The Corrs at the Royal Albert Hall

Folk, rock and Irish music. For those fond of all three, Thursday night was a real treat. For those interested in just one genre, it was the perfect opportunity to shake their views and explore further musical combinations. And in case of no attraction to any of the mentioned elements, the concert of The Corrs at the Royal Albert Hall marked an exceptional event to enjoy a first-class musical night.

The Irish band returned to rock the auditorium in central London after two years, with the launch of their seventh album Jupiter Calling, produced by T Bone Burnett and due to be released in less than a month. From What Can I Do and other singles off of their Platinum albums, to 2015’s White Light, to tracks from their latest record, the group lived up to expectations and delivered a memorable performance.

The night opened with the enlightening All the Love in the World, followed by a vibrant Forgiven Not Forgotten where the powerful voice of Andrea Corr exploded in all its energy. Inserted in the middle of the concert, new songs Road to Eden and Son of Solomon offered a more melodic score. The music became harmonious, much more influenced by pop and Irish folklore than the preceding tracks, presenting slow movements and love lyrics.

Here and there, the band indulged in their most Celtic-influenced songs. The instrumental piece Lough Erin Shore left much space to the tin whistle and the piano, while the unforgettable Joy of Life kept feet moving and hands clapping for quite a long time.

The winning element is the group’s perfect combination of violin (Sharon Corr) and drum (Caroline Corr). In this particular union lies their formula to produce enrapturing tunes again and again. It’s the perfect fusion of rock and classic, innovation and tradition. To this core, for the majority of the songs, the artists add a good variety of other acoustic instruments, which enrich and extend their tones. Last night, the set didn’t miss tin whistles, keyboards or bodhrán, played simultaneously or by swapping instruments among the group members.

Impressive was the exchange between the bass guitar of Keith Duffy – who, together with Anthony Drenna, joined the Corr siblings since their debut – and the acoustic guitar of Jim Corr in the cover of Jimi Hendrix’s Little Wing.

As obvious as it may sound, the band left the public (with) Breathless before closing the night on the more traditional notes of Toss the Feather, leaving the melodic tune flavoured of legend resounding in the ears and the hearts of the audience.

Cristiana Ferrauti
Photos: Guifré de Peray

For further information and future events visit The Corrs’ website here.

Watch the video for Son of Solomon here: