It seemed appropriate that this 11 headed beast should be at the Dome, just a few days away from their final ever gig. Although not built with reels, shanties and traditional balladry in mind, the Prince Regent, aka George IV, had made Brighton his home-from-home, as a somewhat hedonistic seaside retreat, and the Dome was initially built as a stables, to house his dozens of horses, including the placing of a fountain in the middle for all to drink from. Many of the songs that Bellowhead perform are from around this time (17th and 18th centuries), and in true Brighton party spirt, this well-oiled machine were in a home-from-home vein.

A big factor in their success is that they make folk music fun. Despite material that includes murder ballads, the humour and high spirits constantly shine through as they leap around the stage, take turns to introduce songs and tell a funny story or two (‘Cold Blows The Wind’ is introduced as a song about a nagging girlfriend and her dead boyfriend). While lead singer and de-facto leader Jon Boden dispenses with his military jacket at one stage to unveil a sequinned waistcoat as they get their folk-disco on.

Delving into their back catalogue and promoting their final release, a double live CD/DVD of their previous tour, the audience warm up to the point where there isn't a head nodding or a foot tapping. Almost all are on their feet for the sea shanty ‘Roll The Woodpile Down’, before they really mix it with the raucous ‘Little Sally Racket’, which includes a drunken sounding acapella section, the traditional drinking song Gosport Nancy, the love song Rosemary Lane (a variant of ‘Scarborough Fair’) and the Calypso inflected ‘London Town’. Amongst the tragedies there's plenty of pub-like merriment and high jinks as Bellowhead refuse to get maudlin or regretful.

A second encore brings out a song from their very first EP, Prickle Eye Bush, when Bellowhead was barely out of nappies, and with no serious thoughts of growing up to become one of the most well-loved folk-based bands ever. But, they're a tight unit this lot, a band of superb musicians who play as one, (and one for all.), able to mesh traditional music within a contemporary setting, and delighting most everyone who has crossed their path. It goes without saying they'll be missed.
Jeff Hemmings

Website: bellowhead.co.uk
Facebook: facebook.com/bellowhead
Twitter: twitter.com/bellowhead