The mark of a truly accomplished singer-songwriter is the ability to win over an audience totally unfamiliar with said singer-songwriter’s work. I’m pretty sure that most of the audience at the Esplanade Outdoor Theatre were the usual weekend casual visitors who had no clue who the gaunt gentlemen with the black-painted fingernails was.

But the crowd exhibited its appreciation when Ken Stringfellow (best known as part of the 90s powerpop band The Posies), stood on the bleaches (instead of the stage) to belt out his intricate pop tunes without the benefit of a mic. Demonstrating an impressive set of pipes, guitar technique and superior songcraft, Stringfellow entertained the largely neophyte audience with his passion, talent and good humour.

Drawn mainly from his three solo albums, Stringfellow’s two sets were a sheer pleasure to behold. The musicians amongst us, were fixated on his chord shapes and structures, nodding our heads in unison with every nuance. Indeed, 2010 has gotten off to a magnificent musical start, with more to come…

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