October 5, 2011
Ane Brun in Helsinki
I was happy to be at the Tavastia club in Helsinki when Ane Brun kicked off her Europe tour supporting her new album, It All Starts with One. I’ve been listening to her music here and there for a long time, but had no idea what to expect. Well, let’s start with the opener, Linnea Olsson, who also plays cello and bass in Ane’s band. She delivers her songs with just the cello, a loop pedal, and singing. Now, I’ve seen many artists who are pretty impressive and original with their instruments, but I’ve never seen anyone handle a cello like that! Her performance was so brilliant and inspiring, a perfect way to start the night. Here’s some good quality videos, so you can see what I’m talking about.
When Ane and the band started, it became apparent that it’s not just going to be some quiet singer-songwriter show. You never hear much talk about the bands solo artists tour with. Yet many times solo artists are accompanied with highly skilled musicians. I was blown away by the awesome musicians in the band! So, let’s see. The band has Jennie Abrahamson and Linnea Olsson beautifully singing backup vocals and playing their instruments. Martin Hederos plays the piano. By listening to the gentle sounds of the studio record, you would never guess the band has two drummers. But that’s how it is, Ola Hultgren and Per Eklund play the drums.
So these were the people behind one of the best and most original shows of the year! The energy was fantastic, songs from the new album came fully alive. But the delicate singer-songwriter experience was also there when most of the band took a break and gave room to Ane to perform the quieter numbers.
The great show also made me think what a shame it is that music like this isn’t more well-known. The venue was sold out, which is good, but not many people know Ane Brun here. Well, maybe it makes shows like this more special when they’re not mainstream. Anyway, if the tour is coming to anywhere near you, I gladly recommend you go see her (and the band, of course)! Check out the dates on her homepage. Also follow her updates on Facebook or Twitter.
