Sometimes it's hard to tell if Tim Edey is a brilliant and offbeat comedic storyteller, who just happens to be a virtuoso musician. Or vice versa. Whichever it might be, he's always a hugely entertaining performer. Ross Ainslie matches him for musical skill, and can be pretty amusing in his own right. Although he, like the audience, often looks bewildered and/or exhilarated by Edey's flights of fancy.
But this remains a music gig, and there is great variety and rapturous moments aplenty. Tunes from Scotland, Ireland, Galicia, North America and beyond. Playing styles, especially Edey, influenced by jazz and rock. Tim on guitar and melodeon, Ross on whistles, cittern and highland bagpipes. Joined by young whistle star Kenneth Macfarlane for the final number of the first half and the final encore.
While there's some beautiful slower material, it's the rousing faster tunes, fingers flying, that really get the audience going. Edey's accompaniment is always unexpected, constantly changing and inventive. Ainslie brings sparkling flourishes to the melodies and a sound musical sensibility to all he plays.
A hugely entertaining gig, for all the right reasons.
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