We were privileged to have Norrie ‘Tago’ MacIver at Over Hulton Folk Club, promoting his new album.
PERSONAL AND LYRICAL
Since his departure from Skipinnish, Norrie continues to pave his way through the folk scene performing solo. A lively start saw the invitation Will You Dance, which although not accepted by the audience, the opportunity to joyfully join in vocally was. This must have been an encouraging start for his first visit to the well attended Folk night at Over Hulton.
His new album was given a much appreciated preview. An album which is a personal recollection of important times in his life and none more memorable than meeting his wife, which here called in Island girl.
LESSONS IN GAELIC
Throughout the night the audience revelled in being taught some Gaelic. In a more ballad song we learnt how to say Here Is My Hand, Here Is My Heart. The language may sound sometimes indecipherable to the Lancashire ear but he proved that Gaelic has a musical flow making it easier to sing than speak. The rhythmic vocal quality of Song Of The Stone bing the proof in the pudding as it paced along at a fair lick.
His songs are often have an anthemic quality and often related to events in his family’s life. His song painting interesting pictures of a crofter’s life and memories of being on his Grandfather’s knee in the loom sheds, were evoked in the songs The Weaver’s Hands and Harris Tweed.There was an emotional ending to the first set when he sang a tribute to friends lost at sea. He was overcome with emotion as long time memories were recalled but he bravely soldiered on.
FAMILY MEMORIES
Again family memories were the focus in Black And White Pictures, a song inspired by finding old family photographs under his grandmother’s bed. This resonated well with the audience who recollected learning about their family from old photographs stashed away for years. There was a mathematical anomaly in the song One And One Makes Six from which he had confused his young children he told us, who themselves had amusing retorts to this lyric.
Jumping on seeing an audience member sporting a Runrig top, he sang Every River which the many Runrig fans cheerily joined in. More Gaelic was learnt when singing “keep ahold, take hold” and by now we were becoming quite fluent and confident Gaelic singers.
The ever popular Wild Mountain Thyme revealed his traditional roots. His warm voice had been a main feature of his performance tonight no more so when he sang Sing Me Home with minimal guitar at first but when the pace gathered there was a jauntier strumming and beat. His final song delivered with a touch of country rock. Mama Rock Me had a practically complete audience participation, ending the evening on an upbeat mood.
MUCH TRAVELLED
His encore replicated his much travelled career when he sang, “I’ll be walking these shores all my days and with you by my side I’ll be walking all the way.” Although obviously intended to be for a much loved partner, it could easily be applied to his audience tonight who shared his hope that he will return to OHFC in the future.
It was an encouraging turn out tonight for our OHFC hosts and Corrie will be hoping for a repeat next November when she launches her much awaited new album Daughters Of The North in November
Norrie ‘Tago’ MacIver: Website
At The Barrier: Facebook /Instagram/ X