Basia Bulat @ The Admiral

Intimacy often makes for the best concerts. Shows like Sufjan Stevens at Mono or Camera Obscura at Potter Row are exalted because fans have caught great artists at the cusp of indie stardom, and Basia Bulat at The Admiral could prove to be no different. The hum of a cello falls across a crowd of less than thirty, followed by flutes, soft violins, electric guitars and one of the finest voices to ever have travelled from London, Ontario. On their first international tour, nervousness is expected, but, after larger shows and tougher crowds opening for The Great Lake Swimmers, the band play a strong set with a natural confidence. When Basia Bulat returns to Scotland the venues will surely be larger, tickets will probably sell out and the buzz could prove deafening. But if this show and the album are any indication, we should all be waiting with baited breath. [Hamza Khan]