Ibibio Sound Machine @ St Luke's, Glasgow, 22 Nov

It’s a slow but quietly assured build up as Ibibio Sound Machine arrive on stage – cymbals crash, conga and bass pulsate as they open up with Electricity. Frontwoman Eno Williams is on charismatic form, holding us rapt as she guides us through the song – animated, gesturing playfully, and as the song builds, jerking her hands to her chest as if channeling that very same electricity. Reedy flutes and saxophone punctuate as the song reach its crescendo – it’s this trademark blending of funk-infused Afrobeat, with disco and electronic elements that make Ibibio Sound Machine such a unique stand-out act.

This much is evident as the energy continues to flow into next track, The Talking Fish. This takes us back to Ibibio’s debut album, where big, brassy sounds dominate: saxophonist Max Grunhard, trumpeter Scott Baylis and trombonist Tony Hayden shine through here. Alongside them, Williams belts out the lyrics in the tonal Ibibio language of which the band draws its name: there is an inherent melodiousness to her lyricism that reaches across genre, style and geographies. It would be difficult for any heaviness on your spirit to not feel alleviated, at least not even a little bit, as the band radiate joy. Indeed, the crowd are dancing, moving, and singing along in time – there’s a lightness that cuts through this fog-soaked winter night.

Image: Ibibio Sound Machine by Sean Bruce Monteith

Indeed, it's this spirit that really defines tonight – the eight-piece band have a natural harmony and chemistry between them, and each member is given a chance to shine. Joy can be an act of defiance in the face of hardship: Williams frames infectiously energetic track Give Me a Reason midway through the set as a response to the horrors faced by women in society (the song itself was written as a response to the horrific 2014 kidnapping of schoolgirls by Boko Haram in Nigeria).

Given this, the upbeat tone might seem out of place at first – but it tells a tale of refusing to have your spirit be extinguished, and shows the power of creativity, connection and joy to stand in rebellious defiance against that which seeks to do us harm. 'Why can’t we be free?' asks Williams of us. The end of the song dissolves until only drums (José Joyette) and congo (Anselmo Netto) remain, the beats guiding us into the next songs without pause.

Perhaps the highlight of the night comes at its very close, though: when the band are naturally pulled back onto stage for a rousing encore. They perform an extended, primarily instrumental piece, where each section of the band have a solo spot to shine: it feels like a party that we’ve all been invited to, and Williams at many points loses herself to the music, her magnetism as frontwoman in full exuberant display. If you get the chance to catch Ibibio Sound Machine on tour, absolutely go; one of the most fun, unique and engaging live music experiences around, you’d be hard pressed not to have a great time.