Main Set: The Parting Glass (a capella), High Hope, Friend/Enemy, Winning Streak (for Ernest Hemingway), My Little Ruin, Low Rising, Bird of Sorrow (for Glen’s mother Catherine on her birthday), Shelter, Vigilante Man (Woody Guthrie), Way Back When, This Gift, Her Mercy, Song of Good Hope, Falling Slowly
Encore: Prayer for Yom Kippur (Judith Mok), Who By Fire (with Judith Mok and Iranian musicians*), Tesetouni (by Iranian musicians*), Rocky Road to Dublin (with Iranian musicians*) , Passing Through (with Iranian musicians*), Lowly Deserter (an epic 9 minute version with Iranian musicians*)
*Iranian musicians – Mani Khoshravesh, Nima Khoshravesh, Panya Khoshravesh and Ahmad Yahgazadeh
[Thanks to Fleur for the setlist and notes.]
Notes: In the midst of the evening birdsong, Paris turned on a gorgeous night in courtyard of Centre Culturel Irlandais.
The edge of the gallery building (originating from 1775) proudly displayed the names of the 30 Irish dioceses of the 18th century, and there was a distinct ‘old-Irish’ feel to the evening which was appreciated by all in attendance.
The courtyard held seats for a couple of hundred people so it was a relatively intimate evening with Glen and his guitar.
Glen is rarely totally ‘solo’ and tonight was no exception. After a strong main set (including an updated version of new tune Shelter Me), Glen invited amazing soprano singer Judith Mok to the stage to perform together with four Iranian musicians. Judith confirmed afterwards that she had introduced the quartet to Glen with the hope that mixing musical cultures would produce some interesting results. Judith was not wrong!
Playing their native Persian instruments with incredible flair, the quartet really raised the night to another level. It culminated in an epic 9 minute Irish/Arabic version of Lowly Deserter the likes of which no-one has seen before (and are unlikely to see again!).
Merci Beaucoup to the Centre Culturel Irlandais and all the musicians who performed for a truly memorable Parisian night.
Reviews (in French): Le Cargo (with photos), onlike (with photos)
Photos: by Fleur on Flickr
Video:
Low Rising (by elephantbaci)
Vigilante Man (by elephantbaci)
Way Back When (by elephantbaci)
Who By Fire (by elephantbaci)
Who By Fire, Tesetouni, Rocky Road to Dublin, Passing Through, Lowly Deserter (by Melissande Chene)