We’ve seen Cara quite a few times, and not much more than a year ago. I was thinking, do we really need to see a similar set again? Well a few moments into ‘There Were Roses’ and then ‘Black Is The Colour’ reminded me what a special artist she is. The emotion in her wonderful voice and reflected back from the audience was really moving. Cara, and her wonderful band, never let you down. Lovely!
Half Formed Things are a fairly new band and I thought from the few songs I heard that they had great potential. So we were intrigued to see them live. Well they really are impressive. Karen thought they might be a bit underwhelming but she was blown away by them and can’t wait for their next gig.
Matthew and Morgan share vocal duties brilliantly, and Stuart provides sensitive and dynamic drumming (a stark contrast from his other role in Britney!). Songs are lengthy with flows and ebbs back to spectacular crescendos. A relatively short set but they know how to leave us wanting more and I really look forward to more new material.
To see Mugison from Iceland for the first time was the main reason I came all the way to Hull for the North Atlantic Flux festival. He’s been a hero of mine for ages since I love his unorthodox, melodic yet powerful songs and idiosyncratic approach to his music. A short but great solo set too with all of my favourites of his ‘hits’ especially ‘Þjóðarsálin’ with his long and funny explanation of how his roaring singing resulted in a messy accident!
Fantasic to see him joined for ‘… Son of a Boyo’ by another hero Einar Örn from Ghostigital / Sugarcubes. I got to meet and talk to Mugi outside and talk guitars, a gracious and funny guy. Fair made my weekend it did. Magic!
I found out about the North Atlantic Flux Scandinavian music festival through my liking for Mugison and Sóley, but was intrigued by the music of event curator John Grant and am a fan of Einar Örn of Ghostdigital since the early days of the Sugarcubes … so to get three in the one show was too good to miss! A long day of ‘festivalling’ also let me see Tom Kay, Equis, Eva-Lina and the amazing Nils Bech from Norway who I enjoyed greatly.
Hull City Hall was the venue for the main event of the festival opened by Ghostdigital from Iceland. Music man Curver’s heavy electronic, industrial drum’n’bass music isn’t my style but the manic dancing, vocalisations and stories of Einar Örn Benediktsson are irresistable and we were all carried along to a standing ovation. In contrast Sóley, also from Iceland, played a relaxed solo show with just her piano and loop station. Most songs from new album ”Endless Summer’ were intricate piano pieces with lovely melodies from her delicate voice. Enchanting.
John Grant was the curator and public face of the festival, originally from USA now living in Iceland. He clearly has a big fan base in England and there was much love in the room for him. I was in the second row surrounded by some of his biggest fans who were delirious with joy! I like his voice and great lyrics so will watch out for more. I can be seen clapping at 1:42 in the video below! A great night all round. Bravo Hull, UK City of Culture indeed!
The first day of the North Atlantic Flux festival and I was looking forward to seeing Susanne Sundfør from Norway who’s music I had been aware of but not checked out much. A relaxed solo show with her pianos and guitar, not the big band synth fest she has done recently, and that was good to let me hear her incredible voice in all it’s glory. She really is an amazing singer so I enjoyed the set. One ‘but’ though …. her lyrics are all pretty downbeat, if not depressing. I quite like a bit of misery in a song, but this was ridiculous. Felt like shouting ‘cheer up hen’! Didn’t. She’s nice and it was a nice evening!
