So what's a hootenanny? Roddy says he doesn't know, but it makes the gig sound a bit more festive. If Jools Holland can get away with it....
With a solid four piece backing band behind him, and the excellent Sorren Maclean and Hannah Fisher on either side to provide lead guitar, fiddle and backing vocals, Woomble delivered a set list that mixed favourites from his three solo albums with covers of Xmas and party songs. The voice appears to be gaining a bit of depth as he enters his forties, but as ever the main strengths of his performance lie in the poetry of his lyrics and the deft vocal phrasing that is his signature. This ability allows him to turn the cheesiest festive number into something that's both familiar and fresh. The old Drifters classic Save The Last Dance For Me had a new lilt to it, whilst even hoary old chestnuts like White Xmas come out sounding like they've had a makeover.
Adding a bit of variety, the second set opened with Woomble offstage and the Maclean/Fisher duo taking the limelight with a lovely interplay between their voices. In between numbers Roddy's understated introductions and gentle humour develop a sense of intimacy with the audience, as if he'd just come along to sing in your living room. It's an enjoyable antidote to more 'showbizzy' approaches and a pleasant, hype-free way to put on a seasonal gig. Lovely.
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