass is a sturdy Purbeck stone built inn set on the brow of the ridge, at the head of the valley which runs down from Worth Matravers to Winspit Quarries on the coast. Good cider, good food, a museum (yup, there's a cool museum in one of the rooms) and tonight great live music in the form of the magnificent Kangaroo Moon.

Kangaroo Moon are a versatile bunch of musicians, who appear in different forms, with different musicians, playing all sorts different flavours, funky, rocky, folky, influences from every style and from around the world; the consistent feature throughout though is they're always fantastic. Tonight manifestation was what I think of as the more traditional manifestation, as their music is on a more folkier, earthier tip. I saw them back in April at The New Avalon Ballroom Weekender, where they were on a heavier funkier trip. Tonight the band are Elliet MacKrell on violin and vocals, David Williams on things with strings, other things and vocals, Gem Quinn on drums and Mark Robson on keyboards, Didgeridoo, whistles and vocals.

The performance space at the Square isn't large, lets call it bijou, and it soon fills to the brim. The band begin to play, and instantly there are smiles all round. There's a real warmth to Kangaroo Moon's music, which always draws you in, it's joyful. It's not long before the crowd begins to move, as one by one more people connect with the music. It's so easy to connect to. Many of their songs have traditional themes and flavours, which resonate deeply. On every track Elliet's violin soars, whether lamenting or raising us to the dance, it sings to your heart. Violin is such a emotional instrument, you really feel it, and when played as well as Elliet, you're under it's spell and follow where it leads. With what appears a perpetual gentle smile of deep contentment, David Williams exquisitely plays a succession of stringed instruments and tiny things (of which he has an extensive collection laid out on a bench), which harmonise with Elliet's violin beautifully. Together they create a swirling musical sound-scape, which rises and falls, as we're taken on our musical journey. The songs keep coming, and the audience are transported. Driving everything along are Gem Quinn's drums, the beating heart of the songs, to which all our feet thump. I recently saw Gem perform with Here and Now, he was bloody good then too. That's what you notice with this calibre of musician, their versatility. Finally there's Mark Robson (also long time Here and Now member) surrounded by instruments, multitasking throughout, providing wonderful keys, whilst twiddling things, breathing a bit of didg here, and a toot on a whistle there, all the time delivering soulful vocals as he steers us through stories of gardening, amongst other things. I look around and all I see are smiling dancing folk, people having a proper blast. Lovely!

There's a brief break for people to refresh themselves and natter excitedly. Then the music resumes and by now the audience were totally engaged, I mean totally! Everyone's dancing, individually or together. I see there's a guy dancing whilst playing the spoons, the entire room are now up on their feet and dancing wildly, and the band just kept taking us higher. Gem's driving us along, then drops a marvellous solo, stirring the crowd right up. All the band member laid down stunning solos at one point or another. What an atmosphere! So much joy in the room. Music like this stands outside of time, it's eternal, if civilisation crumbles and people are scattered to the winds, music like this will continue as it always has. This is real music, it resonates in ways other music doesn't. The band look like they're having fun too. At one point I see Gem laughing at the antics of the audience. It's a proper Cheshire Cat grin type of a gig, and people are going for it, and why not. When times are dire (as they currently are), music takes on even more importance, it's a means of transportation. And, man, Kangaroo Moon were out of this world tonight, and they took us with them, what a performance! The audience would have taken more, though after noisy calls for such came to nought, we settled for bathing in the warm afterglow of a really fantastic gig.

A memorable evening for sure. I hope they return this way again soon, you can never get too much of what they bring.  In the meantime check out their site, buy some of their music, you'll be glad you did. As for The Square and Compass, bijou as it is, is an excellent venue, as well as an excellent inn, check it out. I thank the performers, the venue and the other audience members for a blast. Cheers y'all!

Corfe Valley

Walking through the Corfe Valley today was glorious; the Sun shone, clear water from clean springs flowed through numerous small rivulets feeding the Corfe River, birds sang, animals did animal things and all around nature could be seen in the starting blocks and was clearly raring to go. We walked from Brenscombe Woods, up over the curved ridge line which defines the Isle of Purbeck, here we paused, taking in their spectacular views and breathing in the clean air. Then off again down and through the Corfe Valley, before rising up onto the hills which frame the rocky Jurassic coastline. Here we paused again, this time for a well earned cider from that most splendid establishment, The Square and Compass at Worth Matravers. With its fine beverages and excellent views out to sea, it would have been rude not to.  You've not been there, you say? Well, you're missing out http://www.squareandcompasspub.co.uk/, they also hold a mighty fine cider festival every June.  Then it was off along the coastal hills for a while before descending back into the Corfe Valley, through Langton West Woods, a jumble of coppice and mature Oaks and out across the valley, through the fields, which in the summer are perfect for picnicking or snoozing.   Finally, back up and over Brenscome Hill. It may have been a walk of ups and downs, though throughout you were walking on a high.