Just to get things straight from the start, these are two separate acts rather than one ensemble. They are, however, both folk artists and their music of Celtic influence.
Hannah Rarity is a Glaswegean who has had the good taste to make her first visit to Leeds, and I certainly hope it will not be her last. She is predominantly a singer, but played a couple of tunes on her guitar, along with her accompanist for the evening, Innes White, also from The Dear Green Place. Mr White – wasn’t he in Reservoir Dogs? – teaches acoustic guitar and mandolin at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, as well as being a musician on over 40 albums. It was easy to see how he is so in demand, he was brilliant both on acoustic and electric versions of his instrument. Ms Rarity was no slouch either, on her acoustic, which, I noticed, was a four-stringed number.
Hannah Rarity and Innes White
The set was varied with traditional style songs as well as self-penned contemporary ones from her albums; Neath The Gloaming Star, To Have You Near and her EP, Beginnings. I have included a link to a live performance, also with Innes White, on which she sings, I’m Not Going Anywhere. In her introduction she quotes her father’s reaction to her work. https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=0087b02e22cc28fd&sxsrf=AHTn8zqCiIsAJeCrErOXe-th1s8uywelIg:1740925364612&q=Hannah+Rarity+age&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjotMCvzOuLAxVCVEEAHSy8AJIQ1QJ6BAhMEAE&cshid=1740925395352770&biw=877&bih=954&dpr=2#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:a95da1d5,vid:TOSAXL4lEho,st:0
I must say, that most of the songs we were treated to were fairly upbeat, my favourites being Another Leaving and Kaleidoscope. OK, they were a bit sad. She also managed to get the audience to join in with one of the songs, which was so good that everyone took part. A rare thing indeed.
She is on tour later this year and I recommend that you go see her if you get a chance. For full details please go to her website at https://www.hannahrarity.com/gigs and why not have a browse of the other sections while you are there.
If we thought that Ms Rarity’s songs were ‘reflective’, it was as nothing compared to those of The Breath, a duo, comprising Manchester-based guitarist, Stuart McCallum and singer/flautist Ríoghnach (pronounced Reeona) Connolly, who began the set by saying that after the upbeat performance of Hannah Rarity, we were in for an evening of miserable songs. She explained that she was, by profession, a Funeral Singer, well, I suppose that if Adam Sandler can be a Wedding Singer, there is no reason that there shouldn’t be someone to cater for the other reason families get together, go to church, drink too much and argue. I just hope that the guest of honour doesn’t join in the first dance!
The Breath – Stuart McCallum and Ríoghnach Connelly
Speaking of arguing, I had to check to see if the two musicians were married to each other – they aren’t – as they spent the evening either making each other laugh out loud, or rowing! Both had the audience well amused.
The music of The Breath was much more traditional in style, with the songs reflecting on the past, whether it be regarding ‘The Troubles’, and the safe place to where the family would escape in the countryside, Land of my Other, or earlier works which were just as personal.
Ms Connelly not only sang but also played the flute – an Irish wooden version – although obviously not at the same time. I think that this might have served another secondary purpose as it seemed to be grasped harder and brandished during one or two of the altercations.
Once again, I can only do justice to the evening by adding a link so that you can judge for yourself how great the two of them sound. This is The Land of My Other https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-7VQ9N8vVE See what I mean about the flute!
For more information about The Breath and details of their tour dates please go to https://realworldrecords.com/artists/the-breath/
Feature image from Opera North and photographs by Stan Graham
Tyke It To The Limit 