A Swedish pop star and a Scottish folk singer were an unlikely pair to find in The Bodega. Differing from the usual punk and rock music, Nina Persson and James Yorkston created a beautiful atmosphere with their folk performance...
On Monday night, the gig room of The Bodega was packed full of folk heads, all gathered to hear Nina and James perform their new album The Great White Sea Eagle.
The new album had many firsts for the pair, as Nina was previously the lead singer in The Cardigans, a Swedish pop group that gained fame in the nineties for their hit Lovefool. Also, James showcased new skills on the piano never seen before in his guitar-heavy music.
The pair were a spectacle to witness, but before we get into that I want to give recognition to their brilliant support act Viking Moses, who set up the crowd perfectly for a cozy winter night of chill music.
His calm and melodic songs were filled with just the passion that Yorkston’s fans were there for. He opened the show with a beautiful performance showcasing his skills on the guitar and his melancholic vocals.
The crowd hung on every note, as each silence on stage was met with anticipation for the next verse, the attentive crowd hung on every word and gave Viking Moses a huge reception when he closed his segment of the show.
Let’s get into the main act, then. Nina and James came out with some breath-taking vocals and created such an amazing atmosphere. You could see that James had been honing his Piano skills to perfection.
The newest edition to Yorkston’s entourage, Nina, really took the spotlight with her outstanding vocals. I think that seeing her in the flesh really did make that much of a difference. I think I can talk for everyone in the room when I say I was stunned at what a beautiful voice she had, and paired with the chill cosy folk music it made me feel at home.
His skills shone when the duo performed A Sweetness In You. You could see the pair’s intense passion for the music. This song, which is dedicated to Yorkston’s late friend, Scott Hutchison, exemplified one of the album's themes: grief.
The song was the paragon for the tone of the night, as its deep meaning made you pay attention to the vocals without straying into oversentimentality.
The themes of the album are family, life, and grief, yet the performance didn’t leave the crowd sobbing as you would expect. It had quite the opposite effect, as every outro was met with a roaring applause.
James showed off in this performance with his mastery of both the piano and guitar. When he made his switches, you could see where his roots were in his guitar playing. Yet it was refreshing to hear some soft piano with fresh vocals.
All in all , Nina and James started my week off brilliantly, with this beautiful performance. I would have never put myself down for a folk lover, but the gig has changed my mind. The next time they come back to Nottingham, I suggest snatching up those tickets as quickly as possible.
James Yorkston & Nina Persson performed at The Bodega on 4 November 2023
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