That distinct gravelly voice hasn’t changed
BERNARD Wrigley performed at the Grand Union Folk Club on Monday, July 24. Here’s reviewer Shelia Bentham’s verdict...
It was a real blast from the past, the room was full, mostly old folkies who remembered Bernard from the distant past. We soon found that he hadn’t lost the knack even though he has been doing a multitude of ‘thespian’ things over the years.
Apart from Folk Clubs, he is an actor in both the serious and comedy arenas being a patron of the Octagon Theatre, Bolton and appearing in such programmes as Coronation Street and Emmerdale.
His other credits include Last of the Summer Wine, Dinnerladies, as a union official in Brassed Off and as a school teacher in Rita, Sue and Bob Too, and there’s others too numerous to mention.
He very quickly sussed out his audience, listening to the great harmony singing coming back to him from around the room.
Old songs with great choruses were many, interspersed with jokes, monologues, poems and great instrumentals on guitar and the huge concertina that he has had for about 50 years.
The music ranged from folk, jazz and blues all played with consummate ease as you would expect from a man who is very confident, not to mention very talented.
The voice hasn’t changed, as those who remember him from the 60s and 70s will verify, there was only one man with the deep, gravelly voice with his distinct accent.
It was a really enjoyable evening and one we hope to repeat in the not too distant future.
We all enjoyed our visit from ‘The Bolton Bullfrog’, catch him somewhere if you can.