Bowerbirds @ Sneaky Pete's, 30 Oct

In a bustling and typically cramped Friday night at Sneaky Pete's, alternative folk music - especially as subtle and nuanced as the gentle, harmonic undulations of Edinburgh's Eagleowl - was always going to struggle. Yet the band put in a dignified and alluring performance and the crowd (those up front at least) sit patiently, absorbing the sweet melancholia as best as their surroundings will allow.

Bowerbirds also suffer as a result of tonight's generous turnout (surprising, given the band's criminally under-attended previous trip to these shores). The stifling atmosphere is more akin to a hardcore concert than one involving accordion, nylon-stringed classical guitar and Beth Tacular's infrequent and gentle falsetto. The band's late arrival (having mistakenly driven to Glasgow first) and resultant lack of sound-check also plays havoc with the occasion. Though it all begins to settle by the fourth song, the guitar frequently sends offensive spikes of mid-frequencies through the ears of the audience and many of the songs are punctuated by the notorious squeal of mic feedback. All of which adds up to a damn shame as, amidst these less-than-ideal circumstances, resonate a series of truly gorgeous, delicate songs, brilliantly delivered by lead vocalist Phil Moore in particular. Bowerbirds are clearly a special breed, it's just unfortunate that some of that charm get's lost in tonight's shaky translation. [Chris Cusack]