Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

Summer, in all its British damp and rain soaked glory, in all its burning one day haze, which with nostalgia over time becomes as sweat driven and lethargic as the one that hit the nation in ’76, long, luxurious and never ending, summer is only possible to dream about because festivals give the music lover hope and certain musicians always make sure they play in the same place each year, around the same time, to give thanks to their fans, the ritual is one of cool dynamic, of mutual thanks.

The Rodewold Suite may be no more, lost now to Liverpool memories and former glorious nights in which a hero could stand tall, however in its place and with the distinction of the large and never shy presence of Ian Prowse in its midst, The Philharmonic Music Rooms have added another voice in which to hear music in the city and it is one that Ian Prowse was more than happy to import the biggest amount of fun and serious music to.

On the back of the hugely influential album Companeros, an album fuelled by belief and the companionship of other artists’ worldly wise words, Ian Prowse took the packed crowd, not so much packed but gently crammed to capacity, on a journey which had the audience cheering as if it a rally for justice… a rally organised by one of the city’s favourite sons and one that was deadly earnest in its delivery.

With two sets to fill and aided by the delicate, fruitful tones of Laura McKinlay and Fiona McConnell, Ian Prowse filled the air with songs of intrigue, of history, of the reasons why we are who we are today and justice fulfilled, human dragons slayed and dispatched with their pulpit lies. The smile of the man never far from the grace he exudes, even when with right on his side, he damns those that dared try and take on the city with their slander and their smears.

With the two sets combining songs such as the important My Name Is Dessie Warren, You Can’t Win Them All Mum, Saint Patrick’s Brave Brigade, Johnny & Marie, Name & Number, Joe’s Kiss, You’re A Phoney, Raid The Palace, Love Phenomenon and the glory that resides deep in the veins of Does This Train Stop On Merseyside, Mr. Prowse made sure that the Rodewold Suite, long loved, a home for many years, was retired with thanks and the new home for the summer sojourn was celebrated and praised to the rafters.

Always a great time in the company of Ian Prowse, his fans that sang alongside him were given the evening of their summer.

Ian D. Hall