REVIEW BY JS

Not many shows include a range of songs from Bob Dylan to Ralph Vaughan- Williams, but that was what Festival-goers were treated to by Barbara Dickson on Saturday night at Hotel Mercure.

Accompanied by Nick Holland, on keyboard and supporting vocals, Barbara also included a mix of songs from Phil Everly of the Everly Brothers, Gerry Rafferty, Sandy Denny and some of her personal Scottish folk favourites.

The show began with a short appearance by Edwina Hayes, a very personable lass from Preston, who played acoustic guitar and kept the audience entertained with a mixture of her own compositions and personal favourites, interspersed with amusing tales of her home life and her travels around America.

I am sure that the audience would have been pleased to hear more from her.

Barbara Dickson’s distinctive and powerful voice is as good as ever and as she moved towards the close of the show of she delighted the audience with the plaintive classics - “Easy Terms” from “Blood Brothers” and “Another Suitcase, Another Hall” from “Evita” - before ending with a powerful rendition of another of her greatest hits, “Caravans”, as her Encore.

All-in-all, another great Bewdley Festival night.