Les Nuits Part III - Return To Botanique

After last weeks glories of Brit Pop featuring Official Secrets Act and Brakes, it was the turn of Uncle Sam and Canada's finest to close out the festival de Nuit.

First on Botanique's Orangerie stage was a young girl from Brooklyn called Sharon Van Etten. Sharon has a voice of aching purity that is reminiscent of early Judie Tzuke, which is no bad thing. Singing songs from her soon to be released debut album, Because I Was in Love, she held the Brussels crowd captivated. Just a girl, a guitar and a voice to make the angels weep. On this performance and on listening to her album I'd say she's destined to go far in the music industry. I wish her well.



I've only one thing to say about the second act, holy crap! The sonic attack that the Akron/Family hit us with was a total assault and battery of the senses. Waves of feedback, Gongesque chanting, free flowing Grateful Dead style jamming, these guys have it all and then some. Akron/Family are impossible to classify, one minute sounding like the ghost of 1970 vintage Hawkwind, the next letting rip a death metal scream followed by a track straight out of Woodstock. Hypnotic, pulsating, and with more energy than the average nuke, I take my hat off to them. Bloody marvelous.



The Akron family are a hell of a hard act to follow. Enter the Canadian indie folk band The Acorn, a multi member beast spinning Arcade Fire style riffs off a rythmic core of twin drummers. Imagine the Fleet Foxes with a rougher rockier edge. High energy stuff. Cue more manic dancing, foot stomping and banging of heads. A commendable effort. At the moment Acorn aren't a huge act in the industry, but give them time and they may grow into a mighty oak.



And so it was on to the final band of the evening, another Canadian outfit, Great Lake Swimmers. Fortunately for my protesting body, which had been pushed to the limit cavorting to the previous 2 acts, Great Lake play a mellow laid back music with lead singer Tony Dekker ably supported by beautiful harmonies from his band mates. Set the controls to chill and go with the flow. A fine set was topped off by an encore with Sharon Van Etten joining the band on stage.


A sublime end to a sublime evening. And that's no bull.


As an aside, Sharon and Great Lake Swimmers are in Scotland next week, playing at the Twisted Wheel in Glasgow on Thursday the 21st. Recommended viewing for anyone in the neighborhood.