It has been many years since I saw Barbara Dickson. 48 years to be exact. At the time she had just hit the charts with her first big success “Answer Me” and was the opening act for Eric Clapton at a multi-act concert at the Crystal Palace Bowl, London. The time before that she was the singer in a musical based around The Beatles, written by Willy Russell, John Paul George Ringo and Bert. Barbara performed many Beatles’ songs in that musical. That was around 1974 and I saw the musical at Sunderland Empire. I checked my blog for an entry on the musical and was surprised to find that I had not written about it. A schoolboy error which I must rectify one day soon.
Barbara has appeared around the region many times over the years and I have always meant to go and see her but for some reason, I never did. As this was her farewell tour I figured I should go along and see what the lady was like in concert on this last opportunity. The Glasshouse announced the show: “Theatric. Passionate. A triumphant finale. Legendary Scottish singer, songwriter, musician and actress Barbara Dickson has announced her Farewell Tour with her full band. In her own words ‘I played my first headline tour with full band in 1977. Now, in 2024, I’ve decided to make this one my last. A memorable occasion and a suitable celebration is required. Come and join us to make this tour the most special of all.’ Throughout her career Barbara has achieved countless accolades including two Olivier Awards for her role in Blood Brothers and Spend Spend Spend plus she was awarded an OBE from Her Majesty The Queen Elizabeth II in 2002.”
I had in my mind that Barbara would be a blend of pop, folk and musical theatre. I couldn’t have been more wrong. This lady has had a fantastic career which started in the folk clubs of her native Scotland and progressed through chart single hits into musical theatre. She told us that the first time she played in the region was at a concert at Newcastle Guildhall in 1971 alongside the legendary Sandy Denny. Now there is a great concert I missed out on. Her performance was in two parts with a short interval. She started at 7:30 PM sharp and the concert finished just after 9:30 PM.
The songs she performed were a mixture of her hits and some which harked right back to her folk club roots and were very traditional. A great performance with a wonderful mixture of tunes. Barbara was accompanied by an excellent band of musicians, including a guy who played a beautiful Scottish pipe. No photography was allowed. During the interval I purchased a couple of programmes and a tea towel! I also invested in a double Jack Daniels which always adds to the sense of occasion.
I am so glad that I took this last opportunity to see Barbara Dickson. I really enjoyed the mix of songs which included the aforementioned “Answer Me”, other hits and well-known tunes “January, February”, “Another Suitcase in Another Hall” and traditional folk songs such as “The Witch of Westmerlands”. She also performed a number of covers including a great version of Dylan’s “The Times They Are a–changin’” and several Beatles songs. She explained that the Beatles figured strongly in her concerts because she had sung their songs throughout her career starting with the aforementioned musical John Paul George Ringo and Bert and an album of Beatles songs which she recorded in the 1990s. Excellent renditions of “If I Needed Someone”, “Tomorrow Never Knows” during the first set and “Across the Universe” in the second set. Perfect.
Many thanks to Jan for photographing the merchandise and Chris for helping me manoeuvre the site.
Setlist: Set 1: Moonlight and Gold; Easy Terms; Reynardine; Willy’s Drown’d In Yarrow; Answer Me; Google for Goodnight, I’m Going Home; The Laird O’ The Dainty Dounby; If I Needed Someone; Tomorrow Never Knows.
Set 2: Lammas Moon; Faithless Love; The Witch Of Westmerlands; My Own Adventure; The Times They Are A-Changin’; Another Suitcase in Another Hall; January, February; Across The Universe.
Encore: MacCrimmon’s Lament; Caravans.
I saw Clapton twice during 1976, once at Newcastle City Hall and at this gig at the Crystal Palace in London. A group of us went down to London by train for this gig, and when arrived at the Crystal Palace Bowl we met up with some other friends from Sunderland. It was a very hot day, as were most that summer; just right for spending the day in the park listening to some bands. The Crystal Place Bowl is a grassy picnic area, which used to have a shell-shaped stage situated at the other side of a lake from the grassy area where the audience sat. It was used for several concerts during the 70s, many of which ended with various members of the crowd taking to the water in the lake to get closer to the stage and their heroes. First up at this gig was Dick and The Fireman, who were an occasional “super”group of friends who came together for a fun jam every now and then. For that date the incarnation consisted of Mel Collins, Neil Hubbard, Mike Patto, Alan Spenner, Carol Grimes, Bob Tench, Henry McCulloch, Tim Hinkley, Boz Burrell, Simon Kirke, John Halsey, with Larry Coryell and Ron Wood guesting on some songs. The late, and very very great, Steve Marriott is listed in the programme, but didn’t show on the day. Now Henry McCulloch is one great guitarist and the late great Mike Patto was one cool vocalist, but the set seemed like what it was; a few friends jamming for a bit fun; nothing more, nothing less. Anyway it was ok as an opener. Next up was Barbara Dickson, who had just hit the charts with “Answer Me”, followed by the very under-rated Jess Roden. I saw Jess in Bronco, as support for Free once, and several times with his “Jess Roden Band”; he sang with a lot of soul, and is sadly hardly ever mentioned these days. 
The Chieftains seemed quite a strange choice for the day, and delivered a set of traditional Irish folk, which was quite fun, sitting on the grass on a hot summer afternoon. Next up was the legendary Freddie King. I’d heard quite a bit of Freddie’s material on the radio, including “Have You Ever Loved A Woman”, “Hide Away” and “Tore Down” and, as I recall, he played all of those. Clapton played a relatively short and subdued set on just over an hour, with Larry Coryell and Ron Wood joining for a couple of songs. I remember Larry Coryell being particularly impressive, giving Clapton a good run for his money. By the end of the show, quite a few people were in the water. Have a feeling Jesus Jellet was dancing down the front. This wasn’t one of the best times I’ve seen Clapton, but it was a fun day. After the gig we were all back on the midnight train up north. All in all a pretty good day; three great guitarists, sun, and a day out with friends; all for £4 and a day return which was £2 or £3 at the time. Clapton Setlist: Hello Old Friend – All Our Pastimes – Tell The Truth – I Shot The Sheriff – Double Trouble – Blues Power – Going Down Slow – Stormy Monday – Layla – Further On Up The Road.
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