If you were lucky enough to be in the library on the evening of 25 July, you will never forget the music and song of a band whose energy and joie-de-vivre is truly revitalising. After a week of miserable news, this two-hour concert refreshed the spirits of the entire audience.
The Black Corner Band is a well-established five-piece band and plays regular gigs throughout North East England. They are also great supporters of local institutions such as this library and the Little Theatre in Cleadon. Various charities have also benefitted from the band’s services at fund raising events. They host an open mic night upstairs in the Grey Horse in East Boldon, on the first Thursday of every month; 19.00 until 23.00. Entry is free and all are very welcome.
Whilst the band plays an eclectic mix of music genres there are also hints that the folk tradition of the North East might run in their veins. They are supreme conduits of music and song from the past through our present, and onwards. There is nothing nostalgic here; the emotional directness of these songs speak to hearts and minds of any generation.
From the first note of music that July evening, there was rapt attention in the room. They sang, and we sang and clapped. Known to have a particular ability to faithfully deliver many classic Lindisfarne songs the band treated the audience to fine renditions of ‘Fog on the Tyne’ and ‘Meet me on the Corner.” Then on into the night; it was warm, the library door was open, and passers-by slowed their pace to listen. There is nothing can quite match the whole-hearted joy of hearing a band who effortlessly engage an audience in singing:
“Hey, Mr Dream-seller, where have you been?
Tell me, have you dreams I can see?”
Surely Rod Clements himself would have smiled …
Then ‘Sally Wheatley;’ the Black Corner Band can sing so you feel it, the suffering in Joe Wilson’s words:
“Oh dear me, Ah divent na what to de
For Sally’s stole my heart away completely,
And Ah’ll niver get it back
For she gans wi’ Mr. Black
And they say he’s gan ter marry Sally Wheatley.”
But who could stay sad? As the sun set it sent shafts of light through the clerestory windows of the library, which lit up scarlet walls behind the band. This blaze of late red sun served to intensify the drama of more, and more songs until like all good things, the evening came to an end.
These musicians are at ease with each other, and have a sublime ability to infuse any gathering with an affinity in their music, and happiness in their company. It is a rare and precious gift.
Post script
An issue which the band has often had to clarify is that, although geographically proximate, there is no connection between The Black Corner Band and a local wine bar/eatery ‘Blacks Corner.’
Boldon and Cleadon Community Library; information here.
