Julie Fowlis, and Jackie Oates open the first night of Sidmouth Folk Week

Queues form early for Jackie Oates' opening concert in the Ham marquee. Jackie's set is based around songs from her most recent album, Hyperboreans and includes the eponymous track which is well received. There is a sprinkling of new material, and a particularly soulful treat in the form of Paul Metser's 'IOU'. Jackie's rapport with the audience is ever engaging, whether getting us giggling with her stories, or proudly educating us about the origins of the Hyperboreans, who are a mystical race first described by the Greek philosopher, Herodotus. A healthy dose of misery in the from of 'Past Caring' draws us all in: heads bow, eyes are closed, here and there the odd sniffle is heard. 'May the Kindness' rounds off the set and it all ends in rapturous applause.

Julie Fowlis follows, and is introduced with the news that she has just been appointed a Gaelic ambassador. She performs entirely in Gaelic, but doesn't matter if you don't speak it: you get a clear explanation of each song. To be honest it wouldn't matter if you didn't speak English either: it all makes sense on a very fundamental level.

The language does seem to add an edge of drama and drive to the music, and the arrangements certainly supplement this. A particular highlight is when Julie succeeds in getting the audience to sing a chorus with her, in tune and in Gaelic. Her bodhran player deserves a mention too; the sheer range of sounds he gets from it have to be heard to be believed.

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