Joshua Burnside @ Saint Luke's, Glasgow, 23 Jan
Tonight's Joshua Burnside show offers a small glimpse of something greater in the periphery. It's one of those special Glasgow nights; songs and storms and magic and all
There’s a storm brewing out in the dark of the Atlantic as Joshua Burnside walks on stage to a positively heaving crowd at Glasgow’s Saint Luke’s. A part of the Celtic Connections schedule, Burnside is here a little over a month ahead of the release of Teeth of Time, his first new album in four years, and a much-anticipated return from the Belfast singer-songwriter.
Just a few hours later, Storm Éowyn will send the country into near-lockdown, but for tonight its heart beats with a beautiful, communal warmth; Burnside filling this old church with the kind of energy that drifts through these hallowed walls and long into the Glasgow night. With that new album arriving in late February, there’s understandably a focus on those new songs but, backed by a full band, Burnside leads us through a wholesome spread of songs from across his back catalogue.
Burnside’s work has always skirted the edges of varying moods and traditions, a kind of subtly experimental take on traditional folk textures. That balancing act is on full display tonight. Gentle acoustic songs, woven together by gorgeous cello, are met with skewed sampled sounds, small flourishes of crooked noise held together, for just a moment, at the point of collapse. There are plenty of jovial singalongs too. The otherwise understated Whiskey Whiskey – a highlight of both tonight and his wider catalogue, all pent-up angst and wry reflection – is underpinned with crowd-participating backing vocals that brings the whole night together.
Image: Joshua Burnside @ Saint Luke's, Glasgow, 23 Jan by Tom Johnson
Elsewhere, hearty cheers are thrown out from the crowd at the mention of Glasgow on Marching Round the Ladies, a trad-leaning stomper of a song from the forthcoming album. 'Follow him up to Glasgow / Where they drink ‘till three or four', Burnside sings. The reception is even more enthusiastic just a couple of short verses later, however: 'Doesn’t matter where you’re from, the Tories fuck us all', he bellows into the many raised pint glasses.
There’s a space for older favourites too – stirring renditions of Holllllogram and Under the Concrete, plus a rapturous, heart-thumping War On Everything – while Laura Quirke of support band Lemoncello joins for a couple of songs from their 2021 collaborative EP, her striking voice lending even further enchantment to the evening.
On the cusp of a brand new chapter, tonight is buoyed by that woozy feeling of standing on the precipice, a small glimpse of something greater in the periphery. You can feel it in the warmth of the crowd, see an extra little shine in the eyes. It’s one of those special Glasgow nights; songs and storms and magic and all.
Celtic Connections runs across various venues in Glasgow until 2 Feb