by Ian Diddams
images by Sarah Bec and The Fold
About a million years ago, before covid and lockdown, when the thought of Liz Truss as a P.M. was a laughable idea [Ed. – nothing has changed] and when a Post Office scandal was when the sub post mistress was found to be having an affair with the vicar, there was a magical place hidden away in the roof space of a former stables [Ed. – needs more research] where performers would entertain the thronged masses of Devizes [Ed. – it’s not that big] on Friday and Saturday nights
“The Fold”.
Just the name conjures up distant, hazy memories of wonderful acts like “Jasper in the Company of Others”, Dan Allen of “Ducking Punches”, “Lonely Tourist” and so many more. In that roll-call of greatness as one looks back through the history of “The Fold” there is one of several names that crops up time and time again… Gaz Brookfield, or as one listing shows, Gareth Brookfield! Then “The Fold” was no more for several years after October 2018, but has reopened its doors this year under the maestro-ship of J.P. Oldfield, or Josh if you need a vape, where already its hallowed newly painted walls have seen a “Lost Trades” reunited trio, Meg & Siren, “Bluebeard and the Desperate Hours”, and an open mic already.And thence to last Friday when previously Fold regular Gareth Brookfield returned to one of his old stomping grounds. If you don’t already know Gaz is a solo acoustic guy (occasionally cobbling his Company of Thieves together) from the West Country, who through Trial and Error has built a solid following round these parts and further afield, with two number one albums to his name. Modest as ever he claims he only plays Four chords and the Truth, but the reality is his lyrical penmanship is second to none, even if he insists his two chums, Messrs Turner and Faulkner i.e., Frank and Sam, are better. [Ed. – They aren’t. Just equally talented]. His Career Moves saw him based in Bristol and London, but eventually the draw of SN1 was too strong and he is returned now to the Shire.[Ed. – That’s enough song title dropping!]
Gaz has recently completed his “Village Halls” tour, literally booking and playing at village halls across the country in his self-managed, one-man band set-up, where audiences were treated to two sets the first of which were tracks that he rarely plays at gigs. Last year his tour comprised two songs from each of his ten albums. This Fold gig was in a similar vein of both, with an hour and quarter or so of songs he rarely, if ever plays live, from each of his albums in reverse chronology. Setlist as follows and many of the linked videos below are from Friday’s gig – credit and thanks to @waitingforwinter !
SN1
Trial and error
Death Bed
Four Chords and the Truth
Frank and Sam
Oaleago
Cornish fishing town
Solo Acoustic Guy
Towns
LW3
Career Moves (Loudon Wainwright III cover)
Nuggets
Aborglyph
Pantomime
RIP Inner Me
Caravan Bingo
West Country song (what else to finish on?)
Gaz was engaging and lovely as he ever is, with interesting stories regarding each of his songs. I was personally delighted to hear “Nuggets” and “Aborglyph” as I thought I’d never get to hear “Nuggets” again, if only because of its progeny and Gaz’s relationship with his friend, and “Aborglyph” is simply a beautiful song. The seventy strong sold-out crowd sang and danced in the Fold’s confines in what was quite a “warm” and “sticky” atmosphere 😊
The gig had been promoted by J.P. Oldfield, who, no slouch with a guitar himself, had opened the show with a nine song, forty-five-minute set of his blues based, Johnny Cash style, deep voiced magic. Setlist below and for your very delectation, another wonderful video from Friday night from @waitingforthewinter with “Further from Heaven”.
St. James Infirmary
Heavy was the rain
Satan’s bar and grill
The Preacher’s Noose
House of the Rising Sun
Song 2
The Best I Can
Further from Heaven
No rest
He claimed credit for writing “Rising Sun” but I felt he was just joking… but most of that list are all his own work, and are to appear on his new EP, due for release on September 26th this year – a full six track EP. Devizine covers that release in this article…
Five tracks from that new EP plus “Satan’s bar and grill” and “Preacher’s Noose” gave us an excellent review of JP’s own work. There were also a couple of covers – “St. James Infirmary” and “House of the Rising Sun” – but rendered in a very JP Oldfield manner very much making them his own – and that is not faint praise.
The Fold is very much making a welcome return and with gigs of this quality to look forward to its future is hopefully bright – so follow its Facebook page and book the September 26th for an EP release party at – where else – “The Fold”!
devizine.com 