Gig review: Kris Drever & Éamonn Coyne/Adam Holmes & the Embers/Larsa, Edinburgh Voodoo Rooms
It’s here that the talented and enterprising young Borders-born singer-songwriter Adam Holmes has established a monthly folk-based triple bill, featuring his own four-piece band between a bigger-name headliner and an up’n’coming first act.
The opening slot was filled by the strikingly accomplished teenage trio Larsa, comprising singer/guitarist Jack Badcock, Allan MacDonald on bodhran and Ciaran Ryan on fiddle, banjo and mandolin.
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Hide Ad“We’ll start with a Burns song,” Badcock said, introducing the classic Westlin’ Winds – and they nailed it, from exquisitely modulated vocals to ultra-delicate bodhran brushstrokes. Two more excellent songs and three taut, fiery instrumentals followed, emphatically affirming Larsa as lads to watch.
Holmes himself, and the slow-burning Embers, varied the mood with deceptively sleepy cadences, sweetly mournful melodies, his gruff yet delicately brittle voice and heartfelt lyrics.
It wasn’t a night for banjo-phobes, with Irish tenor ace Éamonn Coyne topping the bill in his duo with Orkney’s Kris Drever, but the latter’s richly appointed,finger-licking set of tunes and songs completed a mighty fine night for lovers of quality roots music.
Rating: *****