EIF Review: Mànran

Scotland’s darling supergroup Mànran took their particular brand of exhilarating trad music into the intimate confines of the Edinburgh International Festival’s Hub this Saturday. The question on every lips: will Gary Innes, Kim Carnie, and Ewen Henderson prise the great washed of Edinburgh from their comfy sofas and elegant plywood stalls?

The answer was eventually, and I like to think I played a wee part in that, not being shy of taking to my feet when the music calls. Even short their bespoke Uilleann Piper Ryan Murphy, and with an (outstanding) stand-in drummer, the band know how to bring the party. Innes has a charismatic, affable presence right for any audience. Nothing less should be expected of the man who took over from the legendary Robbie Shepherd on BBC Radio Scotland’s venerable ‘Take the Floor’.

Opting for more playing and less talking, the band didn’t stop to name most of the tracks they plucked from past albums. Erring towards high-energy reels and jigs, interspersed with a few ‘rest’ songs (as in any good Ceilidh), they impressed from the get-go. Highlights included a great rendition of their 2017 hit ‘Parallels’, whilst Henderson’s vocals remain nimble in the iconic ‘Oran na Cloiche’. However, Manran were great before Carnie, but they are even better with her now.

“…Mànran proved they can bring the Ceilidh to any space.”

With Kim in the centre position, the crowd were treated to a super ‘Ailean’, her lilting vocals haunting the continually escalating track. Conversely ‘Crow Flies’ has distinctly drive-time vibes, and made for some bop-along-in-your seat relief.

Filmed Live with Permission

There was even space for a small sing-along – carefully kept till near the end of the concert once the audience’s inhibitions were lowest. Carnie led a lovely rendition of ‘San Cristobal’, and the assembled suits and boots, plus playful Festival venue staff joined in gladly every chorus.

Tireless and full of cheer, Mànran proved they can bring the Ceilidh to any space. Where other big bands might have been tempted to do something ‘acoustic’ they stuck to their big, powerful, Celtic party roots. It’s wonderful to see these champions of Scotland’s traditional music scene front and centre of Edinburgh’s International Festival.