It’s been some time since I was excited about an Island band,maybe it’s my age or maybe it’s a case of having seen it all before. Well on a blustery night in Arreton it was a case of BRILLIANT.


Having lived with 6 months of rehearsals, Smoke and Mirrors made their debut at the Community Centre. The Charity gig for the Isle of Wight MS Society was arranged to launch last years Celtic Celebration gig CD.


The show started with opening act Sandra and Richard covering Moondance and other hits.
Next up was Jamie Griffin who stepped up to play a fine solo set of covers and originals.


Smoke and Mirrors, made up of Tim Marshall, Sian Richards, Phil Chase, Martin White, Becky Haydock and Brian Sharpe, played to a packed hall eager to witness this ‘Supergroup’. They weren’t disappointed. The set list below reads like a guide through English Folk Rock.

• ROSE OF ENGLAND
• ROCKY ROAD
• ALEX PATTERSON’S RETURN
• CRAZY MAN MICHAEL
• SEVEN LITTLE SISTERS
• THE WORK SONG
• CLOSE TO THE WIND
• CHESHIRE ROUNDS
• THE WORLD IS WHAT YOU MAKE IT
• MATTY GROVES
• FOXHUNTERS SET
• MEET ON THE LEDGE
• FALMOUTH PACKET/PENMURE HALF
• THE PLAINSMAN

It’s no secret that my favourite music was that produced by the Fairport’s during 1968 to 1974 and with Sian they certainly came close to capturing that mood. Her vocal delivery on Crazy Man Michael was beautiful. Martin White’s Seven Little Sisters really shone with wonderful harmonies (and Brian Sharpe on drums).
Great instrumentals like the Cheshire Rounds had me thinking that a team of Morris Dancers would storm through the door. Tim Marshall on bass made the band tick along with a tight feel, Phil Chase who so often keeps the Tin Lids moving along sang his heart out and ye'r man Brian Sharpe pulling out all the stops on Paul Brady’s The World Is What You Make It. Shouts of more gave the band a problem as they had used up their entire set list but they pulled in Trevor Lucas’s The Plainsman. Sang so well as ever by Phil.


So there I am rubbing my eyes in disbelief and then realising it was all Smoke and Mirrors!