Flook: Blas Festival 2007 (Ullapool)

*****

See flook.co.uk

Review by Kara Filbey

Having come across Irish folk band ‘Flook’ by chance a few months ago, their most recent album ‘Haven’ has established itself as top on my most listened-to music this summer. So I jumped at the chance when I saw they were to perform in one of my favourite Highland retreats.

The sheer thrilling energy that they exude can’t fail to leave the audience with sore hands and twitching feet! If only the venue (the Macphail Centre, Ullapool High School) had been more suitable for an impromptu jig, we would have had aching feet too! I don’t think there is anyone on the planet that can make a tin-whistle look or sound as cool as Brian Finnegan can! With fingers that fly over his huge array of flutes and whistles, and the ingenious use of tone movement give his renditions a contemporary kick.

The bodhran solo by John Joe Kelly left me breathless. I still can’t believe you can get that many sounds out of such a simple looking instrument! The cheerful strumming and delicate picking of the guitarist Ed Boyd was a delight, and he was obviously glad to have a fellow string player in the form of the very talented guitarist and banjo player Damien. He was filling in for Sarah Allen, disappointingly absent from this evening’s performance (but that will just give me an excuse to see them again in the future!).

All together, the best gig I’ve been to for a long time. I left singing, with a smile on my face – a mood un-dampened by rain or midgies! If you haven’t listened to Flook before – do so now!! Or see them live – even better.

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