Hebridean Celtic Festival
Review: Bodega by Ruaraidh Mackay
Bodega, the Glasgow based five piece performed on the final night of the festival(Saturday) in front of a very appreciative crowd.
The band, consisting of Norrie Maciver (Carloway, Lewis), Gillian Chalmers (Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire), Ross Couper (Shetland), Tia Files (Oban) and June Naylor (Uig, Isle of Skye) have an upbeat folk style sounding very unique at the Festival.
Bodega kicked off Saturdays festival in some style, performing a number of their tracks from the Bands debut album of the same name. “Crooked Jack” was a melodic beat well received by new and old fans alike.
It was particularly great seeing this band in action up in Lewis, as a combination of five excellent musicians all performing as if they had many more albums in addition to their excellent debut.
Bodega’s rhythm inducing cover of Bob Dylan’s “Wagon Wheel” was an excellent highlight, with local Carloway boy Norrie Maciver dedicating it to Carloway football team and those from the district, many of whom were watching on Saturday. Obviously this was well received by a large portion of the crowd.
The band continued this good feeling as more spectators poured in from outside into the tent, with Bodega playing hypnotic tunes such as “The Stamping Ground” by Runrig, another former festival veteran. The band also showed their Gaelic folk roots by performing another well known Lewis traditional tune “Balaich an Iasgaich”, with the Gaelic speakers in the crowd cheering and stamping their feet enthusiastically to the song.
Bodega continued to impress as they showed a variety of the bands composing skills, with guitarist Tia Files composing a number of her own tracks to which the band eloquently delivered with aplomb. Ross Couper also comprised another which the band subsequently played with great effect.
An excellent performance by the youngest band at this years festival. Real talent was shown by the five piece from such different areas in Scotland, which certainly showed in the variety of the music performed by Bodega. A real gem.
