Sunrise In The West

Neil Hannon at the Andersonstown Leisure Centre last night, thanks to the Feile. Just the fella himself and a piano and sometimes a guitar. He did 'Songs Of Love' at its most basic, but still affecting style. He fluffed 'Imaginary Friend' rather badly. 'Our Mutual Friend' was rightly tense and for the encore there was a version of 'Cheek To Cheek' that Fred Astaire might have cut loose to.

But the big moment was 'Sunrise', Neil's overview of war and peace in the north. He articulated it well, skirting though all the mess of political semantics and tribal meanings. And he sang about the emerging peace like it was a sureity and a necessary act. The audence sang along. It was tremendous.