A young Scottish folk band, Barluath have been around for five years and recently released their second album. Tonight's line up featured keyboard, guitar, fiddle, whistle and bagpipes (both the semi-skimmed Lowland variety and the full-fat Highland pipes), and lead vocal. I say "tonight's" because they are normally a six-strong outfit, but there were only four regulars playing, the substitute keyboard player having to play off the page.
The musicianship is excellent, with some particularly impressive guitar work, and a rousing quality once those pipes get going. There's nothing wrong with the arrangements, but nor did they offer anything really innovative. (That may be a harsh judgement, given the restricted line up I was seeing, and I hope to get a chance to write a further review later this year.) What marks this band out as special is the astonishing voice of Ainsley Hamill. A slight figure on stage, the gutsiness of the voice comes as a surprise at first. Like a cross between Julie Fowlis and Sally Barker, she brings a bluesy quality to the Gaelic numbers that gives them a very contemporary feel.
The band interact well with their audience, giving explanations of the origins of songs and tunes, and encouraging people to sing the choruses or coming down for a dance. And there was a good mix of tempos, of old and new material, of well worn classics and the unfamiliar. That hour passed very quickly.
There was a new CD in my pocket as I walked away. That voice sold it....
Barluath were performing for one night only.
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