The last time I saw Anaïs was in Stirling and it was the best gig I saw in 2014 and her last album XOA was my favourite album of 2014. To make the effort to see her two nights running in Selkirk and Edinburgh was An easy decision for me! The County Hotel in Selkirk is a great venue. A nice sized hall with good sound and a knowledgable and appreciative clientele. The String Jam Club has been going for nearly 20 years and to persuade a star like Anaïs to come there twice is impressive and an accolade to the organisers. The place was quite rightly full for a very special artist.
Anaïs played a lovely set covering all her albums and started and finished with Leonard Cohen songs in tribute to the great man and one of her favourites. In the middle of the set she made room for audience requests. I was lucky enough to be in the middle of the front row and when I shouted ‘Come September’ she said ‘for the guy in the front row. God, you guys are Old School!’ … such a delight to hear one of my favourites, the one I especially wanted to hear.
Anaïs was joined on stage for some songs by support artist Jarlath Henderson. He added nice harmony vocals and Low D whistle, particularly haunting and beautiful on ‘Wilderland/Young Man In America’. Stunning! I loved the whole set and encores and she deserved her rapturous reception. I even got to chat at length to Anaïs and Jarlath afterwards and very friendly and gracious they were too. I think I floated all the way back to Edinburgh!
9/11 Attended by George
