‘Neu! Reekie!’ originators Kevin Williamson and Michael Pedersen have been staging innovative, diversely programmed ‘happenings’ for over ten years. Tonight’s headliner – following fine poetic supporting turns from Victoria McNulty and Darren McGarvey – is one they’ve coveted for most of that time, namely Scottish pop godfather Edwyn Collins. Splendidly accompanied by acoustic guitarists Carwyn Ellis and Patrick Ralla, Edwyn powers through highlights from a rich back-catalogue ranging from the first Orange Juice single ‘Falling And Laughing’ – through hits ‘Rip It Up’ and ‘A Girl Like You’ – to more recent solo material. Taking together Edwyn’s own remarkable story of recovery from a serious stroke to the point of being able to perform again, and more recent global events, there’s only one way to describe this: life-affirming.

Edinburgh Park, Edinburgh International Festival, run ended.
tw rating 5/5 | [Bruce Blacklaw]