The bank holiday inspired a warm atmosphere inside the rurally located Ravenswood and, despite some clumsy lyrics, support act Dan Reed’s heartfelt songs received a rapturous reception.
So much so that Scots songwriter Karine Polwart seemed nervous at having to follow him.
She needn’t have worried, of course. Polwart’s strengths are many and she produced a subtle and uplifting set, joined on stage by her guitarist brother Steven and multi-instrumentalist Inge.
Equally comfortable discussing the life of Charles Darwin, encouraging the crowd to sing a lullaby written for her son, or sticking the knife into Sir Fred Goodwin (the hapless banker had two unflattering songs dedicated to him), Polwart showed the versatility that makes her such a prolific and successful collaborator.
Her tender, melodic voice was complemented beautifully by the harmonies of her band and gentle picking style, never more so than on Daisy, Polwart’s eloquent attempt to make sense of the fact that “there are people in this world who don’t think like you do”.
Polwart is also a fine interpreter of traditional song and, although it would have been a bonus to hear some, it was a credit to her talent for the contemporary that the night was no less complete without them.
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