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Neil Finn, Janis Ian and Ryan Adams

The final concert in this series of the songwriters' show sees Kiwi favourite Neil Finn joined on stage by American legend Janis Ian and alt-country poster boy Ryan Adams. Finn genially guides proceedings, with songs that sound like old friends pulled from different phases in his career - Crowded House favourites Distant Sun and Don't Dream It's Over are mixed with Split Enz's She Will Have Her Way and Golden Child, a new song written with his wife Sharon about their kids flying the nest. Janis Ian has been writing songs since she was 12 years old and on this evidence she is still at the top of her game. Her intelligent lyrics, by turns introspective and socially-engaged, are couched in lovely melodies and her guitar playing is a delight, from the jazzy Bright Lights and Promises to her evergreen classic At Seventeen. Ryan Adams crouches over his distinctive striped guitar and delivers a series of exquisitely mournful songs, from debut solo album Heartbreaker's Oh My Sweet Carolina (helped by gorgeous harmonies from his compadres) to Invisible Riverside from his album Ashes and Fire. Quickly-rehearsed collaborative moments bring new textures to familiar tunes, and there is banter aplenty between the three artists, resulting in some hugely enjoyable digressions, with surreal spontaneously created 'songs', the whole thing rounded off with an ensemble version of Finn's Weather with You.

English
  • Originally Aired October 21, 2011
  • Runtime 60 minutes
  • Production Code b016300r
  • Network BBC Four
  • On Other Sites Official Website
  • Notes Is a season finale
  • Created April 19, 2021 by
    eloise_freya
  • Modified April 19, 2021 by
    eloise_freya