Tomorrow's rims/c today This issue: Bache/ Unthank 8‘. the Winterset
The all-girl folk quartet, famous for singing in their gorgeous Geordie accents, are back with The Balms, the follow-up to 2005‘s Cruel Sister, which received a hearty thumbs up from folk purists and mainstream radio alike. How do you follow up a successful crossover folk album like Cruel Sister? The Balms is a bit different to (irue/ Sister because we have become a lot tighter as a band and we have a new fiddle player, Niopha, who has added a slightly different sound. I did a bit of research into Northumbrian songs sea songs and border ballads it's quite important to us to represent our tradition. If you're Scottish or Irish it's easy to get excited about your own folk culture but a lot of f nglish people aren't aware that they have all this great folk music that they can feel good about. You seem to have invented a new instrument on The Baims called ‘feet’. It's something that we developed in our live acts. Becky and I grew up in a clog dance team and our dad is a Northumbrian rapper sword dancer. We wanted foot percussion but the clogs were too heavy. Becky was clipping around in her heels one day so we decrded to introduce the 'highheel tap' into folk music. It adds a bit of glam. It also gave us a great excuse to buy lots more shoes.
The Baims is a mix of traditional songs and a few covers. Was it difficult to strike a balance? l olk songs only become folk songs when folk sing them. ‘I See a Darkness" by Bonnie Prince Billy is a van favourite of ours, it's on all the time, and “A Minor Place sounds like a folk song to me. We'll try anything we like really. I love a song that tells a good story. (Rachel Devine)
I The Bongo Club, Edinburgh, Fri 74 Sep; the Arches, Glasgow, Sat 75 Sep.
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lbw lutrl Hindu atmrts 'We are the Plain White l's from Chicago. And were super excited about this tour!‘ Sharing that enthusiasm was the unusual occurrence of a squealing audience of young ladies in the lut's crowd. but despite a promisingly frenetic start. things soon took a more sinister turn into OHBSl/(‘f-fliS-{lll stadium rock territory.
Like a history of punk rock in miniature. the set went from wrong side—of the tracks bad attitude to middleofthe—road OC‘friendly ballads. but in 20 minutes rather than 90 years. And although singer 'l'om Higgenson bears a passing resemblance to Alex Turner. it's hard to imagine the latter penning anything entitled ‘l‘riends Don't Let Friends Drink and Dial' or opening a song With, "This is a love song l'd like to dedicate to all the beautiful ladies I admire' in anything other than deadpan fashion.
That said. there is something deeply infectious abOiit the hummable choruses. particularly during the encore of ‘Hey There Delilah' and ‘Take Me Away'. and if my foot was (auntin tapping along, then take me away officer for getting carried away during what was a calculated, if charismatic performance. (Emma Newlands)
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l ike Barnones taking punk to Spector, Wild Beasts are (ustified in introducing the energy and youthful exuberance of Arctic Monkeys to (too wop and concert hall crooning God only knows what would've happened at the '55 senior prom if l)oc had sent Wild Beasts back in Marty Mcl ly's place but things would have looked and sounded very different indeed when they got back to the future. (Mark ldmundson)
JAZZ ISLAY JAZZ FESTIVAL
Various venues, lslay, Fri 14—Sun 16 Sep
The lslay Jazz Festival seemed a risky prop sition when it was first launched back in 1999. but it took off in no uncertain terms. Guitarist Martin laylor declared it ‘the best wee (8/7 festival in Scotland' after the inaugural event. and there are many who would enthusiastically endorse that sentiment
lslay quickly became established as a popular date on the (an calendar, and now attracts lots of regular ViSitors. The event certainly owes some of its attraction to the idea of a weekend spent away from the usual haunts in glorious surroundings. and the convrvial atmosphere adds to that appeal.
The programming formula has remained constant over the eight preVious festivals. As ever, this year's event features a combination of the cream of Scotland‘s own (an players wrth a sprinkling of interesting guests from l-urope and America. offering both a showcase for home-based Jazz talent, and the opportunity to cultivate collaborations. old and new.
Established bands such as the Tommy Smith-Brian Kellock duo. Meishe's Bagel and the more traditional Scottish Jazz All Stars line up alongside newer faces, including saxophonist Leah (Bough-Cooper. a very impressive finalist in the inaugural Young Scottish Jazz MuSiCian award at the Glasgow Jazz Fesnval
Likely highlights include an intriguing collaboration between US saxophonist and clarinetist Ken Peplowski and Swedish trumpeter Anders Bergerantz (pictured) wrth Monk's mu3ic as their agenda. and a stellar closmg bash led by saxophonist Laura MacDonald.
The eight festival venues are scattered Widely around the island. so transport is required. although there wrll be a festival bus fer selected concerts this year (call 0131 467 5200 for details). Who knows. this year's event may even buck the trend and catch a rare dry spell in this wettest of summers.
(Kenny Mathieson)
6~20 Sep 2007 THE LIST 59