THE Red Lion took on a distinctly Irish flavour on Thursday evening when Belfast band Craobh Rua came to perform.

The band were on a short tour of England to celebrate St Patrick's Day.

Craobh Rua have played in Salisbury a couple of times before and attracted a lively crowd.

They play a variety of styles, from dance sets to old slow tunes and more modern songs.

Despite having no percussion instruments, their dance tunes drive hard.

Uilleann piper Paddy O'Hare held the place spellbound with a solo slow air.

Most of their set consisted of new tunes, but they also performed a few old favourites, including the song Weddings and Funerals.

This is a poignant reflection on how friends can drift apart, and featured the guitar and vocals of Jim Rainey.

They finished up with a storming set of four polkas.

Called back for an encore, they upped the tempo further with a fine set of reels.

The support act was Salisbury singer Naomi Coombes.

Singing her own songs, her clear voice and sparse guitar accompaniment have a very distinctive style.

JOHN PALMER