Fionn Regan live review

Trinity was set with tables, chairs and tea lights for this performance. The ambience was warm and intimate and the audience were young and soft-spoken; in all, a most agreeable evening's entertainment.

Louise and The Pins sang their country-tinged, harmony enriched songs with a lot of style and a friendly reception from an attentive crowd. It's unusual for a tour to have such a well-considered balance in the support slot and this vocal trio fitted the bill perfectly.

Fionn Regan had a very positive response to his first album, The End of History, followed by a bit of backlash against the second, the band-enhanced Shadow Empire. Tonight we were back to a tousled, lone troubadour show: one man on stage playing acoustic guitars and singing distinctive, poetic songs in a rich melodious voice. New songs from his third opus, 100 Acres of Sycamore, dominated the show with three in a row to open and a couple as encores. Be Good Or Be Gone from The End of History got the biggest shout but all the new songs were well-received. From Shadow Empire only the disturbing and powerful Violent Demeanour was performed. For me, it was the striking high point, a stark expression of something personal and real.

Given the minimal one guitar/one voice show, Regan did very little outside the songs themselves to engage with his audience. The crowd nevertheless was content with the deal. He's a very serious artist who pours his poetic spirit into the songs themselves, giving little of himself away between them. "I've always had a thing for dangerous women" was a notably strong line from new song, Sow Mare Bitch Vixen, which also stood out for its deep guitar tuning and consequent bass line. Hunters Map and Put A Penny In The Slot from The End Of History were also highlights of an enjoyable evening.

Sam Saunders

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