Miss Buckley, with a fellow troubadour in tow, arrived an elegant vision of black and red, a vagueish gypsy look to her soul. She set about a hot port (the drink of the night for many reasons as it turned out), before slipping into her set with a voice of velvet honey with the potential for quirk lingering at the edges. It's the quirk that sets Annette Buckley apart from other singers in the 'female singer/songwriter' genre bucket and what makes her such an attractive folk experience, with songs gently cloaked in oddment, subjects are approached from just the right oblique angle to make her stand out. Annette's voice is lush, her warm tones and strange little lilts and worshipping of her guitar as she loses herself as the chords ring out, setting the room up nicely for the night and, joined with the sweet harmonies of her fellow band mate, her set was a decidedly lovely thing, tinged with country, soft jazz, folk and Acapella Bjork.
Lowlek had arrived earlier in the evening all hair and youth and banter, with an Irish mammy who had the measure of The Ronald (our house heckler and poster designer) within about twenty seconds, "I'm with the band!" she said, but not in a cringey proud mammy way, in a way that implied that she was, indeed, with the band.. in fact, she had physically created two of the band members, pretty impressive stuff, particularly because the two band members in speaking were part of one of the most exciting bands we've had at The Medicine Sessions.
It's hard to articulate Lowlek. The two siblings front the band, with two other mates who cover the rhythm section (some seriously competent drums and funky as feck bass) Together, Lowlek make some of the best noises I've heard in a long time! Blaithín stands to the side of the stage, where there is room to let her spirit free from its shell as she performs. The last couple of months I've been delighted that the best performances at The medicine Sessions have been provided by women, not that I'm a feminist, but I am a wrong side of thirty female and the fact that these women can and do kick the guys arses when it comes to sheer expression and balls makes me feel quietly smug. Blaithín, exudes the sort of confidence on stage that is just breath-taking and her energy quite evidently drives on the rest of the band and brings out the best in them. Arran is no pushover either, stood behind a keyboard with a Strat attached at all times and alternating between shredding out squealing solos and riffs to adding quirky, organny synthy plinky plonks to some of the songs, as well as lending his voice too as a shared lead. Arran posesses a confident, intelligent, awkward charm which compliments Blaithín's in your face energy perfectly, there's no competition, both are at peace within the band and both are seriously talented and loving what they do. Liam and Paudy of the drums and bass also are integral, playing off each other and adding their own incredible musicianship to the Lowlek sound, the whole band gel, are instinctively tight and most importantly, have the fun…
Here is the Ronald, the Mammy & someone called Alan, standing on chairs and dancing.
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