From the Rio Grande to Pocklington
Pocklington used to be a byword for sleepy. But no more. In fact for some years now the Pocklington Arts Centre has been putting on a great variety of events, including some big acts. I’ve been very late in waking up to this – partly out of nervousness about catching the last bus home, partly because I’ve been able to pick up the acts elswhere. But I’d been missing a treat – quite a small auditorium – nice bar, and the other night – TOM RUSSELL. Actually, he’s been another gap in my education. A few years ago, I heard a wonderful song called St Olav’s Gate on the radio, and misremembered it as being by Tom Waits. I spent ages looking at the playlists on Tom Waits albums, wondering why he hadn’t recorded this song. Finally the penny dropped – i looked on the Tom Russell website – and blow me – POCKLINGTON! And it was a superb evening. Tom was accompanied by Michael Martin, demon guitar and mandolin player, and they went through many of Tom’s best known songs, plus a few new ones. St Olav’s Gate of course, and my current favourite song about how stupid governments are – Who’s Gonna Build Your Wall ? We could maybe have done with a few fewer reminders from the stage that we were in Pocklington but maybe he was as bemused by it as I was. Good to see an American legend, even if he’s only been legendary to me for a couple of months.