The Belle Vue Sessions

Prelude Prelude, primarily know for their a cappella hit, After the Goldrush, in 1974, have continued to tour and delight audiences with their delicate harmonies and acoustic rhythms. They continued to perform and record as the original line up till 1986. After Ian Vardy left the group, various musicians joined Brian and Irene Hume, gigging initially throughout the UK, but more recently mainly in the North East of England. In 2009 Original member Ian Vardy rejoined Prelude and he and Brian Hume starting writing and developing new material. This has led to them going into the studio to record an album, which was released in March 2012. They are going back on the road and are looking forward to performing to fans new and old. "I'm just back from another epic shift as guitar tutor/sound recordist/compere/support turn at my regular Thursday night event The Acoustic Room. Tonight's star guests were Gateshead's own 70s chart-busters Prelude. They played beautifully (gan on Brian on them thar lead breaks!) and sang even more beautifully - a room full of the devoted hung on every note and syllable as if they were pages from a very personal diary (which in more than one sense, is what they were, of course). Spontaneous (now there's a word) and humorous banter between all three of the band served to enhance the good-time feel. The evidence was, again, plain and persuasive: no amplification, no digital help - simply, three gorgeous voices in well oiled harmony, tasteful, accomplished guitar playing and some surprisingly pithy songwriting alongside the expected Neil Young and (less expected) Brian Wilson covers. The words 'pin' and 'drop' edged constantly into the mind... Lovely capacity crowd, lovely music played with honesty and polish: of course, you could always have stopped at home and watched the footie...or the rain bouncing off your garden shed... " Jed Grimes