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juliefowlis.com
also: celticconnections.com
Review by Anna MacDonald
I have heard Julie Fowlis play several times, solo in her
native Uist, with her award winning band Dochas, and at
the famous Sabhal Mor Ostaig. Every time she has brought
something new to her performance. In front of a sold out
ABC auditorium in this years Celtic connections she and
her fantastic band left behind an awe struck audience.
The show had opened with an unchallenging performance from
Chris Woods, a folk singer songwriter from the North of
England. He is best known for his work with Andy Cutting.
The self penned melodies were persuasive but his song choice
was poor. The one memorable song which stood out was the
traditional english folk song ‘one in a million’
which was delivered with gentle humour and knowing vocals.
Chris Wood’s performance was rescued from the brink
of mediocrity by the arrival onstage of Karine Polwart.
Her subtle harmonies lifted an otherwise uninspiring programme.
This was in total contrast to the main event of the evening.
Julie Fowlis and her fierce line up of musicians took to
the stage and immediately captured the audience. The variety
of musicians on stage and their versatility provided a wealth
of music. Fowlis herself left the impression that if she
had more hands she could have been a one woman show. She
impressed on the whistle, small pipes, pibroch mhor, box
and of course when she sang. Fowlis has the rare ability
to hold an audience captive whether she is singing a slow
Gaelic air, a walking song or a more contempory piece. She
sang through a range of traditional Gaelic songs as well
as incorporating a few from her new album. She skilfully
gave a little background information on every piece she
offered, engaging the largely English speaking crowd. Fowlis’s
gentle Highland accent and sense of humour charmed the crowd.
She had three standing ovations and the crowd would have
been there all night if she had continued to play.
I have only one criticism of this gig and it was we only
heard Fowlis once totally unaccompanied. This was her last
number of the evening and was a haunting Gaelic lament.
I would have loved to have heard Fowlis sing solo a few
times more although I’m not sure I would have been
able to choose another section of this amazing programme
to sacrifice.
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