Loading

Flossie Malavialle

Venue: Crail Folk Club
Town: Crail
Date: 23/10/14
Website: http://www.flossie-malavialle.co.uk

I have been aware of Flossie's work on the folk and acoustic circuit for a few years but this is the first time I have watched her perform live.

Flossie's voice lends itself to a diverse range of material and her choice of songs was certainly wide ranging at Crail Folk Club. From the traditional Irish song 'Teddy O'Neill' via an upbeat Willie Nelson song to the tender 'From Fawney Cross' (written by Sam Starrett, Richard Laird and Tracy McRory) Flossie's set also included songs by Jacques Brel and the McGarrigle sisters. Whilst Flossie's material is undoubtedly varied there is a group of love songs interspersed amongst her set. The most convincing of these were Willie Nelson's 'On the Road Again' and Bonnie Raitt's 'The Road's my Middle Name' and Flossie's love of the road is as obvious as it is reciprocated.

Treading the fine line between singing well known songs and offering original interpretations of cover versions, Flossie demonstrated that there is an art to choosing the right songs to suit a voice. This was certainly a well chosen set for Crail Folk Club's audience and Flossie's repartee was confident and well-received. With the boldness typical of her performance, Flossie met comparisons with Edith Piaff head on with renditions of both 'Non, je ne regrette rien' and 'La Vie en rose' finishing the songs with a foot stomp and flamboyant strum.

Flossie's accent helps to set her versions apart from others as she naturally places different emphases within phrases. Yet the addition of ornaments and the warmth and richness of her voice is equally original and the strength of her voice endures to the end of each phrase.

Language plays a key role within Flossie's performance and she calls on the audience to participate in Irish, French, English and to interpret her Franglais cross County Durham accent. 'You know what I mean, like'. Flossie's performance was delivered with much humour. Finishing her rendition of 'What a Wonderful World' with an 'Oh yeh' Louis Armstrong would have been proud of was an obvious but charming addition.

Flossie prides herself in being able to connect with the songs she chooses despite not having written them herself. Flossie admits she does not consider herself a guitarist, rather as a singer who accompanies herself on guitar. The a cappella final chorus of Keith Donnelly's song 'Dark Horses Dancing' is a stand out moment of the gig and the encore of 'Mercedes Benz' accompanied only by the audience's hand and foot percussion was proof if it were needed of Flossie's status as a singer. It is clear that Flossie knows who she is as an artist and what her strengths are and these honest admissions serve only to endear her further to the audience.

Flossie is a powerhouse and a unique presence on the folk and acoustic scene. Her songs are delivered with an abundance of humour, humility and honesty.

My thanks also go to Crail Folk Club. This is Flossie's third performance at the club and they have supported her work since her first visit ten years ago. A chat with Gill from the club's committee reveals that she sees it as the club's role to provide opportunities for new performers on the scene. There were six floor spots each given their opportunity to share a diverse range of material with a respectful and full audience.

Louise Jordan

---

Helping Musicians Get Heard!!