Southern Tenant Folk Union, Edinburgh Folk Club, Pleasance

Both sets opened with a trio of numbers from Orcadian duo, Gnoss (with, as they pointed out, a silent 'G'!).  Aidan Moodie on fiddle and Graham Rorie on guitar and vocals played a few sets of tunes and a couple of songs and impressed greatly in doing so.  Playing a mix traditional material, more modern tunes from the genre, and some self penned, they melded their sets well and served up constant variations and some imaginative arrangements.

There's no doubting their musical talent, and Rorie's voice is one you feel immediately comfortable with.  But my lasting impression will be of the confidence they projected on stage in explaining the background to their tunes and having a laugh with their audience, an ability often lacking in so many bands of their young age.  Gnoss have a surefooted grip on the climb to recognition and will certainly achieve greater notice in future.

 Southern Tenant's five piece line up comprises the solid rhythm section of Craig Macfadyen and Steve Fivey on double bass and percussion respectively, Katherine Stewart on fiddle, Rory Butler on guitar and lead vocals, and the banjo and vocals of band leader Pat McGarvey.  With six albums behind them they have a deep well of material to draw upon, but tonight also saw them airing a few of the new songs that will appear on their soon-to-be-recorded seventh record.

Butler's high pitched tones are a perfect match for the Union's country/folk style, but  with a distinct Scottish tinge.  Stewart clearly exhibits her background in Scottish folk music, countered by the tinkling bluegrass of the banjo.  Her instrumental set of traditional tunes gains a very different sound to the folk norm with McGarvey's contribution.  The new songs sound promising and there is every sign that the new album will live up to the strengths of it's predecessors.  Pat is a fine songwriter and his material deserves to be more widely known, especially his more political lyrics.

The band ended the night, as is their habit, coming down off the stage and playing acoustically to lead the audience in singing an old gospel song.  A great way to round of an extremely enjoyable gig.