zeplz71 Posted February 2, 2019 Share Posted February 2, 2019 By Nick Knight MUSIC fans are more used to seeing Robert Plant on some of the world’s biggest and most famous stages but last Friday the rock star played live on the somewhat more intimate stage of Bishops Castle’s SpArC theatre. The former leader of Led Zeppelin who now fronts a variety of musical ensembles, Plant appeared alongside Saving Grace and The Beez Neez to show his support for the venue battling a funding crisis. It followed his visit to SpArC in late December with his friend and local musician Geoff Grimes, when Plant was looking for small intimate venues for his new music project. Robert knows and loves the area and after a tour of the theatre by manager Elizabeth Still he was impressed with the venue, and was keen to support the theatre when he heard its future was under threat. His new project called Saving Grace is a musical co-operative with Plant on vocals/harmonica, Suzi Dian on vocals, Tony Kelsey on mandolin, baritone and acoustic guitars, Matt Worley on banjo, acoustic and baritone guitars, and cuatro and Oli Jefferson on percussion. Described as “music inspired by the dreamscape of the Welsh Marches”, the local gig came together with the theatre’s warm and intimate atmosphere completed by a capacity audience unaware of the identity of the bands until The Beez Neez kicked the evening off to a flying start, with Geoff Grimes on keys and vocals, Ted Bunting on saxophones and flute, and Sticky Wicket on percussion and vocals, playing their set of blues and soul numbers with skill, personality and joyful energy. Then Saving Grace came on stage with Robert declaring that this was the band’s first gig and he was very happy to be back in “Bouncy Castle”. He went on to say how they “deeply support SpArC Theatre and others like it “ and “how important it is to preserve these places of music, theatre and art for communities in Shropshire, Herefordshire and Everywhereshire”. Their music was sublime, laid back and bluesy with eastern and folk influences. Robert was in fine voice, Suzi’s vocals blended perfectly as well as standing out and owning it in her own right. With warm harmonies from Tony and Matt, and beautifully crafted, textural guitar, mandolin, banjo and percussion too we couldn’t believe our luck! With this celebrity endorsement of the Save the SpArC Campaign, Elizabeth Still said: “We feel unbelievably privileged and excited that Robert Plant and Saving Grace decided to perform at Sparc Theatre”. https://www.countytimes.co.uk/news/17405225.led-zeppelin-star-robert-plant-shows-a-whole-lotta-love-for-bishops-castle-theatre/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
76229 Posted February 2, 2019 Share Posted February 2, 2019 So is this Priory of Brion 2? An actual new band, or a side project with the Space Shifters staying the main thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anniemouse Posted February 2, 2019 Share Posted February 2, 2019 I think some of this is due to Skin working and touring with cast from April onwards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tenyearsgone21 Posted February 3, 2019 Share Posted February 3, 2019 14 hours ago, 76229 said: So is this Priory of Brion 2? An actual new band, or a side project with the Space Shifters staying the main thing. Hard to say - they have tour dates in the summer so perhaps it's a side project? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woz70 Posted February 4, 2019 Share Posted February 4, 2019 Matt Worley has resurrected The Swan (and another pub) in Stourport (with Robert Plant's financial aid I think...) and turned it into a hub for local acts to play. Plant can often be seen in the area (he lives a few miles away) and has jammed with the locals on a few occasions. He seems to be rather enthusiastic about keeping small venues alive, which is really important as they are dying off rapidly in a time when people seem to think music should be free, and this looks to be a project to help promote that end. Good stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mused Posted February 6, 2019 Share Posted February 6, 2019 Hello all....Zephead since 5th grade!! new here......I wannnnnttt to hear them soooo bad....Lucky Suzy!! Did they do Evermore???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveAJones Posted February 6, 2019 Share Posted February 6, 2019 12 hours ago, mused said: Hello all....Zephead since 5th grade!! new here......I wannnnnttt to hear them soooo bad....Lucky Suzy!! Did they do Evermore???? Never mind that. I just clicked on your You Tube and listened to your cover of Smooth Operator. I can honestly say I'm cowering under my bed, hoping I locked all the doors. Yours is truly the voice of a bunny boiler, and now I will spend the remainder of the night fearful and awake. Just kidding! Nice cover. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chillumpuffer Posted February 6, 2019 Share Posted February 6, 2019 On 2/2/2019 at 9:06 PM, zeplz71 said: By Nick Knight MUSIC fans are more used to seeing Robert Plant on some of the world’s biggest and most famous stages but last Friday the rock star played live on the somewhat more intimate stage of Bishops Castle’s SpArC theatre. The former leader of Led Zeppelin who now fronts a variety of musical ensembles, Plant appeared alongside Saving Grace and The Beez Neez to show his support for the venue battling a funding crisis. It followed his visit to SpArC in late December with his friend and local musician Geoff Grimes, when Plant was looking for small intimate venues for his new music project. Robert knows and loves the area and after a tour of the theatre by manager Elizabeth Still he was impressed with the venue, and was keen to support the theatre when he heard its future was under threat. His new project called Saving Grace is a musical co-operative with Plant on vocals/harmonica, Suzi Dian on vocals, Tony Kelsey on mandolin, baritone and acoustic guitars, Matt Worley on banjo, acoustic and baritone guitars, and cuatro and Oli Jefferson on percussion. Described as “music inspired by the dreamscape of the Welsh Marches”, the local gig came together with the theatre’s warm and intimate atmosphere completed by a capacity audience unaware of the identity of the bands until The Beez Neez kicked the evening off to a flying start, with Geoff Grimes on keys and vocals, Ted Bunting on saxophones and flute, and Sticky Wicket on percussion and vocals, playing their set of blues and soul numbers with skill, personality and joyful energy. Then Saving Grace came on stage with Robert declaring that this was the band’s first gig and he was very happy to be back in “Bouncy Castle”. He went on to say how they “deeply support SpArC Theatre and others like it “ and “how important it is to preserve these places of music, theatre and art for communities in Shropshire, Herefordshire and Everywhereshire”. Their music was sublime, laid back and bluesy with eastern and folk influences. Robert was in fine voice, Suzi’s vocals blended perfectly as well as standing out and owning it in her own right. With warm harmonies from Tony and Matt, and beautifully crafted, textural guitar, mandolin, banjo and percussion too we couldn’t believe our luck! With this celebrity endorsement of the Save the SpArC Campaign, Elizabeth Still said: “We feel unbelievably privileged and excited that Robert Plant and Saving Grace decided to perform at Sparc Theatre”. https://www.countytimes.co.uk/news/17405225.led-zeppelin-star-robert-plant-shows-a-whole-lotta-love-for-bishops-castle-theatre/ errrr Lead Singer if you please Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mused Posted February 6, 2019 Share Posted February 6, 2019 6 hours ago, SteveAJones said: Never mind that. I just clicked on your You Tube and listened to your cover of Smooth Operator. I can honestly say I'm cowering under my bed, hoping I locked all the doors. Yours is truly the voice of a bunny boiler, and now I will spend the remainder of the night fearful and awake. Just kidding! Nice cover. that;s cool? did you hear my cover of since I've been loving?....I've got empty residences on two sides of me so I could pull that off, or attempt to, at home on my laptop--hahahah!!! Yeah....sometime I'll tell you my zep connection...4 whatever its worth~! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mused Posted February 6, 2019 Share Posted February 6, 2019 did they do evermore??? I found this version of Plant with a woman doing it,,,I guess a couple years ago? I think, yes it was fairport....anyways,,,,,he didn't seem to connected on that performance but he sounded awesome....i think I'm gonna try to dubb it,,,this one here; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HP_iD1miEVQ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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