The highlight for me was a paradox - being peacefully relaxed but grinning at the sudden surges of rock guitar (which seemed a touch naughty in a cathedral, and all the more powerful for that). 

I’ll have to get the album now..."

Here's Mechkov's take on the day.

"I visited Coventry as a school boy (so many, many years ago) but the image of the bombed out medieval church alongside the futuristic new cathedral and the message of peace, the forgiveness of enemies and reconciliation has stayed me with me throughout.

The news of Fripp’s gig with Theo Travis at the new cathedral thus hit me as a double whammy. The opportunity to see my favourite musician in concert at a location I would love to revisit was not a question of choice, it was a necessity.

Coventry is fine modern city for the modern, consumer-based human, but with the cathedral grounds and the atmosphere of reverence and wonder, just a few steps away from the bustling shopping centre.

Having taken in as much as possible before the gig, my partner and I were in an excellent state of mind to step inside the new cathedral in the pleasingly tantalising atmosphere of Threshold Bells and await the performance.

The Dean of Coventry made a short speech about the motivation of reconciliation that drives him, his parish and his congregation – very nice.

‘Does one applaud in church?’ was a question that flurried across the brain as the musicians entered, soon dispelled by a cheer and applause from behind me.

Fripp faced the giant tapestry of Christ before taking his guitar and his seat and calm fell.

The duo opened with ‘Chaos of Blue’ and soon the vast space and quiet was filled with wave after wave of uplifting harmonies and delicate lines that coloured the atmosphere with a unique mix of calm and adrenaline, almost as visual as it was aural. Who said soundscapes was not a visual performance. I might have to disagree from now on.

I was intrigued that the wash of sound that emanates from my speakers when listening to CDs took on a more logical, understandable facet when able to watch RF constructing he pieces. Combined with TT’s interweaving riffs and harmonies and there was an almost mathematical magic that was consumed into the musical wizardry, doubling the pleasure.

My concentration waxed and waned throughout the show, with certain combinations of sound demanding attention, until another, even a few seconds later would inspire a thought and my mind would wander. I kept trying to force myself not to allow this to happen, as the return from thought plopped me back in a different ‘section’ the journey to which I had no recollection of.

After a 45 minute set, the two left the stage, and left me worried that that was it, but the announcement over the PA (barely audible) explained that this was the intermission.

A breath of air outside was accompanied by the desire to get back inside and hear more.

The second set included more of the same, but added some of those classic Fripp glissandos that leapt into clear Frippist soloing with a full on rock guitar sound.

The final piece was simply enormous – quite simply beyond words. I have no idea what happened or where I was taken. It lasted forever and at the end was way, way too short.

TT left the stage to the rear, but RF exited stage front and applauded the audience, which was still applauding the duo. I could barely clap, I was shaking so hard.

On the way back to the car, the shaking continued and my emotions crumpled. I wept. I don’t know why – and there was no sound. Just the mass of emotions and the stream of water from my eyes.

Never before have I experienced anything like this – but I sincerely hope to God that I will experience something like this again."