This final gala concert opened with Adam Sutherland and fifteen young fiddlers from his Youth Engagement Project. This provides training not just in the musical aspect sof performing, but also presentation and audience engagement. So the announcements were all made by members of the group, and the arrangements were collaborative. A chance to watch some stars of the folk future.
Orcadians Gnoss are still young too, but now very experienced and with a well established stage presence of three jokers and the one quiet man. Fiddle (with a bit of mandolin), flute/whistles, guitar and fast thumping bodhran combine with some sweet vocals to deliver a stirring set that had the audience roused and laughing.
Irish-American fiddler Carroll was the headline name of this year's festival, and quickly showed us exactly why she deserves that status. Carroll is a part of the folk elite for good reason, not just as a player but also as composer, arranger and story teller. There's wit, invention and skill to spare in her playing. She was accompanied by one of Scotland's most brilliant (and hard working) guitarists, Jenn Butterworth, who provided her usual imaginative backing. Carroll had sent over the tunes for Butterworth to learn, and been generous enough to ask for some of the Scot's in return, so the set had some added variety.
The finale brought the whole ensemble on stage, Carroll leading Gnoss and the Project in a mass fiddlethon, the American taking delight in traversing the stage to encourage and praise the others. A warm gesture to end the night on.
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