Celtic Connections: Idlewild & De Rosa @ ABC

Quite possibly the first display of crowd surfing at Celtic Connections

Article by Neil Ferguson | 12 Mar 2007
The ABC isn't even half full as De Rosa take to the stage. Undeterred by the fact that the bars elsewhere in the complex are deemed more interesting, they slash and wail their way through a set that mixes up nuances of Muse and Interpol and even a little folk kick here and there, just to remind everyone that this is, after all, still the Celtic Connections Festival. They start on a pensive high, dip a little after three or four songs that verge on the formulaic but then startle by romping home to a triumphant close. Numbers begin to flow in from the bars downstairs and, as De Rosa's confidence grows, they leave an ever-growing applause with overwhelmed thanks.

The venue soon swells to its rafters as Idlewild hit the stage. Opening with 'Roseability' and launching straight into 'Little Discourage', the fact that this is technically a folk festival is forgotten long before the acoustic guitars are broken out. Relying heavily on 100 Broken Windows and The Remote Part, Idlewild inspire what is, quite possibly, the first ever display of en masse crowd surfing at Celtic Connections. Debuting four tracks from Make Another World, there's no room for a couple of live classics, but no one really notices and, as things move past the hour mark, the mid-set fag-break is all but forgotten. Tonight is Idlewild at their most confident. Seemingly tighter than ever, Woomble even pauses proceedings to replace the old mumbled thank yous with some much-needed banter. Idlewild may have played shows with more energy than this, but never quite with this much poise and self-belief. [Neil Ferguson]
http://www.idlewild.co.uk / www.wearederosa.com