Brilliant...lyrics so clear. Saw you all in Ipswich .....😊

Yes, early on - at Birmingham Symphony Hall last night. Wonderful gig!.

HI. I would love to have seen them - perhaps the next reunion tour? Seems odd to say I'm a lifelong fan because I pre-date them by a long time but I have been a fan since their inception. Not sure of they'd top the best band I ever saw live* but they'd probably equal Steeleye Span, who were superb live, too. [* My best band was in about 1977/78 when, at the NEC, Nr Birmingham, I was not very far from the stage (all standing) as Queen (Freddie, Brian, Roger, John - the original set-up) blasted my ear-drums to smithereens with an astounding performance of mega-quality.] But I'm still envious of you! :)

Actually, that's not fair. The Alabama outgunned the Kearsarge *significantly* but was showed up by a much, much better crew which was used to fighting warships and raiders. Unlike the Alabamas crew.

No fan of the Southern cause on any level, but as a historian of the US Civil War and war in general, I think it's important to keep one's mind out of the Hollywood ghetto in these matters. The Alabama was part of what amounted to a privateer fleet, basically the equivalent of an American warship during the Revolution. That's a guerilla operation; it strictly never confronts military power. If it tries, annihilation is all but guaranteed. Irregulars weaponise stealth, surprise, speed, and shoot-and-run. There are no heroics in that kind of warfare. Add the fact that the US Navy was arguably the most powerful force on the planet, and what you have here is your basic "oh crap" moment for the Alabama. Anyone of average intelligence would have bet on the federal fleet. No reflection on the valour and seamanship the Alabamas; that's just what happens when resistance fighters meet constituted governmental force. I agree that the outcome was the best one for posterity, but the men who manned that raider did the best they could for their ship that day.

@@RobMacKendrick As a historian myself, admittedly for a different time period, I'm perfectly happy to cheer the deaths of traitors for the slavers' cause no matter how tragic. Although, personally, I'm really curious how a historian arrives at the conclusion that the US Navy was the most powerful force on the planet at any point before about 1970. I'm not *attacking* your conclusion, just really, really curious as to your sources,

me too

@@justindempster4520 I saw them at Portsmouth last year for the reunion tour .... Never thought I'd see Bellowhead again ! 😁 Although I did see Speirs and Bowden at Diss Cornwall last summer...great venue !

Just saw them in brighton last week and they sung gosport Nancy. Xx

with a great tribute to Paul Sartin also

Yep - we're front of circle. If they are half as good as Nottingham two years ago, it will be epic!

And Kearsarge had armour too which the captain said he'd never have engaged had he known about it

congratulations! you have an opinion on music!