Album Reviews

20th Apr 2011

Maverick Magazine ****(4 Stars)

Live at Perthshire Amber

Julie Fowlis

LIVE AT PERTHSHIRE AMBER

Machair Records Ltd

4 STARS

'Scottish Gaelic singer’s live album brings the joys of her

performances to your front room...'

Julie Fowlis grew up on a small island in the outer Hebrides in a Gaelic speaking

community and has been involved in singing, piping and dancing since she was a child.

She is a memberof the Scottish group Dochas, but released her debut solo album in

2005. LIVE AT PERTHSHIRE AMBER was recorded at last year’s Amber Festival

in Pitlochry, performing with her quartet and embodies the reason why she is becoming

the star of traditional Scottish folk music.

Opening with Ho I Was, He I Was is a magnificent way to start a live show in a

capella with beautiful harmony vocals. Most of the album is split into sets of songs;

many of the tracks featuring three or four tunes. The second track is upbeat and

bountiful and while again it’s sung in Gaelic, its beautiful tunes detract from the fact

that you cannot understand the lyrical content of these songs. The ninth track of the

album including the tunes The Thatcher, Peter Bryne’s, The Soup Dragon and Isaac’s

Welcome Home stood out for me. As an instrumental on the album at five minutes

long it really showcases some inspirational playing, captures a magnificent live vibe

and really explores how this group work so amazingly together. Julie’s vocals are

quite simply outstanding—they mesmerise and conjure throughout the record, and

songs like I Was Born In The Midst Of The Sea and O Noble Youth Who Has Left

Me have stood out for that reason also. LIVE AT PERTHSHIRE AMBER is a wonderful

live album, full of hauntingly beautiful tunes and captivating performances.

Laura Bethell

Julie with the brilliant Québécois quartet 'Le Vent du Nord' perform “Noces Tragique”.

Gach sgeul, the new album, OUT NOW

Julie Fowlis performing Hè Gràdh Hò Gràdh’ on BBC's Transatlantic Sessions

27th Apr

LONDON, ENGLAND
'BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2016'. The Royal Albert Hall. Kensington Gore, London SW7 2AP. England. UK.

14th May

OBAN, SCOTLAND
'Oban Live 2016' Mossfield Stadium, Oban, Argyll, Scotland. UK.

26th May

ORKNEY, SCOTLAND
Orkney Folk Festival. Orkney. Scotland. UK. (Various venues tbc)

5th Jun

CARDIFF, WALES
'Festival of Voice' St David's Hall, The Hayes, Cardiff CF10 1AH. Wales. UK.

13th Jul

STORNOWAY, SCOTLAND
'HebCelt 2016' (The Hebridean Celtic Music Festival). Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides. Scotland. UK.

15th Jul

STORNOWAY, SCOTLAND
'HebCelt 2016' (The Hebridean Celtic Music Festival). Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides. Scotland. UK.