Stephanie Cottle arrived at Bootleg Social on the 8th of November expecting something special from a packed-out stage of electronic gear, wires and synthesizers.
Having not previously listened to QUINQUIS, the warm-up act for the evening, I had no idea what to expect. If I did have something in mind however, it probably wouldn’t be what was delivered. The producer, who sings primarily in Breton, the Celtic language of her ancestors, provided a set of delicate yet potent electronics. The sounds QUINQUIS created were meditative, almost ritualistic.
Her performance was shaped profoundly by place and language, as she explained to the audience. Living and working on the island of Ushant, off the coast of Brittany’s rugged coast, a quick google search will show that it’s not hard to see why the producer is inspired by her surroundings. Throughout the set, the audience listened attentively, gradually engaging more as her layered, immersive world unfolded.
When it was time for Gwenno to take the stage, the atmosphere was set perfectly, a soft wash of purple light contrasted with the warm glow of a lit candelabra. Born in Cardiff in 1981, Saunders was a member of the pop duo The Pipettes before forging her own path. Singing in Welsh, Cornish, and English, Gwenno was captivating from the first note, performing songs from her new album Utopia alongside selections from her back catalogue. Her music is at once playful and assertive and after just one evening I was completely converted. I would happily listen to her sing about anything (which she often does), from cheese, to cats, to her favourite bus route. Her brilliantly performing band mixed with excellent sound engineering was just perfect for the room, allowing every subtle nuance of the multi-layered tracks to come through. Gwenno’s presence on stage was magnetic.
Huge credit goes to Bootleg Social for bringing Gwenno to town. I hadn’t previously heard of the artist, but it was clear that many in the room had. The audience was delighted to have her in town. The night was a testament to the power of place and music. From haunting Breton electronics to an enchanting multilingual set, Bootleg Social hosted yet another cracking evening for Blackpool.
Gwenno’s new album Utopia is out now and her tour continues into next year.
