SALT HOUSE
15 March 2020
@Storeys Field Centre, Cambridge
On a pleasant Sunday evening in Cambridge, with the
expected shutdown looming in these unprecedented times, I was lucky
enough to spend my last public event for (who knows?) some time with
the great Scottish folk trio, Salt House. The venue was the Storeys
Field Centre which seemed to be the perfect fit for these extraordinary
talented acoustic musicians, not least because vocalist and harmonium
player Jenny Sturgeons uncle had helped in designing and building
the place! A very talented family indeed!
After we had managed the social distancing between members of the
audience and made sure we had all washed our hands while singing the
happy birthday song, we settled into the performance.
On stage we had Jenny in the middle, with harmonium and guitar, flanked
by Ewan McPherson with his impressive array of guitars on one side,
and award-winning Lauren MacColl with her equally as impressive fiddles
lined up on the other.
The music to come, we were told, would be mainly from their upcoming
new album release Huam, due to be released on 20th March. Kicking
off with a couple of older tracks from a previous album called Underdog
Turn Ye To Me and Lay Your Dark Low it immediately
became apparent that we were dealing with some real quality here.
Jennys delicious soft lead vocal, accompanied by Ewans
crafted guitar skills and Laurens delicate fiddle touch, made
for a combination that even my dad would have found difficult not
to be moved by and hes the men dont cry
type! As the tracks came, each member took turns with a lead vocal
while the others harmonised in the background to perfection. Ballads
from their new album such as The Same Land, If I
were Lucky and Mountain of Gold, conjured up visions
of Shetland landscapes and ancient times. Commentary from band members
in-between songs with tales of orcas, whales, harmonium and caravan
song writing, island ferries, tractor rides and northern lights, reinforced
this vision to take my imagination up north to a mystical land.
New
album Huam
The second half of the show proved to be just as magical and I must
have beat the world record for the number of times one person can
experience goosepimples over a two-hour period. The music was pure
and the lyrics were poetic. I dont think I can quite put it
into words, but there was something about these three musicians and
the melodies they produced that could touch my soul and they
were a handsome bunch too! I particularly enjoyed Huam tracks William
and Elsie originally a poem which began with fiddle plucking
that built up to a beautiful harmonic ballad, flanked sublimely by
Laurens fiddle skills - and Fire Light - a skilfully
crafted full bodied acoustic composition with a lovely guitar groove,
supported by expert fiddle intersections and bass lines. What is not
to like?! Both these songs highlighted the bands strong emotional
connections to poetry in particular with Fire Light being
a reworking of a Nan Shepard poem. We were also invited to our second
sing-a-long of the event with The Sisters Revenge
from the Underdog album.
This was an evening not to forget. This was an evening to let this
lovely acoustic folk music take us away from what was going on in
the background of the real world. Ewan, Jenny and Lauren sure can
play and if you are lucky enough to hear them, they will touch you.
Once we get through this current madness, make sure you get along
to see them somewhere, or at least buy their album to listen to in
self-isolation! It will be all that you need.
https://www.salthousemusic.com/
Words and pic by DAN SLY / dansly69@gmail.com
Thanks to Thom at Sonic PR for sorting this out