Karine Polwart on late nights at the Orkney Folk Festival
Karine Polwart writes:
If you've never tried to pick up a matchbox from the floor with your teeth, no hands down, then let me tell you from cruel experience that it's near impossible!Ìý
But at three in the morning in The Stromness Hotel during this year's Orkney Folk Festival, Greg Liszt did just that, and to riotous applause.Ìý It was proof, not that proof was needed, that the Crooked Still banjo player is a deceptively understated character.
But then he's in a deceptively understated band.
Sidestepping the usual flashness, Crooked Still has crafted a distinctively elegant and spacious sound on the
Lead singer Aoife O'Donovan was easily a match for her colleague in the small hours craic stakes. A one-woman session steam engine, she was to be found in hallways duetting with Kris Drever, Solas multi-instrumentalist Séamus Egan in support (a wee bird says this combination might make it into a studio soon).
And if my own late night match play was dismal, I redeemed myself with a couple of heroic saves at the annual Orkney versus Folk Festival All-Comers football challenge.Ìý Joint Man Of The Match went to nimble accordionists Mairearad Green (Anna Massie Trio/The Poozies) and Kathleen Boyle (Dochas/Cherish The Ladies).Ìý But I heard a whisper it might have been a three way split if I hadn't had to leave my goals for my soundcheck ...
But then as Mairearad put it,
'Ronaldo never left before the final whistle'.
Hear a track from Crooked Still's new album 'Still Crooked' on this week's Mike Harding Show.
Karine x
Ìý
Comment number 1.
At 11th Jul 2008, Acejonna wrote:Dear Karine
I came to see you, with my daughter, at Accoustic City in Colchester in 2004 (I think). You had just won Radio 2 folk artist of the year. You were (and still are) absolutely brilliant. I really love your music and Its good to read your blog here. Do you have any plans to perform in our neck of the woods again?
I listen to Mike Harding every wednesday and it takes a very good reason for me to miss it. I also love his 'little book' series, I have the green man one myself. Have you read them?
So for me the combination of yourself and Mike is, well, just the best.
Thanks or the lovely music Karine and keep on keeping on.
Love from Jonna
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