LOLA: A Flamenco Love Story, EICC, Edinburgh Festival Fringe

A Spanish widow leaves Franco's Spain for London, seeking a job which will allow her to send money back to her poor parents and children.  She gets a job as a cleaner, is miserable, desperate, and then finds love.  That's about it for a plot, simply conveyed with screen subtitles over the Spanish narration.

But this isn't really about the story, less so than an opera might be.  This is the vehicle for dance and music, prinairly flamenco style, but with modern touches.  The dancing is impressive, especially the male lead.  The music is good, and the use of flute for solos was a nice touch.  The singing is traditional flamenco style, well done, but an acquired taste.

It did get repetitive at times, and I'm not sure diehard flamenco fans would be impressed by the 'flamenco lite' approach.  But overall it was entertaining enough to avoid boredom, and had several highlights in the dance..

Iona Fyfe, Ukrainian Community Centre, Edinburgh Festival Fringe

 

A solo perfromance from Scots balladeer Fyfe, piano and voice.  A good mix of material - tradional ballads, self penned compositions, a bit of Dylan and Nick Cave (in Scots), an Appalachian song.  A few unaccompanied, with just the purity of her vocals to enjoy.  Her introductions can be amusing and informative, she tried to get the audience singing along (response was muted...), and kept things flowing.  Low key but enjoyable, and I'm glad I made the effort to go. 

Spirit of the Favela, Spiegeltent, Gyle Centre, Edinburgh Festival Fringe

 A different location, way out at the Gyle, a different Spiegeltent (plain outside, fancy inside, with a central stage), and a different show for us, outsiode our usual comfort zone.  I am not, historically, a fan of cabaret, but this one sounded intriguing.

And I came out very happy that I took the risk.  It was certainly different, but it was great fun.  Music, dance, some spectaciular acrobatics, a thread of a story about the poor of the favelas stadning up to the rich property developers.  Colour, spectacle, audience interaction, and some breathtaking stunts (the woman spinning from the ceiling by her hair was a highlight).  Very enjoyable.

Dean Owens and the Sinners, Spiegeltent, St Andrew Square, Edinburgh Festival Fringe

What is there to say that I haven't said before in several reviews of Dean's shows?  The line up was the same as the last time I saw him, last December, but without the drummer present.  The quality, both of music and Owens' storytelling, was high as ever.  A fun show, that left me buzzing with enjoyment.

The Big Singalong, Ross Bandstand, Edinburgh International Festival

 A sold out crowd, a sunny sky and the castle looking down on the event.  The perfect setting for a big choral effort.

With a singing master leading proceedings (taking over from a Radio Forth DJ) we had three community choirs performing a couple of numbers each.  One mixed voices, one women only, one male voice, with one from Edinburgh and two from Glasgow.  All interesting perfromances, but by far the most ineresting was the female voice collective, comprised of women from other nations, often refugees, and songs of liberation and struggle.

Then it was time to give the audience a bit of instrcution and practice in an arrangement of one of Scotland's best loved songs, to be fronted by the singer/songwriter who made it famous.  Getting it right provided some laughs, but it was just about there by the time Dougie MacLean took the stage, joined by a scratch choir to help out.  The song was, of course, Caledonia, and it did sound good.  Another couple of numbers from Dougie, a final rendition of the anthem, and that was that.

A pleasantly gentle and fun way to spend some of a Sunday afternoon.

Words and Music, Stockbridge Parish Church

 A low key event of poetry, song and music.  The music came from the cello of Clea Friend, two beautiful classical compositions.  And from the a capella singing of duo Gail Turpin and Kerry Houston, a varied and often joyful couple of short sets.

Two poets read from their work, with the theme of mothers and fathers, and played compere - Diana Hendry and Hamish Whyte.  Some interesting poems, some laughs, some sadness, and interesting imagery.

The star of the show was former Makar Liz Lochhead, aided by a crutch as she recovers from a knee replacement. Her work is as imaginative, as funny and as intriguing as ever, as she deliverd both old and new works.  But her performance, as with Diana and Hamish, was slightly marred by a poor sound system which made for some lost words - not ideal!

An unusual feature of the show was an invitiation for anyone from the audience to come up and read one of their own poems.  Four did, including myself.  If nothing else it added further variety to an already varied show.

Joe Broughton's Conservatoire Folk Ensemble, Huntingdon Hall, Worcester

 The word Conservatoire tends to summon up images of restrained string quartets.  Which is long way from the enrgy, enthusiasm and mass joy that appeared on stage.

This ensemble, from the Birmingham Conservatoire, have been going for over a quarter of a century, with an ever changing line up, other than founder and leader, Joe Broughton.  Broughton is an exceptional fiddler, musiecina, teacher, who has also gained fame in other line ups, notably the Urban Folk Quartet.  He's joined by students from his courses, with well over thirty packed on to the stafge for this gig.

