Melanie O'Reilly and Juliet Turner may not be household names, but they're two of the finest, most original Irish performers around. Melanie O'Reilly was on first, backed by her excellent four-piece band: Fergal Murray (keyboards), Mick Kinsella (harmonica), Sven Buic (bass) and Tom Dunne (drums). They play an unconventional blend of jazz and traditional Irish styles, but somehow make it sound entirely natural. Their arrangements are always exciting, full of shifts in style and dynamic. Feis was typical: a setting of a Nuala Ni Dhomhnaill poem, it built dramatically from the soft introduction, even managing to incorporate a bluesy harmonica solo (indeed, Kinsella's harmonica playing was astonishing throughout the set).
The House of Dolphins found O'Reilly in confident form, relishing the Latin beat. The closing tune The Hunter's Purse allowed for a perfect blend of jazz and traditional styles - O'Reilly sang the reel straight, then moved seamlessly into an elaborate scat solo. Juliet Turner's album Let's Hear It For Pizza may be enjoyable, but it doesn't compare with hearing her play live. She is a remarkably powerful and confident performer and she had her audience captivated. She was joined on stage only by Kevin Murphy (cello and bass guitar).
Sometimes her songs are too verbose, but at her best she gets things just right. The semi-comic Pizza and Wine was beautifully delivered, and benefited from a brilliant cello accompaniment; Dr Fell was suitably cutting. However, it was her solo version of Short Loan Only that stole the show, sending chills down my spine.