Massie has something of a cult following already, from her appearances with a variety of bands, her work as a guitar tutor, the lockdown vlog hit The Black isle Correspondent, and her Radio Scotland work. Branching out into solo gigging, on the back of an excellent album, Two Down, will only enhance her reputation.
String virtuoso and natural comic raconteur, she is an all round entertainer. A very varied set mixed song with tunes, and those stories. The first time I heard Anna singing, as part of her duo with Mairearad Green, I wasn't convinced. She can carry a tune no bother of course, but the voice was thin and of limited range. I don't know if she's taken lessons, or simply got stuck in to the practice, but this was a huge improvement. It'll never be a great singing voice, but she fully understands her limitations, and her vocals have charm to spare. Song choice is clever, and those with comic lyrics combine well with the twinkling grim that's never far away.
On the night she played guitar, tenor guitar, and a bit of mandolin (no fiddle or banjo this time, though she's equally accomplished on both). Constantly inventive, the tunes are one variation after another, be it slow or fast tempo. And there's a bit of audience participation too, with choruses to join in with, and 'mouth trumpet' to emulate.
Great music, great entertainment, and an excellent way to spend an evening.
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