Levellers review - submitted by Richard Holmes

Cambridge Folk Festival 2001

26th-29th July 2001
Cherry Hinton Hall Grounds, Cherry Hinton Road, Cambridge.

Before they even take the stage, this is a triumph. Dogged by years of ignorance from the intelligentsia of the music press and a hopeless disregard of all things viewed fashionable, the appearance atop the bill of a prestigious UK festival can only be viewed in such light. For too long, the scribblings that would read "ho fiddledy dee" ignored much at the heart of a talented, passionate, great British band. Yet, all the same, this appearance is strangely unsurprising.

This band hasn't endured the strain of years of touring, hard work, blood sweat and tears, not to mention poor reviews, to end up at the bottom of some has-been circus. The Levellers, 2001 marque, are a formidable force on the UK live circuit. They alone have the pulling power to turn what some might naively regard a fringe event into a commercial success. The t-shirts adorning the grounds of Cherry Hinton Hall are evidence enough for the reason that tickets were long since sold out.

Opening their set with one of their earliest songs, the title track of their first EP, Carry Me, is also evidence that the band means business. They take the gig by the scruff of the neck from the opening moments and seldom hint of letting go. After hit singles and well-loved album tracks, enthusiastically received by their adoring audience, a slower paced collection allows all concerned a chance for breathing and heartbeat to return to normal. Here the formidable strength of the Levellers musicianship is allowed to show its muscle, as Simon Friend switches effortlessly between numerous instruments and Mark Chadwick shows mastery of several guitar styles.

The respite is short lived, and no sooner than catching our breath, we are taken on a return journey through hits and album highlights. What a beautiful day sends even the most traditionalists of festivalgoers soaring to dizzy heights. Battle Of The Beanfield proves a worthy showstopper, Friend's vocals purveying fully the anger at the appalling scenes this country witnessed when a peaceful community of travellers were set upon by the Wiltshire constabulary after an "illegal" attempt to celebrate the summer solstice at Stonehenge.

Inevitably, the show does not end, and the band return, the anthemic One Way, given a rare outing. It's all the more resplendent with Steve Boakes supplying a pulsating performance on didgeridoo. There is a further special guest for Dirty Davey in the form of Nick Burbridge, the writer of the song and early influence of the Levellers in their formative years. It's a special moment that is not lost on the fans, even the younger ones.

Surely that would be our fill, but the MC persuades, in equal measure, the crowd to shout louder and the band to return. Riverflow is the song left ringing in our ears as the band bode farewell. The Levellers came through, worthy of their headline appearance (the only band to have achieved such status twice). While the world at large won't sit up and listen, those that do are truly rewarded. There can be no greater live act in Britain; it's a pity so few will join the party. Forget the trendy music press telling you what's hot, and what's not. Life's too short to miss the shear brilliance of the Levellers for the sake of your credibility. See them when you get the chance and be amazed. Make your own mind up.