As family farms have given way to factory farming, hedgerows on the Island have become more scarce. Not only has this taken away from the Island's beauty, but loss of hedgerows has also led to loss of topsoil. In an evening of gentle songs and stories, the members of the performing group “Hedgerow” do their bit to prevent the drift and erosion of Island traditional culture. With songs by Allan Rankin and stories by Alan Buchanan, and back-up from musicians Brad Fremlin and Perry Williams, “Hedgerow” shapes for us an Island landscape in which contemporary life is informed and influenced by the past, by Island tradition.
Allan Rankin's songs form the core of the show. These are finely crafted, sometimes sweet, sometimes rousing, always affecting. It is a treat to hear Rankin's newer songs, such as the haunting “A Stone in the Meadow,” a stubborn refutation of change. Other songs we know and love from the CD “New Branches” and previous Rankin collaborations (“Maritime Star,” “Here on the Island,” “Crowbush”). For my money, you can't do any better than the anthemic “Northumberland Pride,” with the heart-wrenching line, “don't leave my heart on the other side.”
Alan Buchanan's storytelling is generous, and his presence is always genial. His humour is unforced and uncomplicated, and he shines most when his stories take hold of him, as they often do. The segways meant to link up the various elements of the show are slightly stilted and could, I think, mostly be done away with. “Hedgerow” should consider letting the music make the connections, rather than words.
Which brings me to my primary criticism of “Hedgerow”: the underutilization of the musicians. Perry Williams and Brad Fremlin are tremendous multi-instrumentalists. I longed to hear them cut loose with a rollicking instrumental. This would have been particularly welcome near the beginning of each set, since both the first and second took some time to find their pace.
“Hedgerow” paints a positive picture of Island life and is full of humour, generosity, and warmth. But, thankfully, “Hedgerow” doesn't just glorify the Island past or lapse into nostalgia. Undercutting idealized ideas of Island life has always been a strength of Rankin's songs and Buchanan's stories. Throughout the show are hints of meanness, dissent among neighbours, sexism, alcoholism, and bashfulness about sexuality. The Island mean streak is made most blatant in Rankin's performance of Dan Riley's “The Crooked Rib,” a misogynistic folk song written by an abusive husband. I could have done without this, though the group made it clear the song's attitude was not to be condoned.
“Hedgerow” reminds us that Island culture is a lived and living reality. Just as the hedgerows that divide our fields serve more than just an aesthetic function, our songs and stories do, too.
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