Fionn Regan // Norwich Arts Centre - 25.02.10

I squealed when I saw that my steady favourite Fionn Regan was playing locally. His first album has been a kind of a backbone to me over the last 2 years; Mercury nominated and a beautiful, intelligent collection of folk tunes. His new album is however supposedly heading in a brand new direction so I had slight trepidation in attending this gig. Firstly I had to deal with the fact that Danny and the Champions of the World totally blew me away. I have honestly never seen a more enthusiastic response to a support act from a Norwich crowd; yes, there was even clapping-over-the-head action and whooping. They were massively infectious, lively and obviously having a wicked time on stage. The quiffed lead singer used to be in one of my favourite band Grand Drive, and his love for Americana has continued into this, his new band, which is so Springsteen it hurts in a good way. Foot tapping country harmonies with great guitars and added trumpet and violin, this band will be all over everywhere soon. They are playing Glastonbury this year, so please please go and see them if you can.

Fionn Regan, who used Danny and The Champions as his band for this gig, seemd rather shy to start with. With his bowl hair cut and bells around his neck, he looks exactly as I would expect, like a 60’s reject who lives in an Irish cottage. He starts with Hey Rabbit from his first album, and the full Arts Centre is silent. His soaring voice and accompanying simple guitar is something truly magical.Then we are treated to a mixture of songs from both his album which, despite the fact that they are in very different styles, works very well live. His new music is very early Dylan, Donovan-esque 60’s pop, playful and much more upbeat than his earlier stuff. Fionn Regan is obviously a man who lives to make music and although he is initially reserved and quiet, by the end of the gig he is conversing with the audience about the Ten Bells cat and enjoying himself more. The night finishes with an acoustic rendition of Be Good Or Be Gone, a quiet and thoughtful song from his first album, and Fionn encourages the audience to sing along to the refrain in hushed tones – a truly unforgettable end to a wonderful night.