Royal Albert Hall, London
Wednesday, 30th October 2024
I can vividly remember watching the first ever episode of HTV series Robin of Sherwood when it first aired on the 28th April 1984. Nine year old me was absolutely captivated, not only by the characters, the setting and the story, but also by the music. I didn’t know music could sound like that or play such an important role in a TV series.
As someone who grew up in the countryside surrounded by woods, the music lived in my head away from the show too. It still does forty years later, whenever I’m in woods or forests, which is testament to its impact and longevity. Irish band Clannad was responsible for all the music across three series of the show and they released key tracks from the show as Legend, their seventh studio album. The rest is history.
Forty years on from the album and series’ debut, Clannad for one night only, presented music from the show live at the Royal Albert Hall. This was a real bucket list item for me. I’ve owned multiple copies of the album over the years and always wanted to hear it in a live setting. And what a setting! They’ve played certain songs and medleys on previous tours, but this was a unique gig where the music from the series would take centre stage.
If that was ever in any doubt, as soon as the concert started you knew this was something special. The show was introduced by the actors who played both Robins from the series, Michael Praed (Robin of Locksley S1-2) and Jason Connery (Robert of Huntingdon S3) doing some fun, “I’m the hooded man”, “No I’m the hooded man” schtick.
As expected the show kicks off with the theme music from the series, the iconic Robin (The Hooded Man). With eleven band members on stage, this felt like a Big Big Train concert. The majority of the band were playing multiple instruments too, which helped evoke BBT even more. The Brennan family was extended tonight, with two sisters on backing vocals, and two of Moyà’s children amongst the band too. That aspect of Clannad is also part of the band’s legend, the sense of family and community coming together to make beautiful music. And what music it was! Perfectly crafted, with lots of audible space and room in between each of the instruments, which was no mean feat with such a large line-up. Alongside Pol, Ciaran and Moy Brennan was a fabulous group of players including many who had played with them in the past, such as Steve Turner (Jeff Lynne’s ELO, Jeff Wayne’s The War of the Worlds) and sax legend Mel Collins (King Crimson, Caravan, Camel, Roger Waters). I must mention the drummer, though I didn’t catch his name. He was playing his first and last show with the band, having played percussion on their last tour. He was amazing, a real standout alongside so much talent.
Some of the songs were introduced with audio from the series which helped make the experience even more evocative. The lighting took on green tones for huge swathes of the set, but this was punctuated with pink for Now Is Here, Lady Marian and Marian and Robin and then deep red for Scarlet Inside. At times the organ looked like a castle keep which made it even more atmospheric in this historic venue.
Strange Land worked wonderfully in a live setting and Together We, one of my favourites, lit the place up, not only due to the odd time signatures they play with. The highlight of the night was probably Scarlet Inside, which was introduced with a clip of Will Scarlet from the series. In a live setting this expanded into a real epic, with every musician having a chance to shine. Lady Marian was also a real triumph, although the instrumental songs were harder to enjoy from my seat due to some people talking or humming along with the melodies.
Two songs from the original album weren’t played, Battles and Darkmere (my two favourites typically) and I will admit that was disappointing. As the original album was only thirty-two minutes long I had expected to hear all of it. Having said that some of the songs that weren’t on the original Legend album, but are now on the 40th anniversary extended edition did get an airing. Finding those lost tapes was part of the catalyst for this concert, which the band said had been ten years in the making. And hearing the likes of Time For Action, the forest dancers and Robin and Marian which was based around the central relationship in series 3, was a real treat.
They brought the curtain down on the Legend section of the night by introducing members of the show’s cast. Praed and Connery returned to the stage, accompanied by Judi Trott (Maid Marian), Clive Mantle (Little John), Mark Ryan (Nasir). We were told that another of the cast Nickolas Grace (The Sheriff of Nottingham) was in a box with one of the show’s producers, which lead to the other cast members booing him from the stage! Sadly Ray Winstone (Will Scarlett) wasn’t present due to other work commitments. Again there was a sense of family and community as Clannad spent time on set when the show was being made, so had known the key cast for forty years too. They rounded things off by playing the show’s title music again, making it feel like the end of a series as well as a chapter in their career.
The second half of the show, after a short interval, was a selection of the band’s favourite songs from their back catalogue, including early works in the Irish language. It was only recently that the band announced this would be their final live appearance together, so this section of the show was very much a wider celebration of what the band had achieved.
I loved the very Irish and very family based approach to the performance whenever they got on the mic between songs. The three siblings were downplaying their success, talking over and correcting each other, all while laughing and smiling. That made you feel like you were all part of the show.
Their most well-known songs all got played, such as In a Lifetime, with Brennan’s daughter ably standing in for Bono on co-vocal duties. This section included music from other soundtracks as well. When they played their breakthrough song, Theme from Harry’s Game they made us aware that actor Derek Thompson was in the audience and he stood up and made himself known. Yes, he was Charlie in Casualty! I Will Find You from The Last of the Mohicans also got an airing, but Daniel Day-Lewis didn’t make himself known. Though there are rumours that Marillion’s Steve Rothery was in attendance.
The band seemed most alive in the second set, getting the crowd clapping and singing along at key moments in the set. The traditional songs filled the room with palpable joy. The harmonies that flowed between family members were stunning and despite this being Clannad’s last ever live performance (although they have said that before) you feel like this band has so much more left to give.
What started as a celebration of a groundbreaking TV show and the phenomenal music that helped make it so special, morphed into an emotionally charged poignant farewell to an important band from music history. The three siblings let us be part of their celebration, joining them to look back on their life’s work, backed by long-time collaborators and other family members, but without their late uncles who founded the group with them. That made it even more special and I’m pleased to have been able to be part of it, above and beyond Legend.
But the real draw for me was Robin of Sherwood, the best TV series of my lifetime. This gig may never be repeated, but it will live long in the memory. Nothing’s forgotten, after all.
[Photos by Ian Jones (Karantaka) except image three (3) taken by Alex Oliver – all included here with kind permission]
SETLIST
Introduction by Michael Praed and Jason Connery
Robin (The Hooded Man)
Herne
Strange Land
Lady Marian
Together We
Now Is Here
Ancient Forest
Robin and Marian
The Forest Dancers
Scarlet Inside
A Royal Procession
Time for Action
– Introduction of Robin Of Sherwood Cast
Robin (The Hooded Man)
~ Interval
Caislean Óir
In a Lifetime
Newgrange
Níl Sé Ina Lá
Theme From Harry’s Game
Two Sisters
I Will Find You
Closer to Your Heart
Teidhir Abhaile Riú
~ Encore:
Down by the Salley Gardens
Dúlamán