Happenings: A man caught bootlegging Lindisfarne’s act had his tape seized by 
Fred ‘Borne’ Munt.

In terms of both performance and crowd response, Weeley was a two band event ... 
- the incredible Faces and Lindisfarne -.

The music business has long been shouting the praises of these five most amiable Tynesiders, and now it appears as though the people who really count .

.. . the public . . . have taken their cause en masse. 

Everyone expected Lindisfarne to do well, but nobody, least of all the group, envisaged the wild scenes of genuine acceptance that greeted them halfway through their set. Indeed, had there been time they could have played for the remainder of the afternoon and well into the night. As it was, not even two encores could sate the entire arena which had become a sea of leaping humanity. 

Being perhaps the band’s biggest fan and constantly calling the odds, I’m so very pleased for all those connected with Lindisfarne in that all the dedicated hard work as opposed to superficial hype that has gone into nurturing this most talented band has finally paid dividends and I don’t think it will be too long before they become an attraction of international repute.As an entity, Lindisfarne are a hokey little outfit – somebody bangs their foot an away they go – and before long the whole place is alive and jumping. 

Lindisfarne are best described as being the epitome of untogetherness togetherness – they break all the accepted rules by which a group operates – content to get-it-on rather nicely in their own merry way. “Scotch Mist”, “Walkin’ Blues”, “Train In G Major”, “Knacker’s Yard Blues” and “City Song” were just the correct essence for an enjoyable loon about and when it came to the rousing “Fog On The Tyne” and “We Can Swing Together” the atmosphere became totally electrified. 

Though Alan Hull has long been the mainstay, the group are quickly emerging as powerful forces. Ray “Jacko” Jackson is to Lindisfarne what Brian Jones was to the Stones, in that his instrumental work on both harmonica and mandolin helps to give band their identifiable sound. 
In support Ray Laidlaw (drums), Rod Clements (bass and violin) and Simon Cowe (guitar and mandolin) all give valuable contributions without overriding each other’s work. To use the words of a certain “boy-wonder” publicist Glen Coulson “You could say that Lindisfarne were well pleased.”

Roy Carr