Highland fling meets punk-rock pogo: what a blast!

Peatbog Faeries

at Arlington Arts

on Friday, November 3

Review by BRIAN HARRINGTON

BASED on the Isle of Skye, the Peatbog Faeries are a multi-award winning seven-piece Celtic fusion band who formed in 1991 and have become one of Scotland’s best known names in contemporary folk music.

Known for their party atmosphere live shows, it was no surprise that a part-standing, part-seated Arlington Arts was jam-packed.

Bringing a dizzying selection of instruments on stage the Faeries demonstrated their multi-instrumental abilities (even the keyboard player stepped away to play saxophone) from the word go.

They are currently on tour supporting their latest album I See A World, released in September.

Opening with the superb The Jesster (yes, that is how it is spelled on the album) their largely instrumental compositions continued with Darcy’s and a minimum of between-track chatter, by which time the crowded standing section of the audience was heaving in what can only be described as a combination of highland fling and punk-rock pogo.

Very appropriate given that the Faeries blend traditional highland folk melodies with a host of influences from other genres including jazz, rock and pop.

They included Tom At The Front, a track inspired by international touring in their van, the excellent Spiders and Ann Robertson’s Kitchen, all before the break.

After the interval, they ramped the party feel up to the max with tracks like The Poozies Visit To Carbost, Strictly Sambuca and Scots On The Rocks, the audience loved it.

Fair to say that nobody left without a smile on their face.

A good-time gig that absolutely lived up to the reputation of this exceptional band of consummate musicians, a fact confirmed by the roaring trade at the merch stand and the line eager to meet the band at the end.

Celtic fun delivered in spades.