Barbara Dymock & Christopher Marra
Barbara Dymock & Christopher Marra
Edinburgh Folk Club
Rob Adams
There can't be many repertoires travelling around the folk club circuit that include a variation on jazz fusion fingerstyle guitarist Earl Klugh's treatment of Orleans' popular 1970s radio hit Dance With Me in close proximity to the sozzled shenanigans of Dundonian alkie-hooligan Muggie Sha'.
As someone whose enthusiasms could range easily from appreciation of the sophisticated to championing the earthy underdog, the man responsible for the latter, the late Michael Marra, doubtless encouraged his younger brother in his pursuit of the former.
Marra Senior's presence was felt heavily here. His works, including a heartfelt reading of Happed In Mist, punctuated the Burns and traditional songs that Barbara Dymock sang in the ruggedly appealing voice that Michael liked so much he produced Dymock's 2011 album, Hulbert's Hotel.
Just watching Chris with that same, legs apart, studious stance and a guitar that might have been mistaken for his brother's was like being transported back to Michael's Woodlands Folk Club days.
Dymock is a Fifer who has lived in Dundee for longer than she did in the Kingdom and her adopted city provided highlights, including Mary Brooksbank's When Fortune Turns The Wheel, delivered with real sensitivity, and a more wickedly wholehearted Beef Can Close.
Her singing does not need much accompaniment and Marra's guitar picking and strumming was always aptly judged and gently propulsive where required.
His own singing featured on Bob Dylan's Girl from the North Country and a neatly picked bluegrass instrumental further underlined his guitar talents. There was an occasional false start or fluffed line, but overall this was a musically enjoyable, mischievously entertaining performance from a well-matched duo.
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