Lankum delivered an intense performance at their midnight gig at the Electric Arena, drawing on their great repertoire of murder ballads, dark laments and doom folk ditties.
Lankum entered the Electric Arena stage to thunderous applause and took their usual positions next to a horde of instruments, but were accompanied by a full band for an electric picnic set that was something special.
Lankum at Electric Picnic. 08/17/24. Copyright Gary IbbotsonThe patron saints of doom folk – Radie Peat, Darragh Lynch, Ian Lynch and Cormac MacDiarmada – were joined on stage by honorary “fifth member” John “Spud” Murphy and drummer John Dermody. They kicked off with “The Wild Rover”, a gigantic wall of sound that descended ever deeper into heavenly aural hell. Then came “The New York Trader”, with Ian prefacing the song with a middle finger that mentioned the far right by name. It was an astonishing performance, each harmony weaving sonic braids into the mist above, with MacDiarmada in particular delivering a stunning performance on the fiddle.
Lankum at Electric Picnic. 08/17/24. Copyright Gary IbbotsonBy turns harrowing and sublime, Radie Peat’s shimmering, steely lilt and Ian’s sinister punk vocals were at the heart of these songs – cutting to the core, then beyond. Encouraged by Cormac MacDiarmada’s hair-raising violin playing, it felt like a magical incantation. As the sonic doom reached an apocalyptic boiling point, friends and loved ones clung to each other, eyes wide as the rapture drew near.
Lankum at Electric Picnic. 08/17/24. Copyright Gary IbbotsonThen came ‘Bear Creek’, the magnificent offer, traced in triumphal arches and redundant rainbows. Where before the lovers held each other tightly, they now held their hands high and danced with verve and optimism. After that, the band closed the event with “Go Dig My Grave”, a stormy dirge where Radie Peat delivered an amazing a cappella opener, with perfect pitch and rhythm despite the thumping bass of Calvin Harris’ set a few hundred feet away. It was a testament to Peat’s unfathomable vocal and musical ability, who could deliver the most magnificent performance you’ve ever seen without flinching or shaking.
Lankum at Electric Picnic. 08/17/24. Copyright Gary IbbotsonIt was a set you hoped would never end, with Lankum constantly proving that not only are they one of the strongest trad folk bands on the scene, but they’re also here for the long haul (and how lucky we are).
