ACE season ends with a winter-warming ding dong
Seasonal folk supergroup turn the hall into a magical grotto
A Winter Union at ACE Space on Saturday, December 11
ACE Space closed its 2021 programme of entertainment with a true festive treat; A
Winter Union.
Performing from a stage bedecked with Christmas lights and scenery, the five talented members of this seasonal folk supergroup turned the hall into a truly magical Christmas grotto.
Katriona Gilmore, Jade Rhiannon and Ben Savage – all members of The Willows – plus Hannah Sanders and Jamie Roberts allied to deliver an eclectic selection of Yuletide music both old and new, spiced with great banter and a few good anecdotes.
All five performers are notable singers and players and the scene was set with the opening Ding
Dong Merrily on High and Wassail, both harmonised beautifully. Katriona’s Every Midnight Mile gave us a flavour of being on the road at this time of year and a surreal introduction by Ben and Jamie about hunting the tiny bird led us into The King – a trad tune for St Stephen’s Day about the wren.
Jade led her own beautiful Elizabeth Woodcock.
All Bells In Paradise was truly lovely, with the bells’ peals emulated on strings and that was followed by an instrumental God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.
The first set closed with two surprising winter songs from across the pond – Joni Mitchell’s classic River, impeccably sung by Hannah, and Townes Van Zandt’s reflective Snowin’ on Raton with part-time cidermaker Ben taking the lead in his suitably husky tones.
The second set opened with some grittier tunes – In the Bleak Midwinter led into Boxing Day ,a scathing rant about “the man” by political singer Robb Johnson. Then back to the familiar with We Three Kings arranged and led by Jade and Good King Wenceslas.
As the final curtain approached, a real highlight was Ring Our Solstice Bells by Jethro Tull, expertly played in true upbeat Tull style with Katriona emulating Anderson’s flute part on mandolin – followed by an enthusiastic and exceptionally well-behaved audience joining in by Robbie Robertson’s (The Band) Christmas Must Be Tonight.
For their well-deserved encore, the group left the stage (and their mics) to deliver a moving acoustic version of their own Raise A Candle, led by Katriona (with candle), remembering those no longer with us or unable to enjoy Christmas. At this point the band adopted silly Christmas headgear to deliver a rousing final number, Children.
And a final word for tour sound engineer Pete Ord, who truly delivered.
A hugely good time was had by all. Merry Christmas!