The Triptych festival (in its last year) has thrown up some excellent shows over the past few years. Your reviewer was drawn to this one as a long time fan of Michael Hurley, a grizzled veteran of American folk music who has been the quintessential definition of a cult artist for around forty years. His inclusion may have been a result of his recent championing by Devandra Banhart (who has released Hurley's latest album, Ancestral Swamp, on his own label. However, Triptych is to be congratulated for, yet again, bringing a legend to these shores.
Opening the bill to an initially sparse crowd was our own Grant Campbell. Continuing the tradition of gravely voiced Scots singers Campbell growled beautifully through a short set with "Lowlands" the standout.
Next on was American songstress Alela Diane. Accompanied by her friend Mariee Sioux on vocals and her father,Tom Menig on guitar, I initially had a beer goggle moment as dad and Alela had a weird resemblance to MTV poppet Hannah Montana and her dad, Billy Ray Cyrus. Fortunately, as soon as they played, this misconception was blasted out of the water as Alela & Co mesmerised the audience with a selection of songs that drank from the deep dark well of American folklore. With several self-penned songs and a cover of that old chestnut, "The Cuckoo", she sang with conviction as her guitar and that of her father weaved and rippled while their vocal harmonies were a pure delight. Currently abiding in Portland, Oregon, she has crossed paths with Hurley (who also resides there at present) and he came on to add some spooky vocals on one of her songs. I was able to get her CD at the end of the show and can recommend it heartily if you like that spectral southern gothic folk sound.
By the time Michael Hurley, came on the place was pretty full with most folk sitting cross-legged in front of the stage. Hurley is a fair age by now but when he launched into his opening number, "Cars, Jars and Guitars", he stood tall and swung mightily. Playing an amplified guitar he alternated between upbeat songs such as the aforementioned song and his particular speciality, keening laments that can send a shiver down the spine and curl your toes. With a casual mastery of the microphone (Old Black Crow) and his primitive yet excellent guitar technique, he had the audience eating out of his hand. Highlights were "Wild Goose" and "Oh My Stars", ballads that could draw blood from a stone. In the tradition of the old troubadours there was also a humorous element at times with his songs about his mythical characters, Boone and Jocko, eliciting laughs. Favourites such as "I Paint a Design" and "Portland Waters" flowed from the stage as he played mock trombone, spoke of hobo ways and all too soon it was over.