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Blue Rose Code

Venue: Voodoo Rooms
Town: Edinburgh
Date: 2/10/14
Website: http://bluerosecode.com

Blue Rose Code is London-based singer-songwriter Ross Wilson. He returned to his Edinburgh roots on 2nd October to play the Voodoo Rooms (just a couple of miles up the road from his native Leith) as part of an Autumn tour. This was to have been a tour featuring the legendary double bassist Danny Thompson but Danny was sadly unable to undertake this due to illness. Although disappointed and, of course, concerned for his collaborator and friend Danny, Ross Wilson moved swiftly to assemble a touring band, which has gelled and excelled so quickly that they are likely to form the nucleus of the line-up which will go into the studio next year to record the third Blue Rose Code album.

Two of the band members are also solo artists and Ross Wilson generously gave them the opportunity to showcase their songs in short support sets. First up was Wrenne (Eliza Wren Payne), a singer-songwriter from Utah, who is now based in the Midlands. Possessed of a quietly compelling stage presence, Wrenne's mellow, jazzy vocals impressed on a selection of elegant acoustic songs. These were mostly self-penned, although the undoubted highlight was a mesmerising cover of Steven Merrit's "The Book Of Love". Clearly a versatile artist, Wrenne informed us that she is also putting the finishing touches to an album of electro-pop songs.

Next up was MG Boulter, a singer-songwriter who is also a member of the band The Lucky Strikes. Informing us that he hails from Southend (with two "effs"!), MG treated us to a clutch of his wryly entertaining country-folk songs and some impressive acoustic guitar-picking. MG was an amusing raconteur and his songs were beautifully-observed vignettes which shone a light on the extraordinary facets of ordinary people and everyday life.

After a brief interval, the Blue Rose Code five-piece received thunderous acclaim from the jam-packed audience as they came onstage (Ross Wilson would later comment on Facebook that "We couldn't have fit another pair of a**e cheeks in the Voodoo Rooms"!). The sense of anticipation and excitement was palpable as Ross Wilson informed us that it was National Poetry Day 2014 and then launched, fittingly, into his hypnotic setting to music of Robert Frost's poem "Acquainted With The Night", which segued seamlessly into the gospel fervour of "Silent Drums", propelled along by Nico Bruce's rumbling double bass. With two critically-acclaimed albums to his name (2013's "North Ten" and the recent "The Ballads Of Peckham Rye"), Blue Rose Code now has a wealth of material to draw on and both albums were well-represented in the course of the set.

The country/americana vibes of the breezy "The Right To Be Happy", the raw and cathartic "One Day At A Time" and the tantalising changes of pace of the outstanding "Boscombe Armistice" all showcased the expert pedal steel and lap steel guitar work of MG Boulter. Ross Wilson's stunning lyricism and poetic imagery were evident in the gracefully romantic "Come The Springtime" and his affectionate and bittersweet tribute to his native city, "Edina" (would you forgive me, what do you say, Edina?"). Both of these ballads featured the mellow and soulful end of Ross Wilson's vocal range, delivered in what Karine Polwart has described as a "gorgeous Edinburgh burr". It should be added that Wrenne's delicate supporting vocals complemented Ross's singing beautifully.

Lyle Watt's mandolin chops shone in a quicksilver solo on the punchy and uplifting "True Ways Of Knowing", an iconic Norman MacCaig poem set to Ross Wilson's music. There was a further nod to National Poetry Day with a brand new song; a setting to music of the Hugh MacDiarmid poem "Scotland", whose theme of reconciliation seemed to Ross Wilson to be particularly pertinent in this post Scottish Independence Referendum period. This song featured a haunting melody and a gently hummed chorus, which the audience participated in to spellbinding effect.

There was audience participation of a more raucous nature on the choruses of the joyful "Julie" and it appeared that the Edinburgh audience might even have out-sung its Glasgow counterparts from the previous night's gig.....The set closed with the rousing and anthemic "Oh North", one of a number of songs which raised the hairs on the back of my neck.

There had to be an encore after such an awesome set and this began with just Ross and Wrenne on stage, harmonising beautifully on another impressive new song, "My Heart, The Sun". Things moved up a gear with the signature song "Ghosts of Leith", which references a troubled period in Ross's earlier life and featured spirited mandolin playing from Lyle Watt. The show ended on a real high with a blistering performance of "(This Is Not A) Folk Song", with a raw, passionate vocal from Ross, prodigious double bass from Nico and some truly outstanding acoustic blues guitar licks from Lyle (this young Edinburgh-based guitarist has proved to be a real find).

Ross Wilson is regarded by many respected music critics as a highly-talented singer-songwriter and guitarist. Equally impressive for me is the energy, passion and commitment he brings to his live performances. He engages his audiences with great warmth, honesty and directness and the affection and respect he transmits is reflected back at him by his loyal fans. Indeed, Ross affectionately refers to the Blue Rose Code fans as 'the lovers' and I'm proud to be among their steadily growing number. Come on, climb on board the Blue Rose Code bandwagon and join us on this exhilarating journey.....

David Ferguson

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Helping Musicians Get Heard!!