The Storyteller on the Corn Exchange in Exeter, Dartmoor, Artist Seth Lakeman and more

Last week I was fortunate enough to see the first night of Seth Lakeman's latest tour at the Corn Exchange in Exeter. He’s celebrating 20 years since the release of his much acclaimed Kitty Jay album and as her story is close to my own heart, I felt it was important to attend...and he certainly didn’t disappoint.

Like Seth, I feel a strong connection with Dartmoor folklore. In his case he likes to sing about it and put the tales to music whereas I just love telling stories. He has been inspired, not only by the myths and legends, but by historical events and tales of seafarers, amongst others. On the night he entertained us with songs that are now 20 years old, some folk songs that are much older, as well as a selection from his more recent albums.

After greeting the audience, following his first number he mentioned the fact it was the first time he had performed at the Corn Exchange and I had to admit it was a first for me, too, attending a concert at that particular venue. Although I had been there once for a Vintage Fair of clothing and merchandise on what was to become an unforgettable day, for all the wrong reasons...

It was Sunday March 18, 2018...I know precisely, as I still have the photos with the dates on...and we were aiming to get there early to pick up some bargains. Beforehand, we stopped off for some breakfast at the little cafe opposite Exeter Cathedral. We had managed to grab window seats and as we sat there people watching it started to snow. As we’d already had a particularly bad whiteout earlier that winter, we didn’t imagine it could happen a second time, so I happily took some pictures.

A couple of them I’m particularly pleased with as they show an elderly lady on a walking stick, all wrapped up making her way through the falling snow in front of the cathedral. In fact, so pleased, that one of them became my homemade greetings card that Christmas. Breakfast over, we too made our way through the snow to the Corn Exchange where we spent a couple of hours browsing the stalls. A few purchases were made and when we finally got outside, we were most shocked to find another blanket of snow everywhere and so for the second time that winter my trusty Citroën Berlingo had to make its way, tentatively, along slippery roads to get us back home safely...that same car is still taking care of me to this day...

I have a vague recollection that Seth once performed at the Princess Theatre whilst I was working there, but as I wasn’t really into folk music back then, I didn’t pay him much attention. However, my attitude soon changed when I realised that a lot of the subject matter he sings about is taken from the same Dartmoor Myths and Legends that I love to share with my audiences.

Tragedy and disaster always make for a good story, so with the desolate and heartless wilderness where mankind has striven to make a living whether it be underground in the mines, or quarrying granite off the tors of the moors, surrounded by the cruel seas, where sailors set sail in flimsy wooden ships, and rival factions face each other in fierce battle...all these themes crop up regularly in Seth’s songs. 

Obviously, the ones that interest me the most are those that I share versions of myself, which largely originate on Dartmoor. You have The White Hare, which features the idea of witches transforming themselves into hares and being chased over the open moor whether it be by Devil Hounds, or unsuspecting mortals, like the Bowerman, who got turned to stone for upsetting the local sisterhood. It acts as a warning to anyone who might see her, and to stay well clear.

Then there is Childe the Hunter, the story of a wealthy landowner, who gets lost in a snowstorm whilst out hunting with his friends one harsh winter.

He gets it into his head that it would be a good idea to kill his horse, cut it open, and climb inside the carcass for warmth. Sadly, this proves tragically the wrong course of action and when he realises his death is imminent, he writes his last will and testament in the snow using blood from his horse, whereby he leaves all his vast estates and wealth to whoever should find his body and give it a proper Christian burial. His wish is granted by local monks, who literally fight over the task. 

The song we had all come to hear was the title track off the album, Kitty Jay. One of the most famous Dartmoor tales and one of my personal favourites as I named one of my late cats after her. It’s the tragic story of a poor farm maid who gets shunned by everyone when she falls pregnant out of wedlock and chooses suicide as the way out of her predicament. This sinful act lands her in an unmarked grave at a crossroads near where she had lived and worked. The song acts as a tribute, not only to her burial site, but also as a lament to the way she was treated in life and in death. It was a real privilege to finally see this song performed live and having heard it many times over the last 20 years, I hadn’t realised it was performed as a solo by Seth, on the fiddle. 

Seth is a superb multi-instrumentalist and that, combined with the support of his equally talented band, broken strings and missed songs off the playlist aside, still made for a highly entertaining evening. It was a good move to play in front of a home crowd with his dad there to support him too, literally, on the spoons at the encore as they set off on the road for the next few months. We wished them well, and if you haven’t seen Seth live before I highly recommend you grab a ticket. Next time he’s playing back in this area.

Finally, a reminder that I also will be “performing”, in my own way in Bovey Tracey in a few weeks time and I look forward to perhaps meeting some of you there to listen to, and possibly share, stories and experiences of an unusual nature.