So many instruments it would be impossible to list them all, not least nbecause iot was often hard to see who was at the back.  We were well into the second half before I realised there was an electric guitar!  But there were five percussionists, large wind, brass and string sections, an accordion, and more.  Mostly they played as the full ensemble, but at times the stage thinned out and we had a couple of solo performances, a duet, and a quintet.  The mateial was eclectic - tradional tunes and song from England and Ieland, a sea shanty, spirituals, self penned numbers.  Some excellent vocalists.  And while the inspriation was folky, there were clwearly rock, jazz, blues influences thrown in.  

It looked shambolic at times.  It wasn't.  This was well rehearsed, yet with considerable fluidity to the arrangements, and audience participation was often encouraged, even demanded (!).  Above all it never ceased to be entertaining, and Broughton is a perfect front man.  He will never steal the limelight from his proteges, but brings wit and interest into his linking introductions.  The man is a top class musician, entertainer and, on this evidence, educator.

If you get the opportunity to see them then grab it.  Nobody leaves the room without a smile on their face.

Looking For Me Friend : The Music of Victoria Wood

Fronted by experienced cabaret act Paulus, and supported on piano and the odd quip by Michael Roulston, the show features, as promised by the title, a wide range of the late Ms Wood's songs, both famous and more obscure.  Because, as Paulus tells us from the start, it takes two men to do the job of one woman.  There's nothing wrong with the voice or the playing, and they clearly enjoy and revere the material.

Woven around the numbers is Paulus' tale of growing up with Wood as an important influence in his life, and then career, even though they never met.  He clearly sees himself as something of a superfan, with considerable knowledge of the national treasure.  So it's a very personal show, and Roulston an enjoyable dry collaborator. There's no denying that it is often entertaining.

But the show stumbles on two counts, one of which I doubt anyone could overcome.  Paulus is very self consciously camp, and the arch home counties persona doesn't always sit well with Victoria's bluff north of England sense of humour.  And even grates at times, feeling OTT in realtion to the memories of the woman herself.  Which also applies to my second quibble.  The lyrics and melodies stand by themselves, but watching this show reminds any Wood fan of just how much came from her own delivery, and how hard it is to replicate.  There was always a sense of something being lost, missing.

Entertaining, but disappointing.

Police Dog Hogan, Voodoo Rooms

A two part post this time.  A brief review, for there is not much to say on that front, and a rant.  A rant/plea to venues & promoters & bands and anyone interesting in promoting equality.

Two support acts, then the main turn.  Neither support was memorable.  A pub-level band wioth a not-so-good vocalist, who continually tried to play on past associations to Shane McGowan.  And a guitarist singer/songwriter, accompanied by PDH's pianist, with a good voice, some wit in his introductions, and forgetable songs.  

PDH were, of course, a big step up in quality, and fun.  The line up was the same as when we saw them last year, the performance just as strong.  You can read that review here.

Part 2 is less about the music, more aboiut the set up and organisation.  'Standing only' is something we have to avoid, both of us having health issues that would prevent us from staying upright for that kind of time without considerable discomfort.  Promoters need to make it much clearer where this is the case, both on their advertising and the tickets themselves.  When we found out I complained to the organiser.  he did, eventually, provide a couple of chairs (from which we could see next to nothing), but with such bad grace it felt like he was trying to make out it was our fault.  We might not be going to the Voodoo Rooms in the future...

Maddie Morris, Traverse

 I'm sure Morris could become a lesbian folk icon if she got the exposure.  A sweet voice, charming personality and a kibd of innocence about her.  The songs lack true melodic identity, but the lyrics are always interesting, telling stories in themselves.  She has an unusual guitar style that works well as accompaniment

Morris is also an accomplished and amusing storyteller between numbers, often with a self deprecating side to them, which kept the gig rolling along nicely.  

Not the most exciting of acts, but with enough of a difference to mark her out as worth a watch live.

Kris Drever & Chris Stout, Live at the Law, North Berwick

 As long standing fans of Mr Drever, we were not going to miss out on seeing his latest venture as a duo with fiddler Chris Stout.  The gig was in a scout hall, transformed with the addition of lights, and attracted a big crowd.  Turned out this was only the third gig of the Live at the Law venture, designed to bring some live music to North Berwick, and there was a large and enthusiastic crowd.  I wish the organisers well for the future.

The evening opened with local singer/songwriter Linday Strachan, with guitarist, fiddler and double bass alongside.  Together known as Wave of the Flood.  She has a decent enough voice, and some interesting songs, a fine support act.  But the arrangements were lacking in any real spark - it would have been fascinating to hear her voice supported by the more imaginative accompaniment of the main act!

