Eddi Reader

Oakengates Theatre at The Place

By Andy Richardson

It’s a long time since Eddi Reader penetrated our national consciousness with her Brit-award winning hit Perfect.

But her leitmotif has endured through the years. And, please excuse the pun, her gig last night at The Place lived up to the word defined by the dictionary as being without fault or defect.

Reader is a national treasure in Scotland who in recent years has successfully repopularised the works of poet Robbie Burns and been awarded an MBE for her efforts.

She is also, without doubt, one of the finest British singers of the past 30 years. Her voice is as natural as a pure mountain spring. It is, in short, sublime.

Last night, she bought a dazzling array of roots musicians to Telford to support her during an invigorating two-hour set. The criminally-underrated singer/songwriter Boo Hewerdine – who penned Patience Of Angels – was on rhythm guitar, while there were members of bands that usually accompany Sharon Shannon, Karine Polwart and the Trash Can Sinatras.

Reader delighted her fans with a selection of greatest hits as well as ballads from her Robbie Burns record and newer songs. You could describe her performance as being perfect, but it was better than that.