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oxfam.org.uk
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neverendingarts.co.uk
Review by Jack Foster
Edinburgh's Grand Ol' Opry Of Folk, 'The Royal Oak' saw
a special one off concert in aid of Oxjam this week. Local
singer/songwriter and former Garden Sessions featured artist
Carolyn Anona-Scott took to the stage with her latest ensemble,
featuring Rantum Scantum's fiddler Eddie Hanson and the
soaring harmonies of Hayley Beavis.
The show began slightly later than scheduled, and had a
very relaxed feel to it (you might even say disheveled).
First up was a solo set from Hayley Beavis, a little known
talent on the Edinburgh Folk scene who is being pushed to
the fore by Anona-Scott's 'Never Ending Arts'. Beavis' subtle
guitar acts as bed for a voice which treads liberally through
the realms of folk, blues, jazz and soul - there is no ego
to Beavis' self penned offerings, whose universal subject
matter are both personal and touching. Her cover of Richard
Thompson's '1952 Vincent Black Lightening' was the first
time I've heard the song performed by a female voice, and
she did it justice - a beautiful rendition. One tiny sticking
point for me though, which was the fact that she didn't
credit Richard Thompson at any point.
The main act of the evening was the collaboration between
Anona-Scott, Beavis & Hanson. Working their way through
a selection of songs written by Carolyn - they created a
wall of emotion, you really feel like each one of them is
performing entirely from the heart, and the one traditional
number we were treated to was 'Wild Mountain Thyme' - my
notes simply said "spot on", Beavis' understanding
of these harmonies - specifically alongside Anona-Scott's
unusual take on the melody is spectacular, Hanson's fiddle
is effortless - it really does sound like an extension of
his voice.
A couple of floor spots were offered up for the likes of
David Preston and Dutch balladeer Bernard Brogue. Preston
made me unsure about what genre the evening's entertainment
had slipped into, with elements of Cash, Presley, a sprinkling
of Lindisfarne and perhaps touch of Counting Crows. I also
didn't discover by his introduction, or through his own
banter who he was - but suffice to say, his tunes were good
- they just weren't folk. Brogue is based in the Netherlands,
yet sings (and writes) in English - his first song was 'Morning
Flight', the second was one which he co-wrote with former
Garden Sessions featured artist Tom Fairnie entitled 'It's
Better Than Sex?' - is he talking about the experience of
writing with Fairnie? His soundscapes do transport you -
but I'm not entirely sure where to, and I find it difficult
to be drawn under his spell.
Carolyn Anona-Scott took to the stage for a solo set later
on. Her songs contain often extremely personal subject matter,
but that kind which I think can be relevant to everyone
at some point in their lives. Carolyn's song 'Endless Peace'
is about the discovery of those things that really matter
in life - written, I believe in a Buddhist Monastry. 'All
My Life' is a heart wrenching song about the yearning for
a lost love, Hanson's lilting fiddle lifts the song from
an emotional journey to a heartbreaking epic - but Hayley
Beavis does amazing harmonies to this one, and alas - she
was nowhere to be seen.
Of the evening's treats, the trio of Anona-Scott, Hanson
& Beavis was the real show. I think next time, they
needn't dress the event up as a showcase flooded with musicians
and floorspots - the trio could carry an entire gig, and
they could certainly fill the place. All three of them are
extremely good on their own, but together - it works.
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