There was a treat in store for the Sunday lunch customers at The Plough in Cock Marling this week. Reg Marchant, known to many with his band Rock Shack has moved on to pastures new and together with local musicians Roger Dipper, Phil Law and Steve Stone has formed The Sturdy Beggars.
This was a much gentler (but only marginally quieter – Marchant doesn’t really do quiet) sound than we have heard before. The last of the lunchtime puddings had just been cleared and diners were on to their coffee when the music began.
They performed both as a trio and the full quartet with songs ranging from Peter Paul and Mary’s Leaving on a Jet Plane through a wide variety of music from the 60’s to the 90’s to a finale of the Pogue’s The bells rang out on Christmas Day – as well as an excellent solo turn by Steve Stone who had the ability to bring to life the wonderful gravel tones of Leonard Cohen.
With Law on keyboard, Dipper and Stone on guitar and Marchant not only on guitar but also mandolin (he seems to have the ability to play virtually any stringed instrument) this is a coming-together of four fine talents in an excellent performance and one hopes we will see many more outings of this new group in the future.
Photos: John Minter