St. Giles’ Cathedral was the setting for a candlelit performance by folk trio Lau on Tuesday night.
Traditional music’s celebrated innovators, Kris Drever (guitar, vocals), Martin Green (accordion) and Aidan O’Rourke (fiddle), stripped away their banks of electronics, loops and wild effects, for a performance less about spectacle and more about close listening and reflection. They came on to address the audience at the beginning to explain that they would not be speaking during the performance (but applause was allowed).
The audience packed the rows of seats at St. Giles’ Cathedral, illuminated by candles flickering with lights dimmed, enjoying the sound of Lau unplugged.
Although there was one big screen for people sitting towards the back of the High Kirk, there were few sightline to the performers who were on a very slightly raised stage, and the concert was billed as an atmospheric listening experience.
