Cara Dillon @ Old Fruitmarket

Between the noise of the rain battering the roof of the Old Fruitmarket and the near cattle-like stampedes coming from the upstairs gallery, getting to grips with Cara Dillon's songs is not an easy task. It also doesn't help that her band seem intent on drowning her out at every opportunity, although her powerful vocals do go some way to addressing this and making up for her wishy-washy stage presence and meandering, pointless chat. Her songs, all very Lord of the Rings by way of Simple Minds' Belfast Child, are sweet but lacking in substance, while a version of Black Is The Colour (Of My True Love's Hair) is done a disservice by overly intrusive percussion. Those who elected to stay indoors this evening probably got the better deal. [Paul Greenwood]