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As has become usual this year the set opened with Cabbage Train and then straight into Witch in wedlock. Hardly pausing for breath and we are into the Black's .. Black is the colour and Blackleg miner. By now the mosh pit is usually heaving, but as this was a seated venue, so only a couple of hardy individuals were on their feet. this, although it was only a small number made the PA stacks wobble alarmingly .
The first major cheer from the crowd (over and above the usual applause at the end of tracks) came after Lizzies fiddle solo in the middle of Gravel/ RHH as it changes over. Also noticable at this point is Jay getting more comfortable on Keyboards, you never know in a few months time he may have it programmed into the variax .
MadTom followed, and into Ostara. The first appearance of Baby Blue and the second spontanious applause... not sure if it was the end of Lizzies harp solo or the change over to the guitar rif or both, but the audience went wild.
Now at half way this year's songs came out to play. First off BillyBoy ... certainly one of the stars from the summer, and rapidly becomeing a horseheadz favorite. After Barbara Allen, the first outing for Blood & Gold - a new departure from recent material being in 6/8 time - a little raw this first time, but all sounded more familar at shewsbury the next night, probably as we got used to the new time signature.
Into the crowd pleasing Bigger Gun (and a little audience participation), then the second brand new song - Crow on the Cradle - a standard from early last century, but not often played - however this time around it has been thoroughly "horsed". This is well onto the way of becoming a standard, starting at a gallop and has a fantastic change to finish.
Next up was another of this season's tunes - Night Visit - the tune may have been borrowed from Last Night's Fun, but this version has been given the Bluehorses treatment - traditional butchery as Lizzy like to announce .... however I have always been of the opinion that you go to a traditional butcher to get a fine cut of meat prepared with care and attention with the customer in mind... rather than the supermarket and chain store butchers that only care about quantity and always cut corners.
By the way I like what they have done to this track..... it rocks
The set was ended with the anthemic Skyclad another star of this year and well set on the most appreciated lists

after soaking up the applause for several minutes, the band came back on for a couple of encores ... Vivaldi to start with - this is a complete revamp of an idea that came with the 10 leagues album - and finishing with the traditional BH set closer Twm.

As befits a great night, it ended with a standing ovation, as befits a great night out.

  Not long to go now before the live dvd comes out