Iconic Archived News
Iconic's day in the corridors of power
Iconic's day in the corridors of power
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Iconic artist Ralph McTell was a guest at a House of Commons event on 22 January organised by Alan Keen MP of the parliamentary all-party Folk Music Group.
Ralph was accompanied by his wife Nanna and Iconic's Stevie Horton and Andy Farquarson for a special tribute organised to honour legendary American folksinger Tom Paxton before an audience of 60 invited guests.
The event was sponsored by BBC Radio 2 and compered by presenter Jeremy Vine. As well as Ralph, Stevie and Andy, the folk scene was represented by Alan Taylor, Rob Johnson, Danny Thompson, and Pete Wishart, formerly with folkrock band Runrig, Pete is now a Scottish National Party MP.
More than two dozen MPs from all parties and fifteen members of the House of Lords attended including Lord Kinnock, the speaker of the House of Commons Michael Martin MP, and Rt Hon Michael Ancram QC MP (Mr Ancram is a talented finger-style guitarist and Ralph's Streets of London is one of his favourite pieces).
Speaker Martin gave Tom Paxton a bottle of malt whisky and the event organiser, Alan Keen MP, presented him with a commemorative plaque.
Accompanied by Jez Luton on guitar and Robin Bullock on mandolin, Tom Paxton performed a short set including a new song titled I Call It Murder protesting the war in Iraq and finished with his classic Last Thing On My Mind.
“Tom is truly one of the great folksingers,” said Lord Kinnock. “His is the real voice of America; he speaks for decent Americans. I’ve loved his music for over four decades and it is wonderful to welcome him here today.”
Michael Ancram said: “Folk song is poetry, the people’s voice. I first heard Tom play in the Troubadour in the 1960s and his music has retained its power, transcending generations. Seeing Tom here today will, I’m sure, become one of the treasured memories of my parliamentary career – especially as I’ve also just been introduced to Ralph McTell.”
Helen Southworth, chair of the parliamentary Folk Music Group, said: “It is an honour to have Tom here today. Folk music has always had a strong political content so where better to hear it than in the Houses of Parliament. This music is a crucial part of our culture, representing the voice of the people, and our group will work to further folk’s interests.”
Following the event, Ralph, Nanna, Stevie and Andy were Tom's guests at his evening concert in London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall. At the end of the show, Tom invited Ralph and Alan Taylor to join him on stage for the last number and encore.
Story published 24 Jan 2007