Planet Notion - Fionn Regan/@The Luminaire/August 16th

Folk may never be the new rock and roll, but it certainly is enjoying an acoustically laden revival of late. The Luminaire is a tricky space to fill: hoards of moaning gig-goers often give in to convenience. The cross-country trek into the Kilburn wilderness often proves a tube stop too many for most. But not tonight: despite the geographical pitfalls, and a spectacularly timed England friendly game taking over most bars across London, there is a palpable buzz swarming around Kilburn High Street. Much has been murmured about Fionn Regan in the run-up to tonight, and to his debut album release ‘The End of History’. For many, the finger-picking trickles hark back to a daydream conceived lost Arcadia: a veritable magical wonderland wherein Nick Drake, John Martyn and Bob Dylan created haunting sensibilities on the lone pick of a guitar string. Now these daydreamers are looking for the next folk-piper to carry on the melodic tradition. To compare Fionn to his predecessors would do him a disservice. The 25-year-old Dubliner who now resides in Brighton, embodies a melody all of his own. As he appears onto the stage, with a supportive backing band of Drew McConnell (of Babyshambles) on bass and Jamie Morrison (of The Noisettes) on drums, the beguiling simplicity of Regan’s gentle musicianship, is peppered and spiced by bejewelled lyrics that strike with poetical poignancy. “Step out of your dress and I’ll wear you like a hood,” he laments during ‘The Underwood Typewriter’. Its beauty is in its stripped down simplicity, and genuine soul. And as such, it stands out: a gentle wavering all of its own.