We had a super time at Brel on Monday 27th October, when Southern Tenant Folk Union, played there. Everyone of our happy little gang was enthralled by their Bluegrass beats and our new Spanish, Italian and Australian friends felt as though they had taken a trip to Arkansas rather than Glasgow's West End. The band (Oliver Talkes - Vocals/Guitar, Pete Gow - Vocals/Guitar, Roddy Neilson - Vocals/Fiddle, Matt Lloyd - Vocals/Double Bass, Eamonn Flynn - Vocals/Mandolin, Pat McGarvey - Vocals/Banjo) is London based but the multi-talented members hail from different parts of England and Scotland and was formed by Belfast born, banjo player, Pat McGarvey.

Issi was charmed because there seemed to be a sound political base to the music but the rest of us mainly got caught up in their great songs and rousing performance. The night flew in and had a particularly moving ending as the band made their way to the centre of the room, where they finished off with a couple of acoustic numbers. They sure know how to entertain and create an atmosphere.

I particularly enjoyed the finger picking sound of 'Down to the Riverside' and the harmonies on 'Her Love's Gone Cold' - also the song they started with 'Cocaine', which they have releasd as a single.

They were very generous in their praise for Jim, who along with Graham MacIntosh, got the audience in the mood, opening for Southern Tenant Folk Union.

I'm sure the band with have an excellent in Europe as they are due to set off to tour with gigs in Amsterdam, Cologne, Bremen and Berlin. However, they'll be back in Scotland on 21st January, 2009, when they'll be performing at Edinburgh Folk Club at the Pleasance Cabaret Bar. Hope they make it back to Glasgow again soon.

www.myspace.com/southerntenantfolkunion
myspace jim byrne

Pat Byrne, October 2008.