Banter kicked off their new tour in Camerton Community Hall, just outside Bath, I was ,slightly surprised to see the venue when it was announced as ‘Bath’ as Camerton is very rural. But it is a nice venue in a pretty little village, possible as it was a little bit in the sticks the crowd was small but perfectly formed, a bit like Camerton itself and also very much like the reason we are here tonight, the Folk band Banter. They consist of four members and somewhere in the region of 10 different instruments, including triangle, spoons and, naturally, a horse shoe.

It is around a year since their last album ‘Heros’ was released, so we were treated to a few tunes from that, some older ones and even some making their debut tonight. From whatever original source the song the band work almost seamlessly as one, being very tight musically along with breathtaking harmonies. I think the former is one of the many reason they also make a great ceilidh band (check out this years Chippenham Folk Festival for that), but back to the concert at hand.

The name very much suits them too with lots of, well banter, between songs. It always interesting hearing about the source of some of the songs. A good point was made that we don’t always know if the song was complete as collected songs were often from one source, but this does allow them to add an extra verse about death. Also we get to learn, and of course hear a song about, the quirks of English villages and their traditions.

Whilst they are definitely a ‘folk’ band, as a reminder lots of songs about death, always a sure sign. At times they also get us to question what fits into the genre ‘folk’, gone are the stereotypes of folk just being a bearded man with his guitar in a pair of worn sandals. We had a new tune that was essentially a reggae sea shanty, yes it works, and another ‘Butter, Cheese and All’ which was a bit musical hall complete with spoons being played. Spoons that had appeared on the Chris McCausland TV show no less.

It's lucky that Nina is already married to drummer Tim, having got engaged at the Sidmouth Folk Festival with aforementioned spoons apparently, as according to ‘The Oak and The Ash’ she wouldn’t find the committed chap in the south so Bath would definitely have been the wrong place. Love searches or not; I adored the range of tunes too, from solemn numbers such as ‘Below Below’, to the comical in ‘Candlelight Fisherman’ about a lazy fisherman (complete with audience interaction).

All too soon the evening begins wrapping up, with a few more stories and tunes including ‘Morgan Rattler’ the meaning of which apparently very rude, we’ll leave you to look it up. The great John Tams has declared the Banter version of his song ‘Lay Me Low’ the definitive one, some pretty impressive and well deserved praise there. It all comes to an end with a final number where the band performed a capella at the front of the stage before marching off in unison. There going to be at the major folk festivals including Sidmouth, Whitby and their own sold out Banterfest, I strongly suggest you make a point of seeking them out, for ceilidh or gig, ideally both if you see them on a bill anywhere.