Who were a huge step up in quality.  True virtuosos of their instruments.  Most of the material came from Drever's extensive catalogue of songs, and was familar to me, but Stout's fiddle managed to identify holes to fill where I never knew they existed.  The Shetlander also played a few home tunes, including a couple of wonderfully miserable bridal marches!

Ezxcerllent musicianship, entertaining introductions, and real beauty in the music, with Stout supplying endless variations on basic melodies.  Wonderful entertainment.

Triptic, Traverse

Take 3 members of the much lamented Moishe's Bagel quintet, and give them a good cause to support.  This was a benefit gig in support of Medical Aid for Palestine (MAP), one of the most important and essential charities currently operating.

The trio are Greg Lawson (fiddle), Phil Alexander (piano and piano accordion) and Mario Caribe (upright bass and guitar).  Togerther they play an eclectic mix of tunes from around the world, a few composition so their own, and the audience is taken, musically, to Brazil, Argentina, Cuba, Ukraine, Russia and beyond.  The arrangements are often complex, and at times it feels like all 3 unstruments are paying their own melodies, albit ones that jigsaw so well together.  They's a joy to watch too.  Caribe and Alexander exchanging smiles, grins, glances, while Lawson brings drama in his body language as well as his playing.  He has an incredibly pure tone to his sound, no doubt a product of his classical background.  

They're good storytellers too, by way of introducing their numbers.  Notably Lawson's tale of approaching a policemen for directions, whilst too stoned to realise that the spliff in his hand might attract the worng sort of attention!  (He was lucky to find a very relaxed constable...)

Fun, depth, top class musicianship and some wonderful tunes.  An exceelent way to spend the evening.

Dean Owens and the Sinners, Traverse

The annual pre-Xmas Dean Ownes gig is not to be missed.  This year, to allow a (much) bigger audience in, it moved from the usual cafe-bar location down into Traverse 1.  Dean confessed he was nervous about the switch, worrying that not enough tickets would sell to justify it.  It was a sell-out!

With good reason.  This is always a December treat for Dean's big local following.  On this aoccaison with full band.  Dean on guitar and vocals (and whistling), long term sidekick Craig Ross on lead guitar, Adam McMillan on bass, Andy Duncan at the drum kit, and Philip Cardwell blowing trumpet.  The latter indicating that Owens is still very much in his TexMex phase.  The first half was mostly newer material, much of it from the album to be released next year, including several songs no live audience had yet heard.  The second set dived more into the back catalogue, with some very familiar singlaong numbers included (such as Raining in Glasgow).    

Dean was as good as ever, Craig Ross in fine form, and the crowd loved it.  I'm already looking forward to next December...

Rachel Walker and Aaron Jones, Traverse

Very professional.  Two good voices, two good musicians.  She the purer of tone, on keyboards, he with the more distinctive sound, on guitar and mandola.  A set of songs from their new album, and a couple from their last one.   Mostly slow paced ballads, in a mix of Gaelic and English (she’s from the Gaeltacht, he from the north of Ireland), almst all telling sad tales.  They can both relate a story too.

But.  While enjoyable enough, as a show it lacked variety of pace and tempo, lacked laughs, lacked any Wow moments.  Pleasant, gentle, mildly entertaining.  And ever so slightly soporific.

But full marks for ending with the beauty of The Broom o’the Cowdenknowes...

Will Pound & Jenn Butterworth, Traverse

 This had everything I could want from a gig.  Virtuoso performances, wonderful tunes and songs, and madcap humour.  

Pound is a harmonica genius, and not far behind that on the melodeon. Butterworth is the consummate accompanist, on guitar and stomp, as well as being a quality vocalist. It was a set of variety. Trad material in the main, but not as you'v eheard it before. New tunes, mixtures of fast, slow, and more fast.  Tunes from England, Ireland, Scotland, Holland, Spain…  Improvisations that made you wonder how many different variations on a simple melody line could there possibly be? Plus songs from Jenn’s upcoming solo album, with sympathetic backing, and solos, from harmonica.

And very funny, very unpredictable, and solidly on the left of politics.  What’s not to like?

The Manfreds, Queens Hall

We saw The Manfreds in Musselburgh about two years ago, and not much has changed since I wrote that review, which you can read here.  

The same line up of msicians, including Jones and McGuiness from the original 60s Manfred Mann line up.  Much the same set list as well, which meant mostly numbers dating back to those sixties days, plus a few blues outriders.  A Ben E King number included a memorable flute solo from Simon Curry, and channeling Howlin' Wolf brought out the best of Paul Jones's harmonica abilities.  There was the odd solo from each member of the sextet as well, notably from Marcus Cliff.

