Very much a Leither evening.
Drafted in at short notice after Yvonne Lyon was forced to call off, Edgar was in excellent form. Her sweet voice and sparse piano accompaniment provide a framework for smart, poetic lyrics that paint pictures of sadness and hope. The melodies aren't particularly catchy, but they're often memorable. Pleasantly bittersweet.
Owens was accompanied by a reduced version of his Whisky Hearts band, with Craig Ross on guitar and Amy Geddes on fiddle. With six albums to his name Owens has built up a strong back catalogue of material and the evening was a reminder of just what an excellent songwriter he is. His subject matter is mostly personal, about family and friends and joy and loneliness. Whether it's "A Man From Leith', a tribute to the influence of his father, or "Valentine's Day In New York", about being parted from the people at home, there are enduring phrases and infectious choruses. It's a great voice too, from Nashville via Easter Road.
Both Ross and Geddes are superb musicians with the ability to make their solos sparkle, and Amy's vocals on the haunting "Strangers Again" were a reminder that she's a talented singer too.
Dean Owens remains one of Leith's, Edinburgh's, Scotland's finest singer/songwriters and a name that should be much better known than it is. He's got plenty of dates still to play in 2016, so catch him if you can.
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