It’s the end of the week, and to mark no more work for two days, a crowd of just over 1000 are crammed into Manchester Academy 2 for an ambient night of Scandinavian folk at the hands of legendary Faroese singer; Eivor. Bringing us live renditions off her phenomenal new album Enn. This show tonight is different to what I’d normally go to. Academy 2 is normally host to various kinds of punk and metalcore bands so it’s nice to be going out of my comfort zone to witness a completely different style of music.
The crowd in attendance were a good mix of all ages, ranging from the younger crowd who know of Eivor through her work on God of War or The Last Kingdom, or the older members of the crowd who discovered her through the likes of Jools Holland.
From the get go, the crowd settles into the night of frivolities to watch the opening act, Norwegian instrumentalist; Sylvaine, performing solo this evening as she’d normally be accompanied by a full band. Her music is very similar to that of Eivor but it is equally as ethereal. It sets a calm and relaxing tone for the night as the crowd is taken across the vast Scandinavian landscapes through music. The music itself is incredibly atmospheric and relaxing, her vocals are soft and gentle. It’s the perfect way to wind down after a busy week at work.
Her set was unfortunately cut short due to an emergency in the crowd, but once dealt with, her performance continued. Bringing her support slot to a close, she sang a stunning rendition of a traditional folk song; Eg Er Framand. It was a stunning display of vocal ability and skill that wouldn’t feel amiss being sung by a roaring fire in an old Viking hall. For this, the whole crowd fell silent to bask in the soundwaves of her song, something I’ve never experienced before and only added to the unique and wonderful nature of it all.
Shortly after 9pm, the lights dropped and the crowd fell deathly silent to the point where you could hear a pin drop. Eivor took to the stage with lighting forming angelic wings behind her that matched her equally angelic voice. The rest of the night was a beautiful display which was easily one of the best concerts I’ve been to all year. Performing her new album in its entirety we are treated to an utterly stunning display. Her voice goes from a vibrato and down to a baritone effortlessly. It’s almost impossible to pick a favourite song that features on the setlist tonight songs such as Ein Klóta, Hugsi bert um teg and Skyscrapers are just as stunning as the next one.
However, it is the two tracks Trøllabundin and Upp Úr Øskuni that are the main highlights of the night. Both tracks bombard our senses and take us back to the bygone age of the Vikings. Each track allows Eivor to show off her raw talent by using the ever impressive style of throat singing she uses in both songs, allowing her voice to be part of the percussion section. Trøllabundin is a song in particular I’ve wanted to see live for years, so to finally do so was an absolute pleasure.
Both Eivor and her backing band were on top form throughout the night, there wasn’t a bum note or misplayed instrument throughout the night, everything was succinct and masterfully played. Her backing band was just as incredible as Eivor herself. You felt every note from the pounding drums and the deep synths reverberate through your body as they were able to blend the contemporary music styles with the ancient folk on display throughout. It was a well natured show, the crowd were respectful by staying quiet to marvel at the musical talent on display and brought plenty of laughs when attempting a call and response in Faroese.
Overall, the whole evening was a beautiful experience from start to finish. The concert itself wasn’t a show, but more of a performance. Eivor’s connection with her music seeped through the crowd in an infectious way who were all enthralled by the magic of what was happening on stage. If you ever get a chance to see her, you should absolutely do so, it will be one of the better decisions you make when watching live music. A 10/10 show from start to finish!
Words by Ed Walton
Photos by Melanie Smith
