The final gig of the Spring tour was at Wakefield Theatre Royal and Opera House on Saturday, 25th March. I made the four hour train journey from Cumbria across the Pennines, calling in Manchester at a record fair on the way. Amazingly, the Wakefield couple sat next to me had stayed at an isolated and rarely visited Cumbrian farm close to home which I�d walked past only a week ago. An early 7.30 p.m. start allowed the band to get through 26 songs with a full house AND have an hour in the bar at the end.

Unusually for a Lindisfarne concert we were seated throughout although a few lively souls were bopping at the front. This was probably due to the absence of �We Can Swing Together� which normally forces the issue! It was still a hugely enjoyable concert with many of my favourites in the set, including the opener �Why Can�t I Be Satisfied�. 

Next, �Working My Way Back Home� and Marty�s lively �Driftin� Through� preceded a superb Billy-led rendition of �Scarecrow Song�. Dave, Marty and Rod provided the instrumental �Ardnamurchan�, the full group returning for �Ghost In Blue Suede Shoes�. Dave provided the main vocal for �Marshall Riley�s Army�, Billy for �One Day� and Marty for �Anyway the Wind Blows�. �Meet Me On The Corner� got the audience singing. Billy�s classic �Born At The Right Time� and Woody Guthrie�s �Jackhammer Blues� ensured the first set closed on a high. 

Dave�s �Unmarked Car� provided a moody guitar start to the second half and Rod�s mandolin enhanced both �Jubilee Corner� and �Lady Eleanor�. Dave and Ian then took the spotlight for a fantastic return to the set of �Winter Song�, reminding me of Alan and Rod. Billy�s vocal brought out the quality of Rod�s ballad �Can�t Do Right For Doing Wrong�. The current breakdown of the peace talks gave an added poignancy to Dave�s rendition of Alan�s �Poor Old Ireland� before the group dug out another old favourite �Alan In The River With Flowers�. As Billy said, this was the fancy title of �Float Me Down The River�, the pensive verse and evocative chorus harmonies transporting us back in time. 

Next, Ian�s �Two Way Street� made a welcome return, it�s rockier drive being reflected in the Rod-led �Devil Of The North�. The �Mercury years� were represented with nice versions of �Call Of The Wild� and �Run For Home� and the concert ended superbly with �Road To Kingdom Come�, �Fog On The Tyne� and �Clear White Light�. All the major hits and breathtaking variety from the wealth of group material. 

In the bar, I was delighted to talk to Marty, Ray and Ian. I even found out what had happened to Keswick�s old �wooden hut� Century Theatre. This was replaced by the new Theatre by the Lake which the band played twice in November and January. Ray recalled Keswick�s �blue box� theatre from his camping days and was astounded to find himself playing in it at Coalville on 16th March. It had returned to its origins as part of the Victorian �theme park� there! 

I just hope that Ian didn�t miss the bus as we became engrossed in discussing the repertoire of Ray Davies and the Kinks!

Derek Walmsley 27/3/2000