Rogue's Gallery at The Barbican

[Helen D]

Saw Rogues Gallery at The Barbican in London last night. A mix of bawdy sea chanteys and ballads of lost loves etc.Over three hours of music rooted in the past, but brought into the present by contemporary artists such as Martha Wainwright, Shane MacGowan, Tim Robbins and folk favourites Eliza Carthy, Martin Carthy, Norma Waterson amongst many others.Rockin' music on the mandolin and the saw - yes saw! which you just don't get to hear every day were added bonuses and in a set of over forty songs there were some real treats. 'The Good Ship Venus' as sung by I think Richard Strange was outrageously bawdy and Shane MacGowan singing along and playing harmonica on 'Drunken Sailor' were great to see. Who would have thought an idea by Jonny Depp and Gore Verbinski while working on 'Pirates of the Caribbean'would have brought such results. It was a really special evening.