A review from 5D Music & Theatre writer Maria Robertson.
Photos by Martin Parker Photography: https://www.martinparkerphotography.co.uk/
It is now almost a Christmas tradition that Skerryvore play Aberdeen around Christmas time. This year they brought with them the Eves as a support band, who I have seen previously supporting Horse at the Lemon Tree.
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The Eves are two lovely young ladies from Edinburgh, Marissa Keltie and Caroline Gilmour. Both times I have had the pleasure of seeing them perform I have then met them at the merchandise stall afterwards, the first time they were kind enough to pose with my friend and I, last night with my son. It was his first time seeing them, and Skerryvore, and we had such a great time enjoying both.
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As well as singing some brilliant songs of their own including Legal High, We’re on Fire and City of Stars, they did a cover of Tina Turner’s Simply the Best. We also got some stories in between songs, such as the fact that Tides is the first song they wrote together, over whatsapp and that their song Brand New Day has featured on TV shows: The Kardashians and Love Island. This year they released their first vinyl so they asked who has a record player and urged people to support music by buying their merchandise, I was thrilled to tell them we got a record player for Christmas as I bought a copy of their record to take home to my husband! Next month they will be recording their first album and that will certainly be worth checking out. They are also supporting Skerryvore at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow in January, when they asked who was coming only 1 person responded so I presume I am not the only one not to have heard about this venue in Glasgow. Thanks for the education as well as the music ladies!
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Contrasting this, Skerryvore are nine men from across Scotland who play lively ceilidh songs on their various instruments. They are highly talented and just look like they are having as much fun as the audience as they play. Daniel and Martin Gillespie are brothers from Tiree who started the band. Fraser West and Alec Dalglish, both from Edinburgh area, were next to join them and they started using their band name in 2004. They pointed out during the night that Jodie Bremaneson, the bass player, is from Aberdeen. This obviously got a huge cheer! As did them telling us they have been together for 20 years and are grateful to those of us who have followed them during that time, enabling them to call Skerryvore their full time job.
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Skerryvore started as a ceilidh band touring the village halls of the west coast, but they have become so much more – with a huge fan base. They play all the traditional instruments of accordion, bagpipes and fiddle but also include electric guitars, keyboard and drums.
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The energy in the room was amazing, everyone was clapping, dancing and singing along. I looked back at one point and there were two crutches waving above the crowd, proving that live music really does heal all pain!! The joy on people’s faces was apparent, on stage and off.
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They treated us to a set list which included Donegal, Live Forever and Eye of the Storm. They dedicated Hold On to Ola MacRae and her merch team, which is a lovely touch. The Eves came back to stage for Together Again and sang along with them which was fabulous. They also shared the stage with the Alford Academy Pipe Band, these young people looked delighted to be part of the show, and had been standing watching the beginning just next to us, having the time of their lives! We were encouraged to sing along with the Oohs and indeed when Skerryvore left the stage, after Sea That Sings which they had said was the last song, we kept oohing, until they came back on for the epic Take My Hand. Part way through the song the Alford pipers and drummers came back on stage and joined in – the noise of the instruments joined with the excitement of the crowd for this must have nearly blown the (beautiful) roof off the Music Hall!
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It was The Eves last concert of the year, as well as that of myself and my son, and I am sure that none of us left regretting that life choice. What an amazing evening, again, certainly a band that never disappoints when experiencing them live. Tour dates are on their website if you would like to experience it for yourself.
Further information: https://www.theeves.co.uk/ and https://skerryvore.com/
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Maria Robertson is the Chief Music & Theatre Writer for the 5D Pop Culture Website and provides reviews & coverage of local Aberdeen music & theatre gigs. She’s an experienced writer for numerous sources and is a self-confessed live gig addict ever since seeing The Counting Crows at the Barrowlands in 1994.
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