Levellers/Wilswood Buoys

March 10, 2023 Off By Jon

The Lighthouse, Poole

Tonight the Wessex Hall at Poole Lighthouse plays host to The Levellers Acoustic Tour in support of the band’s new album “Together All The Way”; which features a mix of new tracks along with a few reworked classics. The band are joined by Raevennan Husbandes (Guitar), Hannah Miller (Cello) & Oli Austin (Percussion) of Alt/Folk band The Moulettes; the trio also feature on the new album too. It’s been quite a while since the Levellers have ventured out this way and their popularity is still strong as there are a near sold out crowd to welcome them here tonight in this 1500 seater hall.

Before the headliners, we have from Mersea Island off the Essex Coastline the “Wilswood Buoys” comprising of Josh Wilson and Joe Sherwood, the band name was made from the combination of their surnames. The duo formed in 2017 having already released their debut album “A New Beginning” with the help of Folk legend Frank Turner, who they met on Mersea Island while he was doing his day job as an Oysterman. They arrive on this large stage and immediately show their significant skills with acoustic guitars and their fast-paced fingerwork.

Wilswood Buoys 1–2–3–4–5–6–7

Opening with “Rollercoaster” the guys begin to draw in the crowd with some engaging lyrics and their warm personalities. The feverishly fast pace on the two guitars with suitably matched vocals continues on tracks like the hard-hitting war anthem “Crisis” and a new track retrospectively looking at life called “When I’m Gone”. We get an insight into Josh’s love life with a couple of songs about challenging relationships “It Must Be Love” and “Change”, the latter being apparently about a girl from Bournemouth who just might be in the crowd tonight. These guys clearly have some impressive creative skills between them and provide some fine entertainment for this Poole crowd. They earn themselves plenty of positive applause as they leave the stage.

The mighty Levellers have graced this stage many times before and in most cases has been with their fully electric set-up. Tonight is a much more civilised affair including all band members and the audience remaining mainly seated throughout. With the three Moulettes there are 9 musicians on stage and sadly Simon Friend this time is not one of them. Mark Chadwick (Lead Vocals/Guitar), Jeremy Cunningham (Bass), Jon Sevink (Fiddle), Charlie Heather (Drums), Matt Savage (Keys) and Dan Donnelly (Guitar/Mandolin) complete the line-up. Kicking off with “The Game” you can hear from the off the extent of the revised arrangements and metamorphosis that the song has gone through. Reimagining popular songs is not always a hit with fans, however tonight’s audience are faithfully patient and seem to really enjoy what the band have to offer. Mark’s voice seems to be in fine form and along with Hannah’s haunting Cello create a spine-tingling moment to savour on a wonderful radical reworking of the classic “Battle of The Beanfield”.

The Levellers 1–2–3–4–5–6–7–8–9–10–11

During the early part of the set, you could feel a frustration from some within the audience, who just want to let themselves go and leave their seat to get up and dance. After a string of newer tracks “The Boatman” started a mass exodus of people arising from their sets and giving in to the music, many also left their seats and made their way to the front. The atmosphere in the place is turned on its head and the gig began to feel more like a Levellers gig should. “Cholera Well”, “The Road” and “Far From Home” all included the additional voices of the audience singing dutifully along with the band. Was it already time for the encore? Wow, that time has flown by, they always say time flies when we are enjoying ourselves.

It was great to hear the loud amount of noise the crowd demanded for an encore and the band returned with the classic “Hope Street”, which segued straight into Rev Hammer’s upbeat “Down By The River ‘O'”; a huge tune that is an epic danceable jig. The evening ended with the final number “Just The One” sending punters away happy with a tune to remind them to grab that last drink from the bar on the way out. It’s difficult to imagine a Levellers set without the likes of “One Way” and “Beautiful Day” and of course you’re never going to please everyone. The band have always been brave with many of the decisions in their career and it’s interesting to see a band evolve as they mature. Personally, I thoroughly enjoyed this evening’s offerings and it was good to really listen and take note of all the eclectic sounds on offer.

Set Lists
Levellers
Intro
The Game
Lowlands Of Holland
Liberty Song
Battle Of The Beanfield
Wheels
Drug Bust McGee
Together All The Way
Sitting In The Social
Man O’ War
Julie
Ghosts In The Water
Born That Way
Haven’t Made It
England My Home
The Boatman
The Cholera Well
The Road
Far From Home