The latest in news from the cultural universe
Just For Culture
  • Home
  • Art & Literature
  • Music
  • Day & Nightlife
  • Film & TV
  • About Us & Contact

Live Review: Bella and the Bear, Celtic Connections, Glasgow, Broadcast, 27 January 2017

30/1/2017

0 Comments

 
We first caught duo Bella and the Bear when they took to the stage at The High Flight, a spoken word and music night in Glasgow.

Given that they were on before lyrical master and all-round creative genius Kate Tempest, it’s a credit to them that their performance was one of the most memorable of the night. So, we were super keen to get along to see their own headline show as part of Celtic Connections on January 27.

The venue was Broadcast, which if you’ve not been to before is a little basement bar on Sauchiehall Street. It’s a stage not dissimilar to Edinburgh’s Henry’s Cellar Bar, but slightly bigger and with a larger bar upstairs. Given our love for slightly shit basement bars (cheap beer, good people and good music seem to be a theme that runs with the basement), we were off to a good start.

Bella and the Bear didn't disappoint. Consisting of Stuart Ramage (vocals, guitar) and Lauren Gilmour (vocals, keyboard), the duo served up a live performance interspersing raw musical talent with thought-provoking lyrics and spoken word. 
Melodies wrap around rhythmic storytelling, at times dream-filled, at others cutting.

It’s clear that they’re both incredibly talented musicians. Stuart's guitar work is intricate but subdued and sparing. And the words are as strong as the vocals, which contrast one-another well, something made good use of throughout their setlist.
A particular highlight was ‘Haunt’ which saw Lauren’s keys and interspersed vocals lead a particularly impassioned soundtrack. A strong spoken word segment during the song added an extra line of focus, while a similar entry in ‘Rain’ showcased the creativity of the group further – each instrument and vocal aligned perfectly around one another.

Speaking of which, spoken word/hip-hop support act C R P N T R joined Bella and the Bear on stage for a couple of engaging numbers too, reading verses under, over and in between the lyrics and strings, which also involved a violinist named Alison (whose second name I unfortunately do not know… sorry!). They formed quite the ensemble.

The end result was an entertaining, emotive showcase boasting an abundance of musical precision, originality and enticing Scottish talent. Well worth the trip from Edinburgh, even if that did mean darting away at the finish to catch a train back, only to have to sit on the luggage rack because all the seats were full. Sigh.

Stuart K
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Music

    Bringing you the latest music news, features and opinions from the JFC mind

    Archives

    May 2021
    February 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    June 2018
    April 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    June 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    June 2013

    Categories

    All
    2013
    2014
    2015
    Abandon Ship
    Aberdeen
    Album
    Alex Metric
    Alternative
    Austin Carlile
    Band
    Becky Hill
    Beyonce
    Biffy
    Biffy Clyro
    Blackened Sky
    Blog
    Bono
    Broken Social Scene
    Calvin Harris
    Camden
    Charlie Simpson
    Chart
    Chris Martin
    CHVRCHES
    Clyro
    Coldplay
    Dance
    Dangermouse
    D&B
    Deadmau5
    Decade
    Drum And Bass
    Dublin
    EDM
    Ella Eyre
    Exclusive
    Festival
    Full Crate
    Gecko
    Genre
    Ghost Stories
    Giorgio Moroder
    Girl Friend
    Glasgow
    God Level
    Gorgon City
    Gwyneth Paltrow
    Handguns
    Heart To Heart
    Hit The Lights
    House
    Hudson Mohawke
    If I Go
    Indie
    Infinity Land
    Innovative
    Interview
    In The Lonely Hour
    Ireland
    ITunes
    Jesse Glynne
    Jess Glynne
    JproD
    Jurassic 5
    Kanye-west
    Kilmainham
    Kings
    King-tuts
    King-tuts020c7650de
    Knife Party
    Latest
    Liquid Room
    Little Matador
    Little Mix
    Live
    Live Review
    Living Without You
    London
    McBusted
    Mentirosa
    Metric
    MK
    Monarchy
    Money On My Mind
    Motion
    Music
    Myspace
    Neck Deep
    New
    New Music
    News
    New Wave
    Of Mice & Men
    Oliver $
    Oliver Heldens
    Online
    Only Revelations
    OPM
    Opposites
    Overdrive
    Paloma Faith
    Paul Epworth
    PAWS
    Pendulum
    Pop
    Pop Punk
    Pop-Punk
    Punk-Rock
    Puzzle
    Rating
    Reasons
    Remi
    Remix
    Review
    Ric Ocasek
    Rivers Cuomo
    Rob Swire
    Rock
    Royal Hospital
    Rudimental
    Ryan Tedder
    Sam Smith
    Scotland
    Scottish
    Simon Neil
    Single
    Singles
    Slam Dunk
    Sleep Deprived
    Social Network
    Songs Of Innocence
    Soul
    Synthpop
    Technology
    The 1975
    The Pierces
    The Story So Far
    The Xcerts
    Tour
    Twin Atlantic
    U2
    Video
    Wah Wah Hut
    We Are The In Crowd
    Website
    Weezer
    Xcerts
    Yeezus
    Youth Culture Forever

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.