David Porter » Reviews » Martyn Joseph
Martyn Joseph
Martyn Joseph at St George’s, Great Yarmouth
Review published in the Eastern Daily Press, 30 November 2012
The revamped St George’s Theatre in Great Yarmouth is not only a shiny new additional performance venue for our region, it’s a brilliant space.
Recently opened with a wide variety of events, this one brightened a bleakly wet and windy night with contemporary folk at its best, perfectly suited acoustically to the soaring space.
Talented eighteen year old Luke Jackson opened with his own take on traditional folk narrative in his unique and exciting voice. He’s one to watch for the future.
Headline act was Martyn Joseph, who brought his eclectic mix of mournful tales, self-deprecating humour, clever rhymes and powerful lyrics together with some finger-pointing political commentaries.
Having worked with Billy Bragg to celebrate Woody Guthrie’s life, he brought songs about being blessed, ‘strange days to be an optimist’, US society and elections, the news, money, war, peace along with more philosophical and poignant observations about coming home.
Joseph is a troubadour at the top of his art-form, shaping moods and getting into people’s mindsets that made an entertaining but thought-provoking performance, in an arts centre with a wonderful future.
Filed under: Reviews · Tags: folk music, St George's Theatre