Review: Blah’s Big Weekend: John Hegley

Doyen of the spoken word scene since the mid-70s, John Hegley is also a kind and ordinarily extraordinary man in glasses who is as likely to perform for no more than the craic at a club night in a room above a pub as he is to headline with a backing band at a main metropolitan venue for a big crowd.

Opening Blahblahblah’s Big Weekend, he promises us that we will be entertained “and possibly sickened”, and that he has brought some friends with to support him musically, either on backing track or in flesh and bone: Alex from Islington Folk Club and his old mate Martin (“we used to play together in a band called Squashed Earwig in 1972 in Mangotsfield”).

Hegley then proceeds to sing, read, recite, regale and dance – throwing some Baroque shapes, with audience participation – his way through the set, giving some brand new material a first outing as work-in-progress, alongside old faves. Hegley is full of new inspiration and still experimenting with new ideas, obsessions, drawings and forms, and comfortable with a quasi-shambolic, off-the-cuff presentation.

He stands out front, his signature spectacles glinting in the lights, with the air of a slightly exasperated classroom assistant facing down a roomful of recalcitrant children, and makes us sing along in parts to Famous Hats of Luton, I Am a Guillemot – with accompanying hand movements – and the fantastic Luton Bungalow, ode to his hometown and suburban family roots (“I often think of Luton while crunching on my crouton”).

Hegley has a love of all small English things (despite being a bit French), and pays tribute to them in hey-nonnying folksinger-style: Morris dancing, Morrissey, Punch & Judy, pitch ‘n putt. In this he shares a tradition with, and is held in similar esteem and affection to, other iconic rock’n’roll wordsmiths such as Ian Dury, Suggs, John Cooper Clarke, John Lennon and Ivor Cutler – artists who would all shrivel up at the idea of being considered national treasures, though they surely must be.

Last up is a caption competition to one of John’s strange cartoons. The winner gets a free signed copy of his latest collection New & Selected Potatoes – brilliantly selected works from all periods of his career since the mid ’80s. Then we’re all off into the BOV Basement next door for a Northern Soul dance session DJ’d by another old mate of John’s, David Belcher.

Blah is off to a flying start for its Big Weekend with the inimitable Mr Hegley. If everyone could see life and each other through his glasses (and feel the warm embrace of their arms), I bet the world would be a sweeter, safer, better and funnier place.

John Hegley was at Bristol Old Vic  on Thursday, April 30 as part of Blah’s Big Weekend (to Sunday, May 3). For more info and to book tickets, visit www.bristololdvic.org.uk/blahbigweekend.html