Eriska display dazzling array of styles
After a busy schedule at the Carse of Gowrie venue, Inchyra Arts Club, new talent was very much in evidence on Monday, July 8 as the folk fusion sextet Eriska rocked the byre to its foundations with an astonishingly accomplished set.
This was an entirely instrumental show with most of the tunes drawn from their recently released and brilliantly listenable album‘At the wrong gig’, with a few brand new numbers thrown in for good measure.
Eriska consists of Scott Higgins on pipes and whistles, Aileen Sweeney on accordion and keyboard and Madeleine Stewart on fiddle and keyboard.
They get wonderfully lively and varied Eriska
backing from Julian Pombo on bass and Gavin Patterson on drums and, as was revealed before the last tune, sound balance, which was immaculate throughout.
This left the guitar virtuoso Dario Palazzo to alternate between acoustic rhythm and electric lead.
The band’s multi-national roots were reflected in a startling array of styles and tunes.
They set the scene with‘Jaws the Pelican’ which reflected their youth and energy and with sensitive and haunting tunes like ‘The Sparrow’, interspersing the more raucous tunes , this proved to be a well balanced and self-assured performance.
The stand-outs often involved the lead guitar veering off into flights of fancy, with Dario channelling his inner Carlos Santana on the superb‘Two Weeks’and the jazz influenced‘Fiddle B’.
The band appeared supremely comfortable on all their various instruments and their writing talents were excellently displayed.
This was a rock band playing with folk leads but taking their influences from around the world and styles including Appalachian dances, Latin soul with a bit of syncopated jazz and hard rock.
A display of raw power at times with a few delightful rough edges, held together with wit and humour and a novel way of drawing attention to their merchandise.
The final tune‘Nae Pressure’was another tour de force driven by the bass, drums and guitar and given life by the pipes, fiddle and accordion.
A terrific night of prog folk, which I hope they will repeat soon.