Eddi Reader may be in her mid-fifties but she has the energy and enthusiasm of a child entering a play park for the first time.
The former-Fairground Attraction star is at her exuberant best in her first headline show since 2009; not shy of a wee dance and full of Glasgow banter and humorous anecdotes.
Part of Reader’s appeal, on top of her unwavering earthiness in spite of a glittering career, is staying true to her Scottish heritage through her wealth of Rabbie Burns-inspired repertoire.
Before the flame-haired Scot can gel with the packed out crowd (“I love playing here,” she says, and not in a gushing way either, “it’s ma toon,” she smiles), support act Kris Drever seemed unfazed with the task of warming up the crowd as he provides a confident and laid-back display.
The Orcadian has gone from strength to strength since being awarded “Best Newcomer” at the 2007 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, with his reputation rising from his performances with folk giants Lau, and onto working with renowned fiddler John McCusker, who selected Drever for stage and studio time with British folk legend Kate Rusby.
Backed by several collaborators, including Alan Kelly and Boo Hewerdine, Drever delivers a flawless set; the musicianship is of an excellent standard across every folky tune.
His Scottish lilt is appreciated in the bluesy ‘Capernaum’ (a song berating Edinburgh, which Drever notes would go down well with the Glasgow crowd) and refreshingly the majority of his songs include some humour (lyrics include the ironic “thank God for sunny weather”) and folk numbers (“I miss the factory more than you”).
The only thing missing from his performance is a collaboration with Reader herself.
But Brit Award winning singer Reader was never going to be outdone.
Appreciating Drever’s talent, and, supported by the excellent Scottish Festival Strings, she rattles through ‘Green Grow the Rushes Oer’, ‘Brose and Butter’ and ‘My Love Is Like a Red Red Rose’; all appropriate for Burns Night this coming Sunday.
Reader’s group, including husband and guitarist John Douglas of The Trashcan Sinatras, display a depth of talent with a hot-club sound in ‘Sail Baby Sail’.
She chips in musically on the concertina, guitar and on one occasion, the mandolin.
As the show draws to a close, there are great cheers for audience favourites ‘Charlie is My Darlin’’ and ‘Willie Stewart’.
Reader even manages to squeeze in a wonderful cover of ‘Moonriver’, accompanied with the richly warm chords of the Scottish Festival Strings, and receives a deserved standing ovation following a beautifully simple version of ‘Auld Lang Syne’.
It is a fitting way to end; in remembrance of Reader’s enduring “acquaintance” with the people of Scotland and her status as one of the UK’s best folk singers.
Words: Ben Bookless
Photos: Iain McDonagh
