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I wrote somewhere in my blog a while back that the were one of the best live acts I have ever seen. (I think it was after the Cropredy Festival before last.)

Last night, at the Victoria Hall, Settle I found myself in complete agreement with myself, ­ if you see what I mean.

A night of fire and passion with superb dancing and great music from a band that takes itself seriously but is never po-faced. They play and sing with total conviction and yet keep a warm rapport going between themselves and the audience which last night was composed of everyone from died in the sheepskin folkies to people who had simply come to support the local venue.

Highlights for me were the dance sets which ranged from to various types of including rapper sword dancing. The rapper set really has to be seen; energetic and powerful; it left any doubters in the audience finally convinced that morris in all its forms is not a dance for wimps but is a ritual that has more to do with fertility rites in Pagan Britain than entertaining shoppers in a Christmas Mall.

I also think that the audience were quite amazed when the band nipped backstage (while Bryony sang a calling on song) and metamorphosed from raunchy musicians into brilliant dancers. The whole night flowed beautifully and seamlessly and had the audience howling for more at the end.

My mind is still holding on to the image of several ladies of a certain age sitting at the back of a full house, waving light wands while swaying in time to the music while several small children on the front row stared agog as the cloggers feet moved like the beaks of a half dozen woodpeckers on speed. (Lousy analogy - I know.)

A new album is under way and due some time in the Spring and it's title may well be something like Captain Ward's Technicolour Adventures (it's not settled yet but one of the main songs on it will be Captain Ward And The Rainbow).

I can't wait. Brilliant stuff.