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By Anna MacDonald, Gardensessions.co.uk
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***** (5 stars)

Julie Fowlis at the ABC Glasgow, Celtic Connections Festival 2008.

I have heard Julie Fowlis play several times, solo in her native Uist, with her award winning band Dochas, and at the famous Sabhal Mor Ostaig. Every time she has brought something new to her performance. In front of a sold out ABC auditorium in this years Celtic connections she and her fantastic band left behind an awe struck audience.

The show had opened with an unchallenging performance from Chris Woods, a folk singer songwriter from the North of England. He is best known for his work with Andy Cutting. The self penned melodies were persuasive but his song choice was poor. The one memorable song which stood out was the traditional english folk song ‘one in a million’ which was delivered with gentle humour and knowing vocals. Chris Wood’s performance was rescued from the brink of mediocrity by the arrival onstage of Karine Polwart. Her subtle harmonies lifted an otherwise uninspiring programme.

This was in total contrast to the main event of the evening. Julie Fowlis and her fierce line up of musicians took to the stage and immediately captured the audience. The variety of musicians on stage and their versatility provided a wealth of music. Fowlis herself left the impression that if she had more hands she could have been a one woman show. She impressed on the whistle, small pipes, pibroch mhor, box and of course when she sang. Fowlis has the rare ability to hold an audience captive whether she is singing a slow Gaelic air, a walking song or a more contempory piece. She sang through a range of traditional Gaelic songs as well as incorporating a few from her new album. She skilfully gave a little background information on every piece she offered, engaging the largely English speaking crowd. Fowlis’s gentle Highland accent and sense of humour charmed the crowd. She had three standing ovations and the crowd would have been there all night if she had continued to play.

I have only one criticism of this gig and it was we only heard Fowlis once totally unaccompanied. This was her last number of the evening and was a haunting Gaelic lament. I would have loved to have heard Fowlis sing solo a few times more although I’m not sure I would have been able to choose another section of this amazing programme to sacrifice.