The Cat in the title doesn’t have four legs, doesn’t meow and is in fact the singer/songwriter formerly known as Cat Stevens.
My daughter Seona has been a humongous fan ever since she was 13; fourteen years after he gave up his singing career! So when I found out that he was doing some concerts in Australia I knew that tickets to see him would be the perfect birthday present for her.
With the help of her partner Phil we arranged that I should fly up to Sydney on the night and meet her for dinner before the show as a surprise. There were a few hiccups in the plans along the way (not least when I accidentally on forwarded the two tickets to her) but through a web of lies and deceit we managed to keep her in the dark and the surprise was wonderfully successful.
She was totally wound up for the concert; having loaded her iPhone with his entire catalogue and spending the last two weeks revisiting every song he’s ever recorded. So I was a leetle bit nervous that the actual show might not be able to live up to the high expectations.
Fortunately my fears were unfounded. We both had a fantastic time and Yusuf (as Cat Stevens has been known for the past 30 years) put on a magnificent performance with two hours of solid quality.
Seona was totally melted when he sang Sitting (the song that first got her into Cat Stevens). All the favourites from the old days were there and also some new stuff which we both enjoyed too. Amazingly his voice doesn’t seem to have changed at all over the last 30 years. He sounded exactly like his recordings.
Plus his interaction with the audience was brilliant. You really felt that he wanted to be there and was putting on the show just for you. He laughed and joked in a relaxed way with just enough chat between the songs to keep the flow going.
The light show was wonderful with some magnificent art work and Yusuf gave us a taster of a musical show he’s written called Moonshadow which we’re very excited about and are keeping our fingers crossed that it’ll come to Australia.
It’s always risky going to see someone that you have been a big fan of as often your expectations can be impossibly high and it’s easy to find yourself disappointed with the reality. But fortunately all expectations were met by Yusuf last week, and then some.
The Celtics
Long time visitors to Scraps of Mind may remember that the last weekend in June is when I get my annual Folk Fix. The Kilmore Celtic Festival (14 years and going strong) is where Allan and I rug up warm and head up the Hume Freeway to spend a day immersed in Celtic music of every flavour.
Once again Kilmore imported the weather directly from Ireland and Scotland for the event. I realise that the cold in Australia may not be of the professional standard of cold that some of your homes may achieve, but let me tell you Saturday in Kilmore was plenty cold enough for me. Still when the craic is good and the wine is flowing (sorry, I’ve never come to terms with Guinness) what do a few frosty fingers matter?
Several of our favourite acts were there again this year. Bhan Tre returned with a new and excellent fiddler from Dublin who’s backpacking her way around Australia. And of course what would Kilmore Festival be without Ced le Meledo and Bric a Brac; always a great act to watch and listen to. And the Breton/French music adds some great variety to the Scottish and Irish tunes.
Our new band to watch this year is called Shannachie and they’re from the Lake School of Celtic Music. This place seems to be producing some great future talent. They’re still a bit unpolished in their stage presence but we definitely liked what we heard.
And we got a double helping of Braemar this year. Braemar always bring out the Scottish in me, even though there’s really none there (I’m Irish t’be sure). Eddie has the perfect voice for those Scottish laments. This year Eddie and Marc were joined by a couple of friends on the fiddle and the uilleann pipes. The sad thing is that it was Braemar’s final year at the Festival as they are disbanding in the next couple of months. So thank you Eddie and Marc for all the great Festivals we’ve enjoyed with you and we wish you the very best for the future.
As the day drew to a close we head south a few kilometres and called in at my sister Elaine’s place. Also now a tradition for us. A warm and toasty evening with yummy food was the perfect end to another great Kilmore Celtic Festival Day.
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And a week after the concert I’m still buzzing! It was such a fantastic night, and thanks for sharing it with me, Mum.
Sounds like some wonderful memories for you. I remember cat but never got totally into his music but I’ve discovered live concerts are so much more than a recording.
I would have loved to join you for the festival. i love Celtic music. I hear most of mine on PBS channels that get some amazing groups. My name is Kelly but my roots are German so not sure where the love of Celtic music comes from but it has it’s very own style and I ‘v come to enjoy it. Of course if you happen to throw in a bagpipe or two and I would really light up. LOL
Glad to hear the ‘glow’ is still lasting Honey. I’m still talking about it too.
I must say, I do like my ‘Celtic Fix’ at Kilmore every year Laura. I don’t think you have to be Irish or Scottish to enjoy it either.
And just when I thought it was over, Allan’s picked up a couple of tickets to see Braemar in their final performance of Lochinvar no More (a sensational telling of the history of Scotland in words and music that is a totally emotional experience, even if you’re not Scottish) at the Newport Folk Festival on Saturday.
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