Reflections of Darkness - Music Magazine - Runrig

Details: Written by: Nicole Kizina; Published: 07 September 2010

Tanzbrunnen, Cologne, Germany
2nd September 2010
Runrig, Seth Lakeman

For over 30 years we can enjoy the wonderful Gaelic-Scottish folk music mixed with modern rock music from RUNRIG. They wake up emotions and let you dream, but also just dance and celebrate. After the cancellation of the German spring tour the band was now playing the rescheduled shows in August and September.

Seth Lakman

SETH LAKEMAN (born 26 March 1977 Buckland Monachorum, near Yelverton, Devon) is an English folk singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist who is most often associated with the fiddle and tenor guitar, but has also mastered the viola and banjo. English tales of dark deeds and doomed romances provide inspiration for much of his music. Music has always been part of Seth's life; his parents were part of a touring band which included Seth and his older brothers Sean and Sam, who all played from an early age and subsequently performed as THE LAKEMAN BROTHERS. Lakeman has received already two BBC Folk Awards and was nominated in 2005 for the Mercury Prize. http://www.sethlakeman.co.uk/ / http://www.myspace.com/sethlakeman

Music and Performance
With ‘Hearts And Minds’, the singer presents his fifth studio album which was produced by Tchad Blake (Tom Waits, Elvis Costello). Seth came alone with his violin on stage and as soon as he started playing you recognize at once why he doesn't need anyone more on stage to begin with his performance. He is playing this instrument with such a passion, that you got caught with it from the first second. Also the audience in Cologne is with him at once. He is the first time in Germany on tour. With the second song, he is joined by his two band mates, one with a guitar and the other one with a… well let’s call it little drum kit. Coming from England playing for a Scottish band and sounded like Irish, Seth unites the folk music from the north in one package. He was the right choice as support for RUNRIG. Seth thinks ‘Instruments out of wood’ are cool. They definitely are and especially if they are played this.

Rating
Music: 8
Performance: 8
Sound: 8
Light: - (daylight)
Total: 8 / 10

Runrig

RUNRIG is a Scottish folk rock band founded in 1973 in Skye. Since its inception, the band's line-up has included songwriters Rory Macdonald and Calum Macdonald. The current line-up also includes long-time members Malcolm Jones, Iain Bayne, and more recently, Bruce Guthro, and Brian Hurren. Following the release of ‘Mara’, lead singer Donnie Munro grew more involved in politics, and in 1997, he left RUNRIG in order to compete for a seat in the UK Parliament for the British Labour Party. RUNRIG began searching for a new front man, and in 1998, they announced their selection of Bruce Guthro, a singer-songwriter from Nova Scotia.

To date, the band has released thirteen studio albums, with a number of their songs sung in Scottish Gaelic. RUNRIG's music is often described as a blend of folk and rock music, with the band's lyrics often focusing upon locations, history, politics and people that are unique to Scotland. Songs also make references to agriculture and land conservation. http://www.runrig.co.uk/ / http://www.myspace.com/runrigofficial

Music and Performance
I would say if you have been once to a RUNRIG concert you always like to see them again. A special magic is the relation between the band and their fans. The hardcore fans are called “Riggies” and they are following the band and they recognized the songs within two seconds. It’s like a family meeting and celebration while the guys are playing.

Unfortunately during the Cologne concert, the video screen in the background of the stage was only working during the first song. The rest of the concert it was switched off. It was a technical defect as learned later. Maybe we had seen some beautiful nature of Scotland if it would have worked during the whole show. When the songs were played, the fans were singing along every line. There also wasn’t missing the certain hand clapping during ‘Pride of the Summer’ after the line “beat the drum”. After nearly half of the set it was time for keyboarder Brian Hurren to come at the front of stage and he was singing the wonderful ‘In Search Of Angels’ on his own. Then we got a special acoustic set with three drums and three guitars while the drums were played like a march. We also heard Gaelic songs like ‘Alba’ and ‘Siol Ghoraidh‘. Hopefully Malcolm stays healthy, because we still need more of these songs.

Setlist
01. Intro
02. Things That Are
03. Road Trip
04. Edge of the World
05. Pride of the Summer
06. Ocean Road
07. Big Sky
08. Alba
09. In Search Of Angels
10. Acoustic
11. The Mighty Atlantic / Mara
12. Heading to Acadia
13. Siol Ghoraidh
14. Medley
15. Skye
16. Every River
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17. On the Edge
18. Clash of The Ash
19. Loch Lomond
20. Going Home

Rating
Music: 10
Performance: 8
Sound: 8
Light: 9
Total: 9 / 10