Venue:
Old St Pancras Church, London
Date: 23/05/2025
Faeland are a band probably unknown to most Afterword contributors and lurkers.
I came across them some years ago when an advert appeared on Instagram, offering their first album for free and a discount on their then new set. I listened, liked them and sent off for the discs.
They are based in the West Country and appear to perform mostly in that area. I believe this was their first London gig for quite some time.
The core of the band is Rebecca Nelson (lead vocals, guitar) and Jacob Morrison (guitar), it was a wholly acoustic performance with a band playing upright bass, drums, cello, violin, Celtic harp and other assorted instruments.
This was a performance that absolutely transcended the albums, good as they are. Impeccable performances of beautiful songs. It was mellow, melodic, mellifluous and magical. Musical balm for the soul.
There’s little point in me listing song titles that mean nothing to you, the reader. They drew on both their existing albums (All My Swim and When I Close My Eyes) and played a few from their forthcoming record (Remedy).
Suffice to say that beauteous moments abounded. They play a song and I think that’s the highlight of the set, it can’t get better, yet the next song does exactly that.
A simply wonderful evening of music.
The audience:
While the band aren’t youngsters, I think most of us in the audience were old enough to be their parents, which isn’t necessarily bad, but doesn’t do a lot for Faeland expanding their audience demographic.
Everyone was extremely well behaved during the performance, which allowed me to immerse myself in the music without the irritation of idiots who think their opinion is more important than the music. I wish more audiences were like that.
It made me think..
Faeland exemplify why I go to see and hear live music. Whatever emotional state you’re in at the start (though I wasn’t feeling troubled in any way) you leave feeling your life has been enriched and enhanced by what you’ve just witnessed.
Here’s the title track from their first album All My Swim
Here’s the closing track from last night’s performance End Of the Day (which Rebecca told us features in a film starring Alison Steadman titled 23 Walks).
Thanks for sharing. Very nice music, and that fellow can certainly play that harp.
That’s Martin Solomon, whom I should have credited in the review. As well as harp he plays violin (and possibly viola), accordion and charango.
Charango is a tiny, eight stringed instrument.
I bought their first CD for free, and liked it very much. It’s a beautifully recorded record. The follow-up is pretty good too. Id happily go and see them live.
Thank you @Carl lovely folk music by lovely people. Ordered both albums and my collection will be better for it.
Musical balm for the soul indeed.
I’m very pleased that my review and your enjoyment of the YouTube videos encouraged you to buy the albums.
I’m sure they would be especially pleased if you went to Indiegogo for the crowd funder for their next album.
Top notch, and completely unknown to me until now. I’m getting a Laura Veirs vibe, her album July Flame in particular.
Have both but most stuff is packed away as there is a move in the offing.
It may take some time to find them, but thanks for the reminder.
I also took advantage of the free/discounted twofer. Can’t say I’ve played them that often, but their sound is pleasant enough.
Purely for balance, I became familiar with them c/o KLOF (nee Folk Radio UK), reviewing that free album. I am sure, it being an insistence of the editor, a good review was given, but, should anyone dive in unprepared, it can err on the overly twee and wholesome. Not trolling, just contextual opinion.
If you like wholesome and winsome, fine, but I prefer a bit more millstone grit.