Lisa Hannigan
As we waited for Lisa Hannigan to take to the stage, there was a feeling that something special was about to take place. The stage was transformed into what I could only imagine a woodland wonderland to look like. A mushroom light sat next to the main microphone and coloured lantern tea lights (matching the album cover banner that hung behind the stage of course) hung from stands, drums and the keyboard. The array of instruments that sat untouched promised a full night of music.
Lisa Hannigan took to the stage all smiles, dressed like she had stepped out of the 1940's. She started the show with 'Pistachio', an upbeat song that can only be described as dinky but groovy. The audience celebrated the beginning of the gig and the celebration continued as Lisa Hannigan started to dance along to the extended instrumental ending. The audience at the sold-out Komedia show in Brighton were full of energy and ready for whatever Hannigan had to share with them. Made up of people from eighteen to eighty, everyone let go and joined in the spirit of the night, dancing along with Hannigan. They sang along to all the songs that grace Hannigan's latest album See Sew, and were delighted to hear new songs that she had never played live before.
Lisa Hannigan's five-man-band added to the overall feeling of the night. You welcomed into what felt like your very own Irish community or better yet, a small pub in the heart of Kilcloon. Hannigan feeds off the energy that the rest of the band had, the most outstanding moment for this was during 'Sea Song', Hannigan and the female violinist started their own instrumental play-off. The energy built up throughout the song and had the whole audience dancing along with them. Throughout the night there were jokes shared on stage and with the rest of the audience. The band was not afraid to start their own conversation with the audience between songs and Hannigan was more than happy to share the lime light.
Her songs were full and meaty; layered with different sounds and the well dressed band was on point through each song. The instruments were passed amongst the band from one song to another and you were never too sure who would be playing which instrument next. Throughout the night instruments that I had never seen before were introduced into the songs and added to the sound and the feeling. I've long been a fan of Lisa Hannigan's voice and live it is so soulful and welcoming, it's easy to become completely captivated by it. Her style, although a little off beat, is truly endearing, there was a calm and dreamlike presence about her even as the energy was building up, that washed over you. The gig was summed up perfectly with Hannigan's own words, "Wow, what a fun night!".