Louis Rive gave a fine performance, very much in the storytelling folk tradition but with a fresh feel. Edinburgh born and bred, Rive’s accent comes through clearly when he sings, while his thoughtful lyrics avoid the portentousness often associated with the genre. Despite a guitar that had recently been dropped on the Royal Mile setts, his playing and warm, soulful voice resonated through the room. Highlight’s included ‘Streetlights of London’, his Phil Ochs-esque account of an ill-fated period in the city, and ‘Hard Living in the Old World’ – a beautifully sung description of some of the harsh realities of his life in Spain. It can only be hoped that Rive makes more return visits to his home town.

The Acoustic Music Centre, run ended.
tw rating 4/5 | [Charlie Ellis]