Hi I am back again. After around 4 years without posting on here since my accident, I have decided it was about time I took the plunge and started to post again.
So here is a report of the latest gig I attended. Actually I have been quite a few concerts over the last 4 years so I will try and catch up in the weeks and months to come and blog about each of these. My gig attendance has been curtailed somewhat, but I am still managing to go to see bands so I decided to write about it again.
Last week I went to see Fairport Convention along with my carer Lisa at the Sage Gateshead. I use taxis now to get around which makes going to concerts significantly more expensive. 
The first thing we went to see, outside the Sage, was the knife angel sculpture. “The Knife Angel is a 27ft sculpture crafted out of 100,000 knives that have been surrendered to police forces across the country. It is also known as the National Monument Against Violence & Aggression. It was first unveiled in 2017 and has been touring the UK since.”Knife Angel
Then it was into the Sage to see old favourites Fairport Convention. First stop was to buy a programme, kindly signed by bass player Dave Pegg; one copy for me and another for my friend, John, who now lives in America. Peggy reminded us that he is the oldest member of the band and that this was his 50th year as a Fairporter. Once in the hall, which was packed, it was nice to meet up with old friend Mike and his wife Maureen. Our seats were in the normal spot, very close to the stage. 
I must admit I lost faith in Fairport Convention during the mid-70s, thinking that they had become too “traditional.” However in recent times I have returned to the fold and really enjoy seeing this band again. The format was similar to that of recent years. The concert began with support act Smith and Brewer a close harmony Americano duo, who played a very pleasant set, warming the crowd up well. They played a short 30 minute set at which point they were joined by the members of Fairport Convention for a song or two. Fairport then continued their set including a short interval; the first set containing several numbers from their new album and the second set comprising several songs from “Full House” which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.
It was great to see them perform “Who Knows Where the Time Goes” in a version which did justice to the original. Closing songs were, as always, “Matty Groves” followed by the encore “Meet on the Ledge” for which they were joined by support act Smith and Brewer. Then it was back in the taxi and on my way home, picking up second carer Chris who had kindly agreed to help get me back to bed. All in all it was great to see Fairport Convention again, and I look forward to further encounters in the future. 
Setlist: Set1: Walk Awhile; Don’t Reveal My Name; Cider Rain; Good Time For A Fiddle And Bow / The Christmas Eve Reel; A Thousand Bars; Shuffle and Go; Moses Waits; Bankruptured; Moondust and Solitude. Set 2: Jolly Springtime; Steampunkery; The Year Of Fifty Nine; Farewell, Farewell; Sir Patrick Spens; Sloth; Doctor of Physick; Who Knows Where the Time Goes?; Matty Groves. Encore: Meet on the Ledge
Vintagerock's Weblog. 
Posted by Kieran McPeake on February 10, 2020 at 7:39 pm
Great to see you back Peter and looking forward to some more reviews.
Kieran
Posted by vintagerock on February 11, 2020 at 11:11 am
Hi is great to be back thanks Kieran
Posted by Caroline on February 10, 2020 at 8:14 pm
Nice to see this review – Who Knows Where The Time Goes one of my absolute favourites.
Posted by vintagerock on February 11, 2020 at 11:11 am
Hi is great to be back thanks
Posted by Davy 1 on February 10, 2020 at 8:24 pm
Good review, ut check the date – it’s Feb – ain’t Sept 2020 yet! We had the Knife Angel on show in Brum last year – a remarkable edifice, just as Fairport’s endurance and legacy is.
Posted by vintagerock on February 11, 2020 at 11:13 am
Thanks I have corrected it now! Best wishes Peter
Posted by marcusjam on February 10, 2020 at 9:31 pm
Congratulations on getting back out into the wild gig world. We’ve missed you. Looking forward to reading your reviews again. Keep up the good work.
Posted by vintagerock on February 11, 2020 at 11:12 am
Hi is great to be back thanks
Posted by Alistair on February 10, 2020 at 10:07 pm
Welcome back. Sounds fun. A concert in Gateshead? How times have changed. It used to be the place you looked at while you stood at the northern end of the Tyne Bridge hitching a lift back south after the City Hall! 🙂
Posted by vintagerock on February 11, 2020 at 11:12 am
Hi is great to be back thanks
Posted by Stewart Thompson on February 11, 2020 at 8:04 am
Hi!
I was glad to receive your e-mail with the review of your most recent outing – not a band I am mad about to be honest, but great to see you back! I was an avid reader of your blog back in the day as we do indeed have a lot in common in terms of music choice. Whilst I have no idea as to the nature of your accident it sounds as though it has been a struggle and hopefully you are getting all the care and support you need. I sincerely hope that re-igniting the blog will bring as much pleasure to you as it has done to your followers for many years.
Take care
Stew
On Mon, 10 Feb 2020 at 19:30, Vintagerock’s Weblog wrote:
> vintagerock posted: “Hi I am back again. After around 4 years without > posting on here since my accident, I have decided it was about time I took > the plunge and started to post again. So here is a report of the latest gig > I attended. Actually I have been quite a few concerts o” >
Posted by vintagerock on February 11, 2020 at 10:43 am
Thanks Stew it’s great to be back! Best wishes Peter
Posted by jeffollerton on February 11, 2020 at 11:01 am
Welcome back Peter! Good to see you posting again. Last big gig I was at was Amanda Palmer in Melbourne in early January. Bloody awful, easily the worst concert I’ve ever been to, even worse that Bowie at the infamous Roker Park “hello Newcastle” gig. We left at the intermission, two hours in; apparently she played for another two hours after that. I say “played” but 80% of it was talking. If you get the opportunity to see her, don’t.
Posted by vintagerock on February 11, 2020 at 11:09 am
It’s great to be back Jeff thanks for the advice of Amanda Palmer. I actually quite fancy seeing her!
Posted by jeffollerton on February 11, 2020 at 2:29 pm
Take some valium with you, you’ll need it!
Posted by Kevin Geraghty-Shewan on February 12, 2020 at 2:13 pm
Glad to see you back – can’t have been four years surely! I think when I first started reading youe site I lived in the south but I’m glad to be back in the north and going to gigs in and around Newcastle – hope to bump into you and one someday!
Posted by vintagerock on February 12, 2020 at 3:01 pm
Many thanks Kevin it’s great to be back Best wishes Peter