Bright Shiny Evening

I went to see the Waterson family's Mighty River of Song at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday night. Who are they Watersons, you might be asking. Only the first family of British folk, I reply.

It was an amazing evening, the polar opposite of the Eurovision Song Contest. Twelve microphones at differing level hosting 12 Watersons and other extended family, including Eliza Carthy, Oliver Knight, Martin Carthy, Mike Waterson - who looked like the old bloke from Early Doors and was the only one to sing with his finger in his ear, a practice that's long died out - and of course the might Norma Waterson, who has a very beautiful, unusual slightly gravelly quality ot her voice. Her album Bright Shiny Morning is a must-have.

There was also a woman called Ann, who in her long skirt and red top, with her bobbed grey hair and shoulder bag looked like she should be hosting a suburban dinner party rather than singing at a folk gig.

But sing she did, and they were tremendous. They sang in various clusters, either all together, just two of them, three of them, etc. Eliza Carthy has a lovely voice, and has done so much for British folk. So much so, that the godfather of folk, Joe Boyd, came on and presented her with her gold badge from the English Folk Dance and Song Society, high praise indeed. She was clearly thrilled. She plays the fiddle like demon. She's a major force in music, much like her parents.

They did a lot of Lal Waterson's songs, Lal being Norma and Mike's late sister. She was clearly emotional when she sang them, and they were quite moving.

The great and the good turned out too, including Feargal Sharkey, who gave a short speech before the Watersons came, and Robyn Hitchcock of all people.

There were a couple of non-Waterson interludes, with a sword dancing group from Goathland who seemed to do the same dance to every tune, and Brass Monkey, a supergroup of old folkies including Martin Carthy who frankly we could have done without.

It's not everyone's cup of tea for sure, but if you're a folk fan, then this was not to be missed. This is where it all began, and it's here forever.