This was the first night of the ’Lighten the Dark’ tour and almost everything Kerfuffle played was new. Most of the songs were from the latest album but there were some additional songs resulting in over 90 minutes of Christmas cheer.

The first set got off to a strong start with ’Three Ships’. I particularly like the way this song builds to a climax with the insistent fiddle and vocal harmonies. ’Cherry Tree Carol’ (an apocryphal story) followed, with Sam plucking the fiddle accompanied by Jamie and Tom on guitar (no, not the bass!). ’Snowy Monday Dance’ saw Hannah performing some exuberant clog dancing accompanied by Sam on fiddle.

’Rejoice and Be Merry’ was the first of three a Capella songs. Vocal harmony is something Kerfuffle do exceptionally well, and is fast becoming a trademark of theirs. Although I love Hannah’s singing, it was a delight to hear the Sweeney brothers take the lead on two further songs in the second set: ’While Shepherds Watched’ and ’Shepherds Arise’. It may have taken Hannah 8 years to persuade them to sing, but it’s been worth the wait.

Sam has recently taken up concertina and played this on several songs, including ’The Truth from Above and ’Lullay My Liking’, one of my favourites. Hannah remarked that he had got so good in such a short time ’that it makes you want to chop his fingers off’ - a bit harsh perhaps, but then this is ’the boy wonder ’ who learnt pipes in six weeks!

’The Snows they Melt the Soonest’ (from an earlier album) was a lesson in stripped down simplicity with Hannah’s pure vocals accompanied by Jamie on guitar.

The concert was a charity fundraiser and so the audience was not a typical folk audience - however, the band deservedly made a large number of new fans. I’ve seen Kerfuffle a number of times now and they never disappoint - and it was well worth the 2 hour drive!