“Ailie Robertson’s Two for Joy enjoyed a warm reception having offered some genuinely sensational blendings of word and song.” Edinburgh Tradfest 2023’s Special Commission hits some high notes.
📍 Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh
📅 1st May 2023
🕖 Running time: 2 hours 15 minutes (one interval)
👥 Featuring: Ailie Robertson
👥 With artists: Neil Sutcliffe, Alice Allen, Alastair Savage, Kathleen MacInnes, Heather Cartwright
👥 Hosted by: Douglas Robertson
🎂 Parental Discretion
🎭 Wheelchair Accessible Venue, Wheelchair Accessible Toilets, Audio Induction Loop
The evening of May 1st 2023 saw this year’s Edinburgh Tradfest Special Commission take the Traverse stage. However, before that came the annual performance of the Edinburgh Youth Gaitherin (EYG) Big Band. The concept is simple and not a little terrifying: an open call to young musicians 10-18 to join the EYG Big Band, 3 days only of rehearsals, and then to stage at the Traverse.
First attempted successfully last year, it was the turn of a new group of doughty youngsters to take the stage with fiddles, badgpipes, Uilleann pipes, and guitars to warm up the packed crowd in anticipation for the big show. Bravo then to these brave musicians who did themselves proud, and mastered their nerves to deliver a fabulous, compact set of traditional tunes. Each had a chance to shine, and took it. Clearly the expert, and experienced mentorship of Lori Watson, Phil Alexander, and Tom Oakes, paid dividends.
Then it was time for harpist and accordionist Ailie Robertson to present a most singular concert with the aid of Neil Sutcliffe (accordion, vocals and storytelling), Alice Allen (cello), Alastair Savage (fiddle), Kathleen MacInnes (vocals), Heather Cartwright (guitar).
This abundantly talented group duly presented a programme of music, poetry & reflections in celebration of Scottish birdlife. Songs old and new, stories and myth were tied together with brief reflections on the ecological and cultural importance of birds from Robertson’s organising mind. Whilst the performance overall would have benefited from a little more structure, there was never a lack of quality. The theme was strong with Two for Joy, but in curating such a diverse piece of theatre, a little more attention to form would pay dividends.
There was a thrill in the air whenever MacInnes took the lead, be it in melodious imitation of Cuckoo – Oran Bràigh Rùsgaich, Redshank – Pilliù Pillill, or Blackbird – Julie Fowlis’s Lon Dubh. However the ensemble hit their high point once Sutcliffe began to flex his storytelling muscles. The synergy betwixt the story of how the Wren became ‘King of the Birds’ and a sensational group rendition of Karine Polwart’s beautiful song of the same name, offered a long, transcendant moment.
Cartwright gave a truly heartfelt performance to lead that song, and it was a long, shared sigh before the Traverse audience emerged from the spell to give a deserving cheer. That sense of wonder was carried over into Sutcliffe’s next story, learned from Duncan Williamson, of ‘The Hunchback and the Swan’. In this, both his and MacIness’s vocal gifts combined to create genuine storytelling magic.
If this production were to be developed further, it would be in leaning into this alchemy between word and music that Two for Joy might aspire to even greater success. Nonetheless there were other bright spots, not least Savage’s brightly prettty & self-penned ‘Hawk Hill’, and Alice Allen’s continually versatile hand with the Cello providing melody, percussion, and welcome sass. Robertson also continually demonstrates her skill with the harp, a suitably ethereal presence in pursuit of avian spirit.
All in all this was a fine night of music and spoken word which created a gala atmosphere. Where many stage experiments die in ignominy or worse, ignored, Ailie Robertson’s Two for Joy enjoyed a warm reception having offered some genuinely sensational blendings of word and song.
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