The candles and warm lighting were the perfect setting for Colm Mac Con Iomaire and guests. Taking to the stage solo the Frames man commenced his set with the beguiling ‘Ghost Of Pickering Forest’ before launching into material from his wonderful solo confection Cuinne An Ghiorra.
Throughout the night he is joined by various musical luminaries including Dave Odlum, Rob Bochnik and brother and fellow violinist, Darach. Former Turn drummer Ian Meleady combined brushes, rimshots and bass drum sublimely to compliment each song.
Mac Con Iomaire is a delightful frontman, self-deprecating and entertaining, each song is preceded by a short explanatory note on its origin and each musical guest welcomed warmly. When he plays the violin he stares intently at the bow moving across the strings and sways to the aural magic that emanates and casts a spell on us all.
Set highlights included the compelling ‘Blue Shoes’, ‘Ronnie’s Theme’, which required some lung-challenging whistling from Colm and featured beautiful backing vocals from Cork pianist Catherine Fitzgerald and ‘The Waiting Room’ with its hypnotic looping melody.
With a uplifting ‘Time With Tell’ and an ‘Oiche Mhaith’ we reluctantly bid farewell. Beautiful.