The set also included some material from McGuiness' late band, McGuiness Flint, and it was one of those, When I'm Dead and Gone, that really brought the audience to life and from then on they joined in with everything.  Those old Mann hits were certainly catchy!

Paul Jones' voice is in it's declining years, and can sound strained and a bit off key at times.  But he remains a charismatic front man, with great phrasing and that wonderful blues harmonica in his repertoire.  McGuiness remains as good a guitarist as ever - understated, sparse, but capable of sudden surprise and runs.

Yes, this is an act trading on nostalgia, and playing to a audience of (moslty) pensioners.  But they still have the musical chops and sheer enjoyment needed to create a good night of music.

Fairground Attraction, Usher Hall

The concert opened with support act Scott Matthews, a solo singer/songwriter.  He has an exciting voice with a wide range, and some interesting arrangements and instrumentation.  Several songs had intriguing lyrics, but lacked any real melodic identity.  Enjoyable enough at the time, but unmemorable.

Fairground Attraction featured the original 4 members of the band, plus Roger Beaujolais on glockenspiel and Graham Henderson on (mostly) piano accordion. The opening line, from guitarist Mark Nevin, was  “We are not a tribute band”!

Their set featured a mix of newer material and spme familiar classics from their 80s heyday. But the old stuff still sounded fresh too.  Partly through new arrangements, but mostly because Eddi Reader’s vocal technique has advanced greatly over the decades, with jazz and folk sensibilities developing her pop instincts.  Her scat singing, and Edith Piaf impression, were highlights.  

A wonderful mix, decent enough musicianship, catchy tunes, and that soaring voice. It was well worth them getting together again.

Note to self - avoid gigs at the Usher Hall when possible, at least for this kind of event.  The audience were not the musically literate kind we are used to, and too many behaved as if they hadn’t been allowed out for years, and nobody else mattered but them.  Talking during songs, leaving and returning during songs, blocking others view, clapping off the beat, singing off key.  So irritating…

Lulo Reinhardt and Yuliya Lonskaya - Gypsy Meets Classic , Traverse

 Billed as Gypsy Jazz (Reinhardt) meets Classical (Lonskaya), the evening gave us 2 guitars and 2 vocalists (with a little bit of unusual percussion!), and a mix of instrumentals and ballads from all around the globe. Songs from Mongolia  India, Argentina Brazil, Eastern Europe, North Africa.  Songs in at least 7 languages. There might not be much gypsy jazz involved, but the melting pot of material throws up some fascinating contrasts, and a hugely varied set list.

Her classical training is obvious.  In the way she sits, holds her instrument, in the precision and discipline of her playing.  While he improvises, adding and taking notes in as he goes.  The rhythm and melodic responsibilities swap back and forth, sometimes several times a tune.  There is drama, and emotion.  His voice is passable, hers a beautiful instrument, that bring love and drama out, even though the words are alien to the listener.

At times they may overindulge their mutual passions, make things overly intricate.  But then the natural musicality and understanding always returns and brings surprises and delights. They do talk between numbers, and provide interesting background to the music.  Neither feels like a natural raconteur - but English is not their first language!!

A delightful mix of styles and genres, with often astonishing musicality and a glorious singing voice.

Iona Fyfe, Acoustic Music Centre @ UCC, Edinburgh Festival Fringe

 A solo hour from Fyfe, just her and keyboard in an intimate setting. Featuring her pure, sweet voice, and more than competent piano accompaniment. A wide mix of songs on offer, both traditional and contemporary, and often eclectic. A Nick Cave song she'd translated into Scots. A similar treatment of Richard Thompson's Poor Ditching Boy, appropriate as it derived from a Scottish story. Some a cappella, some with choruses for the audience to join in with. And lots of murder!

Iona is very knowledgeable about the origins of her material, and communicates it in an amusing manner. Never a rip roaring gig, but nevertheless enjoyable and a pleasant way to pass the time. Even if 4pm is not her best time of the day!

James Brown is Annie, Piccolo, George Square, Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival

Funk for our Festival finale.  Local band JBiA played to a packed out Piccolo and raised the roof.  Nowadays a seven piece outfit, with drums, bass, guitar, keyboard, two sax players (tenor and alto) and a lead vocalist.  Or one lead of the lead vocalists, for that role flits about through the pianist, guitarist and tenor saxophonist, with all bar the other sax player contributing backing vocals as well.  Plenty of variety in styles and sounds, although none of the others can match the vocal talents of Debs out front.  

There's not much subtelty to the magic.  Get a groove going and keep it going.  Get the audience on their feet.  Throw in a few solos.  The sax solos, from both players, all received warm applause and cheers, but my personal favourite came from the bass - she played a big part in the band's overall sound throughout.

They're a tight act, with humour and joy important components of their set.  Great fun and a great end to JazzFest '24.