Barbara Dimmock and Christine Kidd (Sinsheen) drew such a large crowd to Festival Folk in the Oak that I was concerned the bottom bar of the pub might collapse into the netherworld of the cellar below.

The mainstay of Sinsheen's repetoire is varied acapella compositions featuring scintillating harmonies, occassionally supplemented by the delicate guitar picking of Kidd or driving Bodhran of Dimmock. The extraordinary breadth and depth of the set extended from tradional scots songs to contemporary songs in the traditional idiom along with a generous helping of bluegrass. Sinsheen shone most brightly in their interpretations of Burns songs, emotional renditions of traditional classics and soulful, gospel-like performances of songs such as the (unecological!) "Why Walk When you can Fly" and "Kaiman's Land" suite.

I felt that their choices of contemporary material from the broad range of songs at the disposal of the traditional musician was the weakest element in Sinsheen's set. A bit like Van Gogh choosing only to work with a child's felt tip pens, Michael Marra's ham-fisted offerings and a range of other dreaded "funny" folk songs were a bit of a turn off. Though such songs may involve an older audience and were well performed and received, as a Dundee-man myself I feel no shame in critiquing the infantile song-writing dominating the "comedy" sect of folk-music which lends credence to the genre's critics and stereotypers.

Not that folk music should ever be taken too seriously, my only problem with most so-called "funny" folk songs is that they are just plain bad, both lyrically and melodically. Sinsheen are very good, but can't make make a silk purse out of a sow's ear and should extend their hand further to younger listeners tired of repetitive rambles about pies, inebriated Dundonian women, jammy pieces and the like.This one criticism should not detract from what was an awe-inspiring performance, cut with two warm and engaging stage presences, and a clutch of emotionally charged songs which spoke to the heart and stirred the soul.