Rheingans Sisters - 15 May 2025

This was a third gig we've seen of theirs and I think the best one. They basically played the whole of their new album straight off which I enjoyed. As before there were a variety of instruments deployed - a lot of violins, but Rowan also played guitar and banjo and some sort of foot operated drone thing whilst Anna had her mediaeval French stringed thing played with a stick and banjos. They both sang and the whole concert is a fusion of folky styles delivered faultlessly and beautifully sung. An excellent night out.

Catrin Finch and Aiofe Ni Bhriain 4th May 2025

I think I will take every opportunity to see this duo - it is always a mesmerising experience. Aiofe's otherworldly fiddle sound, enhanced I think by the Hardanger violin she plays with nine strings is perfectly aligned to thge magical sound of thge Welsh harp as played by Catrin Finch. This gig was the closing act of the Bristol Folk Festival and first up was Suntou Sissou, a Kora player from The Gambia. He was good and the Kora played well is always a joy to listen to. He was joined after a while by a second Kora player/ drummer. If I had a criticism it would be a little too much wish for audience participation (see Manics for how that stuff works well). No such distraction from our headlining duo who mostly played stuff from 'Doubleyou' their album. There were a coupkle of tracks I didn't recognise one of which they said was new. It was a brilliant 'riff'on the harp accompianied as ever by ethereal Hardanger fiddle. The stuff from the album was brilliant, 'Why' in particular and 'Waves', 'Woven' and 'Whispers' also featured as superb. I'll just keep going if they keep appearing.