LIVE REVIEW: Wardruna @ Symphony Hall, Birmingham
Between a few fancy banker’s buildings and a brash ornate library is a building housing Birmingham’s Symphony Hall, designed to carry acoustics right past the very inner core of the ear and into the beating heart of the music lovers who sit upon its 2262 seats, from the front row stalls right up to the gods. Tonight, this space will belong to Norwegian folk outfit WARDRUNA, where the band are sure to summon the Allfather from his very own hall to witness this magnificent and mesmerising performance.
Walking to a spot centre stage, cello in hand to open the evening with absolute spine-tingling beauty is a solo musician who introduces herself as JO QUAIL. “Like the bird” she shyly states after opening up to the audience that, upon sound check she burst into tears as she has so dearly missed performing live. Just one woman, her cello and three incredible pieces of instrumental music. Each composition is drenched with dark, moody and soul-stirring melodies, with her humble yet strong stage presence, JO QUAIL will ensure you leave tonight adding her to your morning commute playlist.
Rating: 9/10
After a standing ovation for the celloist, the audience dash to the bars, loos and merch stand, all making good time to return to their seats to see that the huge ruggedly fashioned backdrop is now lit up blue with WARDRUNA’s bindrune sigil. Soon enough the seven instrumentalists take to the stage to an emphatic cheer followed by abrupt silence as a raven croaks to open Kvitravn with its beautifully eerie talharpa notes played by vocalist and founder, Einar Selvik. Everyone sits in awe, eyes fixed on the traditional Norse instruments and their composers.
Every song throughout the night gently catapults you into a solitary state of meditative awakening, you feel as though your primitive senses are being aroused, your ancestral blood is beckoning you back to a time less self-aware and materialistic, where you and the earth are reliant on one another for survival. WARDRUNA have a power in their music, whether it being spiritual or magical, there’s something there that can’t be easily explained, only felt and experienced by the listener. It calls for something deeper than just an ear, it calls for your mind to open and be present. This power is further grasped by the setting of an orchestral hall and the act of being seated in a darkened room, unable to move. Your physical being has become irrelevant and everything else is being soothed by the sounds of wood, bone, skin and metal. This is a truly unique and intimate concert experience.
Throughout their 17 song setlist, WARDRUNA treat the audience to an array of instruments, all with individual characteristics in their sound. From the subtle use of bones to create a metronomic pulse to the impressively intimidating lur horns which carry track Tyr through the roof. Not only are the historical instruments captivating the audience, but the traditional Nordic halning style of singing of Lindy-Fay Halla which adds a layer of almost fantasy-esque drama which contrasts in perfect harmony to Selvik’s bassy tone, which keeps us grounded.
Moving towards the end of the set, Einar takes a moment to fully appreciate his surroundings of such a grand venue, floor to ceiling full with rounds of applauds. He hushes them to speak about the wonderful value of music and that no matter which genre, decade or even century speaks to you, it all came from the same place as he touches above his heart. “Everyone needs to sing more; it is the best medicine. Your homework is to sing more”. His modest and soft-spoken words are met with a collective cheer of agreement which only grew louder as Helvegan begins.
The final tune comes with the little Norse saga of Ragnar Lothbrok’s final moments, whom, as the story goes, wrote this following poem in a pit of snakes, whereby he was thrown to his death by vengeful King Ælla. Snake Pit Poetry is performed solo by Einar and his kravik-lyre, every last strum being absorbed by the audience before creating a thunderous round of applause and a farewell for WARDRUNA, whose triumph here tonight has everyone leaving with goosebumps and a sense of mindfulness.
Rating: 10/10
Check out our photo gallery of the night’s action in Birmingham from Camille Watkins Photography here:
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