Captain Swing :Reviews


Postlip Hall Upton Folk Festival Cheltenham Corn Hall Trotter Hall bishops cleeve Dursley Salwarpe Prestbury
Postlip Hall Tythe Barn	Postlip Hall Tythe Barn, Winchcombe, 29 June 1996 "Captain Swing (Jun 29^th) have changed since I last saw them. Less frenetic, they kept the crowd dancing. Personally I feel they lack a stepping rhythm for the dancing I like doing. Others find their tempo suits their style admirably - innovative, so they deserve support."	Folkwrite, No 61, Oct 1996
Postlip Hall Tythe Barn	Postlip Ceilidh, 5 September 1998 "The last summer Postlip Hall Ceilidh was held in conjunction with Woodcraft Folk. Captain Swing played and Mike Griffiths called to a large crowd - about 30-40% children - who thoroughly enjoyed themselves. The dance crowd by and large realised that this was not a 'dancers only' do. Had it been, then reservations might have existed. The band has increased its repertoire and change instruments frequently, often during sets......It was felt that many of the sets, musically good though they were, were flat to dance to and lacked the cheerfulness and vitality of the English Country style. Mike is very professional but could improve his programme by including waltzes, schottisches and couple dances.... "	Folkwrite, No 70, January 1999
Upton Folk Festival	Upton Folk Festival, 2 May 1998 "A jolly good time for the Festival crowd, but Mike could smile a bit." (ouch!) "Captain Swing fulfilled all promises to be ace."	Folkwrite, No 68, July 1998
Upton Folk Festival	Upton-on-Severn Folk Festival, 5th May 2001 "Captain Swing, caller Mike Griffiths. Excellent evening, the band and caller playing well to their audience."	Folkwrite 80, July 2001
Cheltenham Town Hall	Cheltenham Town Hall, 30th December 2000 "Captain Swing, caller Mike Griffiths. Festive Barn Dance in a packed Town Hall. We danced and danced and danced as the band and caller ample filled the brief "Keep a packed hall full of non-dancers and a sizeable minority of dancers happy". The notorious acoustics in the hall were mastered by the sound engineers. The dances Mike's usual fare of English Country with a few others. Some dancers thought them a bit simple, and the more complicated rushed in explanation, but in view of the mixed crowd, Mike struck the right balance. early on, the band played with a much lighter note than they did about a year ago. It fitted the mood and provided excellent danceable sets. As the evening progressed, the band gradually branched out, demonstrating their musical ability and mastery of a variety of woodwinds and saxes. I'm afraid that by the evenings end they had lost their way as regards producing dance music. But the crowd danced on and on and on. A true celebration."	Folkwrite 79, April 2001
Corn Hall Cirencester	Corn Hall Ceilidh, Cirencester, 1 February 1997 "…..played on 1^st Feb. A packed hall of students, locals & regulars. The mix produced an enjoyable evening with no caveats mentioned by the dance purists. Captain Swing's tempo suits a mixed crowded dance floor."	Folkwrite, No 63, April 1997
Corn Hall Cirencester	Corn Hall, Cirencester, 4 October 1997 "….were breaking in a new guitarist. The sound was lively, although the waltzes were a bit off. They did have some sets which although obviously well rehearsed didn't contain enough oomph"	Folkwrite, No 66, Jan 1998
Corn Hall Cirencester	Corn Hall, Cirencester, 1 May 1999 "Captain Swing with Mike Griffiths calling provided a great end to the Corn Hall, Cirencester series (1st May). The audience was down a bit but with so much happening and the holiday that was to be expected. I have not appreciated the fare served up by Captain Swing on the last couple of times I have danced to them. They and their caller Mike Griffiths are immaculately professional and I appreciate creative people wanting to develop and experiment. Like many other bands (Banjax come to mind) Captain Swing have strayed far away from the English idiom at times and there has been an awkward fusion between the dances and their music. This was not evident on this Saturday as the tunes and sets well fitted the dances and mood of the hall. Congratulations to Mike Vaughan for this winter series at Cirencester which has proved to be one of top class quality."	Folkwrite, No 72, July 1999
Trotter Hall Dances	Trotter Hall Dances, March-July 1997 "..very danceable and the music is like syncopated ice cream with extra chocolate flakes. Yummy."	Somers' What's On, Sept 1997
Trotter Hall	Trotter Hall, Droitwich, 13 March 1997 "The music was well phrased using interesting tunes well arranged and very danceable; the dances were also just right for the proficiency of the audience with that subtle blend of old ones, new ones, loved ones, neglected ones that make a good programme……..well recommended for dancers of all standards."	Folkwrite Extra, No 64, July 1997
Trotter Hall	Trotter Hall, Droitwich, 17 April 1997 "The band are very boppy. Various theories on the best band member were expounded…….Andy on melodeon (etc) was my choice, His syncopation is reminiscent of the Oyster Band. All dances were called through which I insist on for a good review, because dancers all know different versions. The dance repertoire was balanced…."	Folkwrite, No 64, July 1997
Bishops Cleeve	Bishops Cleeve, 21 December 1996 "…..played for the Ramblers Christmas Do. Many locals attended (many also ramble). Great evening."	Folkwrite, No 63, April 1997
Dursley	Dursley, 9 March 1996 "….a PTA do at Dursley………a good mixture of dances in their unique jazzy style, with a rather slower feel to the evening than the last time they were in the area."	Folkwrite, No 60, July 1996
Unicorn Ceilidh Salwarpe	Unicorn Ceilidh, Salwarpe, 17 November 1995 "This time there was a goodly crowd who enjoyed themselves to the sound of Captain Swing - a band who drove the dances along……The tune were very danceable & appropriate, but I preferred their sound when the recorder was in the line-up - the higher register notes cut through nicely. Mike's dance selection was good - I didn't know any of the dances (& I know a few). The complexity level was well matched to the congregation.	Folkwrite, No 58, Jan 1996
Prestbury	Prestbury, 30 September 1995 "…. I found danceable, sometimes they became too frenetic but most assembled there loved them."	Folkwrite, No 58, Jan 1996
Postlip Hall Upton Folk Festival Cheltenham Corn Hall Trotter Hall bishops cleeve Dursley Salwarpe Prestbury