EIF: Breabach
Old College Quad
After a sunny concert in the big tent at Edinburgh Academy at 6pm it was on to the smaller tent in the Old Quad of the University where it was distinctly chillier. It was a sold out concert. Breabach are big stars of the Celtic electric folk scene, too big clearly to play at my local folk club since I have never heard them live. They are much more likely to be found in concert halls and big festivals. Like all other musicians they were delighted to be back in front of a live audience although they did take part in last year’s virtual festival with a 15-minute streamed set. The group is made up of five talented multi-instrumental musicians, with Megan Henderson on fiddle and also vocals, James Lindsay double bass and vocals, Calum MacCrimmon on bagpipes, whistle, bouzouki and vocals, James Duncan Mackenzie, bagpipes flute and whistle and Ewan Robertson, guitar vocals and cajon.
They got a warm welcome when they came on the stage and opened with two instrumental numbers which showed off their musical skills in their fusion of Celtic traditional tunes and more ‘uptempo’ electric beat. Early on the bagpipes tended to dominate the sound, maybe a question of amplification balance or just that bagpipes are very loud! Megan Henderson tended to lead on vocals, and she has quite a pleasant voice although at times a little high. Her major problem was in getting to understand the songs which appeared to be in Gaelic, though even when in Scots it was difficult to make out the words. They did sing some contemporary songs in Scots but seemed to neglect traditional songs and were much more focussed on their new material and new arrangements of older tunes. Still that is what has made their reputation and their success. As Miss Jean Brodie said, “If you like that kind of thing, then that’s the kind of thing you will like” I’ve decided I’m more a lover of traditional music, in particular traditional song, so I was not a great fan of Breabach, but clearly I was in a minority in the Old Quad last night, They got a warm reception from their fans.
