Just trying to list everybody to who took part this evening is a mammoth task – Baby Gramps, Richard Strange, Robyn Hitchcock, Chris Difford, Pere Ubu’s David Thomas, Tim Robbins, Ed Harcourt, the Langley Sisters, Sandy Dillon, Shane MacGowan, Neil Hannon, Suzanne Vega, Teddy and Kami Thompson, Julie Fowlis, White Magic, Kathryn Williams, Ralph Steadman, Norma Waterston, Martin and Eliza Carthy, Gavin Friday, Martha Wainwright and an excellent seven-piece band.

Highlights included the effortlessly watchable Baby Gramps, who appeared kin to Seasick Steve if he had been remade by Jim Henson. Utter filth was given a consummate reading by Richard Strange and the despair of waiting evoked with spine-tingling authority by Norma Waterston.

Ralph Steadman channelled something for a fine tale of cannibalism, and the intriguing sight of collaboration between Tim Robbins and Shane MacGowan (pictured) had merit far beyond curiosity value. It may have lacked polish, but this was a revelatory night.

Richard Davie
Pic: Rachel Lipsitz