The word ‘seasoning’ springs to mind when I think of Bob Fox. Like a slab of Penman’s finest, dry rubbed with exotica from the spice rack then slapped on the griddle; or… a magnificent piece of oak, reverently dehumidified, seasoning at zenith, now fit for the craftsman’s wise hand.

Bob Fox has that seasoning. Marinaded, infused through and through with folk club tradition, If I close my eyes, I’m almost wheeched back to folk clubs of yore, set the controls for 1975, the air is thickened with Benson and Hedges, woolly sideburns abound, kipper ties, spirits and voices lifted heavenwards by golden ambrosia supped from dimpled pint glasses. Ah, them were the days.

But that was then and this is now and folk 'veteran' Bob’s talents remain blade sharp. Like a water bearer, he bestows gifts drawn from the endless river of folk tales and ballads from England’s North East, borne all the way up to Crail, quenching our droothy shell-likes.

Kicking off with late period Fairport’s My Love is in America, a robust starter; Bob is the closest you can get to being a member of Fairport Convention without actually being a member, in fact all of the Fairports backed him on his excellent 2000 Dreams Never Leave You album.

Jack Crawford is a spun seafaring tale of heroism, and Bob tells us that it is this very Jack for whom the Union Jack is named… then with a glint lets us in on the fact that it’s most likely just ‘fake lore’. Solid claw hammer guitar work evidenced here.

Songs of the North East, pit and pit closures and the ‘common’ working man; Jez Lowes Greek Lightning tells the tale of a lad promising his lass a trip to Greece but his circumstances permitting nothing more exotic than Whitley bay. A touching tune with strong rhythm playing.

A beautiful John Barleycorn reminds us of the old year dying and the new being born, the cycle of all seasons and things.

An entertaining and comic The Whitby Tailor sends a smile round the room and the soirée closes with a jaunty When the Boat Comes In.

So, a beautiful evening; warm patter, great playing and singing, thoughtful and amusing songs, the palpable sense of ‘tradition’ being mined, taken seriously and offered up to us - too entertaining to be mere folk pedagogy, but I left smarter, folk-wise than when I went in!