There are certain albums that become part of the soundtrack to your life.
For me, Fairground Attraction’s debut album was one of them.
When The First of a Million Kisses was released, I played it to death. Its blend of folk, jazz, pop and acoustic music felt completely unique at the time, and songs like Perfect became woven into my musical memory. Although the band’s original lifespan was remarkably short, the album never really disappeared from my collection.
Over the years, I also made a point of seeing Eddi Reader whenever the opportunity arose. Every performance reinforced my belief that she remains one of the finest singers Scotland has ever produced.
So when news emerged that Fairground Attraction had reunited and were releasing new material, I was more excited than perhaps I should admit.
Thankfully, the new songs justified the anticipation.
Rather than sounding like a nostalgic attempt to relive former glories, the music felt fresh while retaining all the qualities that had made me fall in love with the band in the first place. After hearing the new material, buying tickets for their Usher Hall concert became a complete no-brainer.
The challenge was actually getting hold of them.
Demand was far greater than I expected and by the time I managed to secure seats, the only option was a pair of single tickets separated from one another down in the front stalls. It wasn’t quite the romantic evening Emma and I might normally enjoy, but at least we were both in the room.
Sometimes that’s all that matters.
From the moment the band took to the stage, it became clear that this wasn’t simply a reunion built on nostalgia. The chemistry between the musicians remained intact, and the new songs sat comfortably alongside the classics that the audience had come to hear.
What struck me most was how effortlessly Eddi Reader still commands a stage.
Her voice has lost none of its warmth, character or emotional depth. Some singers perform songs beautifully. Others make you believe every word. Eddi has always belonged firmly in the second category.
That ability was never more apparent than during Allelujah.
The song has long been one of my favourites, and hearing it performed live was already a highlight of the evening. What made the moment particularly special was seeing Eddi become visibly emotional while performing it. There was something wonderfully human about it. For all the years that have passed since the band’s original success, the music clearly still means something deeply personal to those performing it.
The audience certainly felt it too.
Moments like that are impossible to manufacture. They occur naturally when artists remain genuinely connected to the songs they are singing, and they often become the memories that stay with you long after the concert has ended.
Fortunately, Emma and I managed to capture plenty of footage between us throughout the evening. Given our separate seating arrangements, we probably ended up documenting more of the concert than we would have otherwise. Occasionally adversity has unexpected benefits.
Looking back, this was everything I had hoped a Fairground Attraction reunion would be. Great new material, beloved old favourites and a reminder of why these songs connected with people in the first place.
The videos below include footage from both of us, including that beautiful moment during Allelujah when Eddi was overcome with emotion. If, like me, you’ve loved these songs for decades, I suspect you’ll understand exactly why.
The Photos
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