Live Review

Emma’s Imagination – Classic Grand, Glasgow

• 12th Dec 2010

Emma Gillespie made a triumphant return to Glasgow last night, playing a tremendous show in front of a packed crowd. Her family and personal fan club were there to offer support, although it wasn’t really required as Gillespie performed like a nerveless veteran rather than a relative rookie.

A decent set from indie/ folk singer songwriter Aaron Wright got the night moving. He has a good vocal range, although seemed to lack confidence in his acoustic abilities, perhaps being more used to the backing of his band, The Aprils. Wright closed with a fine bluesy up-tempo song that may have been more representative of his music.

After a short wait, the star of the show arrived centre stage. Emma Gillespie’s rise to fame has been meteoric: from Glasgow busker to the winner of Sky 1’s ‘Must Be The Music’ in months. She has already had a hit single and with her debut album, ‘Stand Still’, to be released in January, her future looks exceptionally bright.

Gillespie kicked off with a beautiful version of the soon to be released single, This Day. She sat confidently with her acoustic guitar and her voice soared superbly, clear and true. The crowd were in the palm of her hand from the off.

TV viewers would have seen a folky Gillespie, and her voice is perfectly suited to acoustic music. But in this set she impressed with the variety of the songs she performed, and all flawlessly, never missing a note all night long.

The single Focus was slow and emotionally delivered, while Drive was sung in a lower key, showing her great vocal range. The more upbeat Faerie Lights demonstrated that a full backing band adds to the power and beauty of that tremendous voice rather than taking from it. And on Movin’ slide guitar provided a counterpoint to emphasise Gillespie’s superb tone control to perfection.

The set was skilfully designed to combine tracks from Gillespie’s debut album with a number of interesting covers. Trouble, originally an Amy Winehouse track, had a jazzy feel and was performed with style and panache. A definite improvement on the original.

And the Deftones Change was a heartfelt masterpiece, Gillespie’s emotional vocals cutting through the backing music to silence the audience with its sheer beauty. This was a stunning highlight in a set that was full of quality.

The crowd demanded an encore and Gillespie returned to play a tremendous version of the much covered classic, Ain’t No Sunshine. The more soulful side of her voice was to the fore here, showing once again her great versatility. Then it was back to a softer acoustic finale with Keep, before she left the stage to thunderous applause and calls for more. But the night was over,
leaving everyone in no doubt that they had witnessed a quite exceptional performance.

Emma Gillespie is set to become a massive star. She quite simply has it all. Her voice is stunning, her song writing varied and confident, her ability to perform on stage impressive. And she also has also that oh so elusive, almost indefinable, quality that separates the best from the merely promising.

Yes, Emma Gillespie is a very special talent indeed.