The Railway – Live Music in Winchester

JACQUI MCSHEE’S PENTANGLE – Folk / Rock / Jazz fusion.
I must confess, before I continue this blog, that I do not like the idea of music genres and I often find I totally disagree with some of the categorisations!  But, here I am providing a genre for this concert!

Ok, let’s get back to writing the Blog – so what about this venue, which describes itself as Winchester’s only Live Music Pub.  The Railway is easy to get to from the station (unsurprisingly) just take the exit from the station platform that is for North bound trains, turn left at the foot of the stairs in the underpass and up the road to the junction and the Railway is left and easy to see (white building).  Walk in through the door at the front and you are in the main bar, the first thing you will notice is a lack of comfortable seats (just the few armchairs in one corner) and the occasional stool at a table!  This pub doesn’t go out of its way to be comfortable and is not a “relax and read” environment!  Then you get to the bar and find a few good real ales and friendly staff and it doesn’t seem so bad after all.

Off the bar there are two music venues – The Barn (where tonight’s band played) and The Attic (I will review that venue later when I write about Jim Moray!).  The Barn is up the stairs from the main bar, past the toilets and is actually a room set at the back of the pub.  It was clear while we waited for the doors to open that seating was basic – the staff were moving a number of fold-up seats into The Barn for the concert.  When we got into the room it was a reasonable size for a pub, with a stage at the far end, a bar and toilets at the side.  UV lights on the wall brought back memories of the 60s and 70s (discos), but made me stand out as a luminous white blob because of my light shirt!  Ladies beware of white underwear under dark clothes!!

So, what of the music, well the show started with a solo guitarist from Essex (I missed his name, sorry).  He was quite good with a few amusing stories to accompany the song, and he played together with Jacqui to introduce the main band, playing a  song he had written.  it is always good to hear a singer/songwriter live.  Jacqui McShee and Pentangle play some interesting music and tonight was no exception.  As well as the popular rock/folk that made Pentangle famous all those years ago, there were many other tracks of various types, including some Miles Davis.  I really ike this fusion of sounds and the only distraction was the sad fact that Jacqui had a very sore throat, which made her voice weak and it was clearly difficult for her to reach some notes.  She did explain this and told us that she got no sympathy from the band!  Typical!  Despite this she still can entertain an audience and all those there seemed to enjoy this concert, and so did we.

Overall, an interesting place for live music – intimate and basic but able to quickly generate a positive atmosphere.