Jon Anderson of Yes

The festival literature says that Yes’ Jon Anderson is often accused of singing in a false falsetto but his speaking and singing voice are actually naturally that high.

I can vouch for this – every time he hollered in the direction of the VIMF concert bowl sound tech it was in a piercing Lancashire accent. With Rob Halford’s voice going, Anderson and Geddy Lee represent the last of rock and roll’s true threats to the world’s supply of crystal tableware.

Anderson’s voice was strong for a man who claims to have recently “almost died 3 times in one year” and after correcting the audio issues that cropped up at the beginning of his set he had a good rapport with the crowd. His story about meeting the enigmatic Vangelis and the Greek’s predilection for indoor archery was a good laugh and he followed it up with “I’ll Find My Way Home”, from 1981’s The Friends of Mr. Cairo, one of his collaborative efforts with the composer.

“Owner of a Lonely Heart” was a big hit with the crowd as was “Flight of the Moorglade”, from his 1976 solo album Olias of Sunhillow. The latter song, along with several others, was played on a mountain dulcimer, which looks like a kind of priapic ukulele.

Never forgetting his audience, Anderson threw himself into a number of Yes hits like “Yours is No Disgrace”, “Roundabout”, and “Long Distance Runaroud” all of which were great even without Rick Wakeman, synthesizers or a handful of LSD.