Sons Of Town Hall: Riparian travels brought them back to Ripon Arts Hub
THE return of Sons of Town Hall is always something to be celebrated. Come fair winds or foul, this acoustic duo, who have built a whole world around their fictitious adventures travelling by raft, have a soft spot in their hearts for Ripon, once Britain’s northernmost canal point.
Having seen the pair many times, it’s fascinating how much people care about them, despite never courting popular appeal. Kind folk everywhere, including the Thompsons of Ripon, give them a berth, feed them, then invite them back.
A sold-out Arts Hub was only too ready to welcome them again, just as they had in 2017, 2019 and 2021. The pair may also have spent time in the Ripon Workhouse. You can tell by the way they manage a crowd that they would have no issues controlling a ship’s crew. With just a smile and a look, they can tame a crowd (although Ripon needed very little restraint). It is these warm moments of connection with the audience that summon the goosebumps.
Sons Of Town Hall: “Even William Tell couldn’t split their voices and they had us all singing”
While the songs are full of depth and emotion, it is the theatre and stories that really set them apart from most of their peers. With a hundred years of exploits to draw on, they will hopefully be spinning these yarns for many years to come.
Their tall tales between numbers are well travelled and really set up the songs. From experience, they were perhaps not at their absolutely best. Their jokes have landed better and the repartee has been both warmer and sharper, but their harmonies remain flawless and the guitar rang crisp and clear. Even William Tell couldn’t split their voices and they had us all singing.
We find our heroes at an interesting time. With two strong albums and a world-class talent, they could justifiably look to take their act to bigger stages and leave these homely halls behind.
“We find our heroes at an interesting time,” says reviewer Paul Rhodes
Their ambitious podcast, Madmen Cross The Water, shows them embracing our digital age. You wonder if they would want to. Or it might all go south, with Ben Parker becoming a Japanese axeman and David Berkeley free to run the hills of Santa Fe singing for his supper. Hopefully, the former.
Showcasing songs from their second album, Of Ghosts and Gods, the 90-minute set saw the old giving way to the new. Poseidon gave up its spot for the wonderful airborne New Orleans and St Christopher was supplanted by mutiny. There were a number of standouts. Wild Winds’ chorus blew hard, while Whalebone built slowly towards its crescendo.
On their day, Sons of Town Hall are the finest acoustic duo touring these rocky shores. You’d be mad to miss them.
Review by Paul Rhodes