Wednesday 12 October 2011

In Concert: Glen Campbell, The GoodbyeTour, St David's Hall, Cardiff, 2011


Earlier this year, Country music legend Glen Campbell announced that he had being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and would be retiring from the music business after his next tour

So as Glen Campbell's Goodbye Tour reached St David’s Hall on Sunday evening it was of little surprise that fans turned out in force to see him.

Opening for Glen was the band Instant People which featured Ry Jarred, Siggy Sjursen and three of Glen’s children Ashley Campbell (who looked delightful playing banjo in a red dress) Cal and Shannon. The band played several new country stylised numbers including the upbeat Abbott Waits, Into the Wonder and the powerful ballad Waiting On Sunday. After a break of 25 minutes, the band returned to the stage with an extra musician in the shape of long time Campbell collaborator T.J.Kinster.

Then Glen Campbell appeared on stage as the audience gave him a standing ovation. Looking every inch the all American country star in a dark suit Glen joked “I like adulation. That’s why I learned to play guitar”, before continuing “I am happy to be here of course!”

For the next hour and twenty minutes, Glen performed a mixture of classic hits including Gentle on My Mind, Galveston and Southern Nights as well as New Country flavored tracks from his new album Ghost on the Canvas. The highlight of the evening was Glen’s fabulous instrumental guitar “duel” against daughter Ashley’s banjo playing.

The concert rounded off with classic hits Wichita Lineman and Rhinestone Cowboy before Glen returned to the stage for an encore and saying of his Welsh fans “These are Amazing People.” From an awesome man that was quite a compliment.

  • This review by Andy Howells was originally published in The South Wales Argus during October 2011.

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