Karen Matheson 18/9/2016

Before I summarise the gig I am still wondering why the hall was about a quarter full for such a consumate singer as Karen Matheson. I thought she was well known but apparently not in Bristol. The band comprised a rhythm guitarist/mandolin player (Innes White) , lead guitarist (Sorren Maclean), and a fiddle player whose name I have forgotten (but she was very good!). Normally Karen appears with some of the old Capercaille lags so this was a very different band. The main thrust of the gig was the all-Gaelic songs on the most recent album 'Urram' (which incidentally made it three foreign language gigs in a row for me - Welsh, Catalan and Gaelic) but she also included some songs in English from the back catalogue. All the Gaelic songs were hauntingly beautiful and the album is a dig back into her family heritage. Her voice is just perfection when it comes to a lament or Skye waulking song (as in work song). Then we had a single track from Sorren Maclean and his brilliant choice was the John Prine classic 'The Speed of the Sound of Loneliness'. Much as I like the versions from John Prine himself, Nanci Griffiths and Alabama 3 this was right up there - slow and sad and of course with great harmonies from the rest of the band. As much as I love the Gaelic songs the last two tracks of the set were the highlight, both John Grant songs off 'The Dreaming Sea' The poignant ' There's always Sunday' was moving but 'At the End of the Night' had the tears rolling down my cheeks. She sings it with such astonishing power and emotion. There was an encore song but it sort of passed me by. Wow.