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Nick Morgan and crew
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Concert
Review by Nick Morgan |
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JULIE FOWLIS
The Union Chapel, Islington, London, October
24th 2008 |
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The Trawlerman is no more. No, Serge, this is
not an elegy for the long-running demise of the
British fishing industry, but a sad statement
of truth. The Trawlerman, or ‘George’s
Chippy’, as it was sometimes called, at
the top of Upper Street, very close to the famous
Hope & Anchor (the birthplace in the seventies
of Pub Rock) has closed. George hung up his apron
last year and now this once no-nonsense sit-innery
has been refashioned, refurbished and thoroughly
gentrified, no doubt to compete with the likes
of Fishworks and the Fish Shop down the road.
But, modernistic décor notwithstanding,
it still smells like a chippy (as I’m reminded
several hours later when I put my coat back on
after the gig), even if a plateful of Haddock
and Chips comes in at near a tenner a piece, rather
than the 1/6d which I’m sure it should cost. |
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| I
can’t help wondering what the less well-off
denizens of the area, of whom there are many, must
think of this when they come to buy their Friday
night fish-supper. But it’s nicely cooked
and easy on the palate, there are definitely some
maritime notes, perhaps a zesty medicinal kick from
the …. oops, sorry Serge, I must have been
overdoing it out here in the City of Gold. Where
was I? Yes, it is pleasing, even if the chips do
have the aura of having been prepared somewhere
many miles away from where we’re eating them.
Overall verdict – not bad at all. |
| This
is all by way of saying that we’re in Islington
heading for the Union Chapel to see Scottish folk-singing
sensation Julie
Fowlis and her band. Ms Fowlis, who
made a brief yet mesmerising appearance earlier
in the year at the Rogue’s Gallery gig has
made a two-pronged attack on the public consciousness.
Firstly, through the traditional folk-roots scene
(where she has earned numerous awards and plaudits),
and secondly (and less likely) via the good offices
of everyone’s favourite middle-aged man’s
rock and roll magazine, Mojo. She recorded a version
of ‘Blackbird’ for a recent ‘White
Album’ tribute that the magazine put together,
and such was its reception that it has now been
released as a single. And perhaps I should add here,
before it’s too late, that Ms Fowlis sings
only in Gaelic. She is a native of North Uist, in
the middle of the Outer Hebrides, and is proudly
taking her culture and language to the world. But
don’t be put off by the language bit if, like
99.9999999999999999% of the world, you are not having
the Gaelic. For Ms Fowlis falls into that small
but captivating category of singer you would listen
to singing a Hungarian menu if you could, such is
the beauty, clarity, and expressiveness of her voice.
Get the picture? |
| One
actually might have hoped that she would have chosen
to sing without the use of microphones in the Union
Chapel, whose acoustics no doubt yearn for a voice
such as hers. At least the sound was perfectly engineered.
Note here too that although Ms Fowlis’s voice
is something of a show-stealer, she’s no mean
hand when it comes to the accordion, whistle or
even bagpipes. And such an accomplished performer
certainly needs accomplished accompanists, which
she certainly has. Her husband, Dubliner Eamon
Doorley, plays electric bazouki, sings, and
brings a touch of Irish humour to the evening, a
counterpoint to the dry wit of Duncan
Chisholm, sometime of Wolfstone
and Blazin’
Fiddles fame, and undoubtedly one of Scotland’s
finest fiddlers. Tony
Byrne on guitar combines delicate melodies with
driving rhythm, and bodhrán player Martin
O’Neill simply puts that often abused
instrument onto a different plane of sophistication
and subtlety. So to repeat, for all that Ms Fowlis’s
voice may be the star, this is a complete ensemble
performance of remarkable quality. |
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| A
shame then that much of it was greeted with the
predictably out-of-time clapping and foot-stamping
that London audiences (this one has, I observe darkly,
something of the Folk Cub about it) presume incorrectly
to be a perfect accompaniment for music of this
sort. |
| Setlist?
Well that might be a difficult one, but I do fancy
we heard ‘Mo Ghruagach Dhonn’, ‘Bodaich
Odhar Hoghaigearraidh’, ‘Mo Bheannachd
Dhan Bhaillidh Ur’ ….well I’ll
stop there, with the one addition that she did of
course charm everyone with her version of ‘Blackbird’.
This was an outstanding performance, justifying
all the plaudits that Ms Fowlis has received, and
earning her a few more. She will no doubt be taking
to the road again next year and I can only commend
you to go and see her if you get the chance. And
in the meantime I promise you that her 2007 album,
Cuilidh, would be a welcome addition to any Christmas
Stocking, or if you prefer, Holiday Sock. - Nick
Morgan (photographs by Kate) |
| Listen:
Julie
Fowlis' MySpace page (with Blackbird!) |
Check
the index of all reviews:
Nick's Concert Reviews
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There's nothing more down there... |
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