Compelling stories, angst and lovely London folk songs

Harry Harris and Theo Bard are testament to the vibrancy of the London singer-songwriter scene. Troubadors both, they inject their own knowledge of the history of their craft into the songs they write. They perform and tell tales of life in the capital city, whales in rivers, love and what it means to live in this particular here and now.

To see life from another's point of view and communicate that to an audience through song is a special talent and Harry Harris does this. Families at war, a little boy's most memorable day and a footballer's greatest hour are all grist to his mill. And it's lovely stuff.

Theo Bard busks the street markets of east London and writes about his life in the capital. He sang songs from his new CD, You Give, and demonstrated his own take on bluesy, urban folk-style guitar playing.

Together with the host of Song Club East, Simon Hopper (that's me), Harry and Theo discussed the pros and cons of writing in the first person, seeing through a stranger's eyes and the difficulties of the bearing of the soul in verse. Bert Jansch got a mention as an influence as did Ron Sexsmith and Warren Zevon. Folk songs were mentioned as was pop, blues and Appalachian mountain music. No narrow church, this.

SCE #3 was another lovely evening. Three singers, three guitars, three different ways of connecting with the great ongoing flow that is the history of singer-songwriting.

Come and join us on December 9th for SCE #4 with Adam Beattie and Harry's brother Jack.