Once - London Opening Night

I don't know you but I want you all the more for that... 

- Falling Slowly, Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová

Once began life in 2006 as John Carney's small indie film, staring Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, made in Dublin for $160,000. It went on to make nearly $21 million at the box office, and win an Oscar for Best Original Song for Falling Slowly. This unprecedented success led to a Broadway musical adaptation by Enda Walsh, which opened at the end of 2011 and won 8 Tony Awards. Now Once comes to London, and I was lucky enough to attend the opening night of previews.

Once is the story of an extremely talented but disillusioned Irish musician who gets a new leash of life after a chance encounter with a Czech piano player. Together they gather an unlikely gang of misfits to make music, while romance bubbles away under the surface. Walsh has rounded out the story in bringing it to the stage and added a large dose of humour, but the feel of the original, a very true and delicate love story without the clichés, has retained all its charm.

The Broadway cast at the 2012 Tony's.

In moving from screen to stage, Once hasn't given in to the trappings of a typical musical, but instead kept the beautiful music by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglova that was at the heart of the film, becoming the first ever folk musical (that I know of anyway). It's a high energy show, but instead of chorus lines and high kicks the excitement comes from instruments being played live on stage, complete with lots of stomping. Once must have been extremely difficult to cast as everyone must both be able to act and to play typical folk instruments. At the heart of Once is Declan Bennett as the unnamed Guy, a singer-songwriter himself, whose deep and powerful voice is the focal point of the show. It's no surprise that the part has no understudy, without an incredible voice at its center, the show would not work.

Combining the simple, unconventional yet deeply moving story and beautiful music of the original film, with the joy of watching live performances, Once has an incredibly wide appeal and will no doubt enjoy as much success here as it does across the pond. As soon as the first performance finished, the whole crowd jumped up into a well-deserved standing ovation, and it was really touching to see how moved the cast were by this initial response. I predict a similar reaction every night.

To find out more about Once and book tickets, visit www.oncemusical.co.uk

Bath Folk Festival

With a rare evening away from the SPO, we decided to catch the last of the Bath Folk Festival. The festival is renowned for the diversity of talent it presents and our evening was no exception.

Gypsy Folk Session @ The Royal Oak (Lower Bristol Road)

We started the evening with a laid-back session of gypsy folk, with musicians coming and going. A Russian lady appeared and sang a few of her traditional folk songs. Many instruments were passed around and the gentleman in the middle even plaid the spoons at one point.

Elephant Talk @ Green Park Tavern

That relaxing session helped us to recharge our batteries after a long day in Windsor ready for the main event: world-folk-electro mash-up Elephant Talk. We had been promised a band that made us dance and they did not disappoint - our calf muscles still didn't work several days later! Singer Sarah Joy has an incredibly powerful voice, while Mat Tarling and Jon Maybey fiddled and guitared us into a frenzy. The whole room got involved in mini-Ceilidhs creating an electric atmosphere (although we would have loved a window or two in the room!)

You can listen to their music at elephanttalk.co.uk.

The Bath Folk Festival is now over, sadly, but look out this time next year for more musical joy.