On Thursday evening, composer and multi-instrumentalist Basia Bulat set the Montreal skies ablaze with her dynamic, catchy folk tunes. It was an excellent appearance at the POP Montréal festival by a singer who interrupted her The Garden Tour for one evening to treat her audience to a succulent selection of some of her best songs.
“I feel like we’re the Beatles!” exclaimed Basia Bulat at the start of the show. It’s true that in terms of location, you can hardly do better than the roof of the Rialto, especially when the concert takes place at the same time as the sunset. As the first chords of Heart of My Own sounded, the sky turned to pink and the golden, vibrant atmosphere of twilight enveloped every track of this short, but very successful concert.
Speaking of location, let’s not forget the undeniable talent of the sound team, who perfectly balanced zither, guitars, bass, keyboards and drums, all in a space that was both outdoor and limited. It’s a tour de force we’d be wrong to forget, especially when it comes to folk music: despite the challenges of the environment, the audience was able to appreciate the works on all their levels, from the energy of the percussion to the sweetness of the vocals to the more delicate ardor of the string instruments.
Fans of Basia Bulat were in full force, as the show quickly sold out. The adopted Montrealer even took the time to say hello to a few familiar faces. In the end, it seemed as if the musicians were playing for their friends – old and new alike – infusing the event with a warm, casual feel that in no way detracted from the quality of the performance. The singer was generous with her audience, even going so far as to perform three completely new songs, My Angel, Disco Polo and Baby. The theme of family was at the heart of all three songs, and Basia Bulat candidly confessed that her next album would draw heavily on her experience as a new mom.
