Kassidy/Admiral Fallow/Ash
Loopallu, Ullapool
16 -17/09/2011

With Ullapool doubling its population for the weekend, Loopallu festival aims to make the Scottish coastal town famous for more than its fish and chips.

Kassidy take to the stage on the first night to face a packed out tent. Sure, their Americana-infused folk could be seen as pretty derivative – swaying dangerously on that fine line between influence and imitation. It’s also got to be said that it’s slightly disconcerting to hear four boys from Glasgow singing with American tinged accents. However, tonight the Ullapool crowd couldn’t care less. The band are tight, their harmonies well executed. Their songs are simple, catchy, and provide a beat to bounce to. It’s clear from the eruption after every song that tonight the festival crowd needs nothing more.

Having lent its undoubtedly talented members to Rachel Sermanni’s backing band earlier, Admiral Fallow return to the stage on the second day just as the heavens open on Ullapool. Prepared for the northern weather, Louis Abbot leads us through tracks from ‘Boots Met My Face’ with a bottle of whisky in hand. For what has been said to be a highly personal album, today’s performance is for the most part composed, everything carefully considered. Flute and clarinet dance around folksy musings whilst tight bass and drums punch through the middle. However, it’s when Admiral Fallow let loose that they are at their most engaging. With restraint left aside on tracks like ‘Old Balloons’ the band become truly expressive, their bassist at times absolutely battering his instrument. These moments offer the clearest insight into the emotive nature of the band’s songs. In an otherwise solid set, it’s ‘Squealing Pigs’ which stands out, it’s manic clarinet solo and gang vocals lending well to the celebratory nature of the festival. 

With the site by now pretty much submerged it’s up to Ash to close this year’s Loopallu. For some reason, they don’t quite manage to lift the dampened spirits of the Ullapool crowd. With rumours that they would be playing with Charlotte Hatherley floating about the crowd, one can’t help but wish they’d brought the second guitarist. Their era-defining choruses are huge, but frustratingly, they don’t consistently fulfil their potential tonight. The sound isn’t on their side either; notes sometimes falling away in the murky depths of the low end. All in all this contributes to a punk-tinged performance, which although undeniably pacy and enjoyable, somewhat roughs up the edges of Ash’s hook-heavy set.

Matthew Scott