***** WOMEN ON TOP

Review of Women in Harmony, 21 August 2008

There's a sign at an Edinburgh pub called The Rule which says 'Live Music – no mikes, no amps'. It could say 'no talent either' – it's an amateur's night. But no fears on that front for this evening at the St Bride's Centre. Karine Polwart, Annie Grace and Corrina Hewat make traditional music both touching and inspiring.

Arrange a babysitter for your Edinburgh apartment so you can enjoy being lullabied yourself. That's a new word by the way. Karine Polwart, former winner of the BBC Traditional Songwriter of the Year, sang one of her compositions, a gaelic-influenced piece, written for her wee boy.

One of the highlights was Corrina Hewat's harp playing, a clever response to her husband's (sadly not unique) style of male dancing. But the real star turn was the harmonising of these 3 performers, managing to blend several pop songs together, sing melodic rounds and overall massage the audience's ears. Annie Grace's bagpipes were outranked by her skills on another instrument, the whistle.

Performing with humour and warmth, the trio expertly illuminated the links between modern and traditional music, putting their distinctive voices to good use.

In summary: catch them if you can. If not, why not try looking on www.myspace.com/girlytrio

by Sue, from Scotland


***** FIVE STARS Women in Harmony 24 Aug 2008
reviewer: Arthur and Bette Ellis, Scotland
Fantastic as group singers or individually. The voices plus range of instruments made for a fantastic evening. Very well worth listening to!


***** FIVE STARS FOR TRIO 30 Aug 2008
reviewer: Christian Kett, England
I was recommended this group by a friend who had seen them two years ago, and I was not disappointed. What a wonderful evening of songs and music I had never heard before. All three performers were new to me, and each captured my heart in their own distinctive way, to the point that i had to buy all their cds, and am waiting impatiently for the trio cd. I was very glad to be able to take even a little bit of them all home. And now I recommend them to you. As a previous reviewer has said "catch them if you can".