James Yorkston & The Athletes @ The Liquid Room

What's the time in the real world? asks James Yorkston near the end of the night. Don't let the folk tag fool you - this was pure soul music and ours were taken to another time and place by Yorkston's fiery vocals and fingerpicking, with exemplary accompaniment from Athletes Doogie Paul (double bass/backing vocals) and Reuben Taylor (accordion). Much of the set was from wondrous new album 'Year of the Leopard', as well as a couple of traditional folk tunes and old favourites including The Surf Song which, the night before in Aberdeen, had inspired a girl to act out the words "you took off all your clothes and dived into the sea" (he jokingly implored us not to repeat this). As we left with the stunning I Awoke in our heads, a girl at the bus stop asked "what's the real time?" as if she knew we still hadn't come back down to earth. [Milo McLaughlin]