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About one hundred people are sitting in the FREEDM studio, in the newly refurbished Roundhouse, Camden, and the intimate setting is perfectly apt to the forthcoming performance by legendary, quintessentially British 60s folk/ psychedelia singer-songwriter Donovan.
The majority of the studio’s congregation wasn’t even born when Mr Donovan Leicht was one of Britain’s top hits writer, but everyone is eagerly awaiting his recital. The young audience is a credit to Donovan’s ever lasting popularity and ongoing appeal.
As he stands before us, gently smiling and clutching a green guitar ‘called’ Kelly, all he needs to bring back to life yesteryear’s hits, are the help of musician Tom Mason and his double-bass.
We are treated to a fine display of song crafting and the live equivalent of a ‘best of’ and the ‘classics’ come and come, 1964 ‘Universal Soldier’, ‘Jennifer Juniper’, ‘Catch The Wind’, ‘Young Girl Blues’... but the sing along to ‘Colours’ is genuinely moving.
About mid-set he introduces ‘The Promise’, a recently written song with the help of Kelly the guitar, half Scottish, half Irish, half Donovan, [ “but that’s ok because guitars can’t count!” ].
Then to my joy he launches into [what I consider to be the chef-d’oeuvre of his repertoire] ‘Season Of The Witch’ and with a wink declares, “for all the witches out there, you know who you are!” and enough knowing nods from the male audience delight him.
Long standing friend and fellow bohemian artist Vashti Bunyan joins him for ‘Voyage Of The Moon’ and he ends his set with ‘Sunshine Superman’ .
Every song is performed with pride and brio putting many of today’s so called singer-songwriter [ don’t worry Mr Blunt, I won’t name you ] to shame.
With his gentle manner and idiosyncratic banter, hugely talented Donovan keeps us mesmerised and makes it easy for us to travel back to an era unbeknown to most of us, unfortunately our journey into flower-power is far too short.
Words: Florence ACHERY
www.donovan.ie
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