HEILUNG // USHER HALL, EDINBURGH
HEILUNG PLAY STELLAR OF SHOW AT EDINBURGH’S USHER HALL
★★★★★ (5/5)
HEILUNG
Having never known much about the Faroe Islands, I found that listening to the support act, Eivør, immediately evoked images of a mystical land where her voice echoed across mountain tops. Eivør was a performance in herself, effortlessly reaching high notes while conveying a story through her expressive body language. Her movements transformed her from a witch bathed in red light to a radiant soothsayer, mesmerizing the audience. Unfamiliar with her songs, I entered the performance with no expectations and left enlightened, carrying the melodies and hymns of her homeland with me.
Heilung's performance transcended the boundaries of a typical music gig; it was pure theatre. I was first stunned by the number of performers on stage, each adorned in ritualistic, natural costumes reminiscent of an ancient tribe immersed in the heart of a mystical forest, performing a sacred ritual. Their performance defied typical concert norms: there were no casual banter or light-hearted gestures to engage the crowd. It felt as though we were witnesses to a private ceremony of their creation—filled with the rhythmic bashing of spears on shields, the deep-throated chants of red-painted drummers, and the haunting high tones of a red-haired seer in white, revered by an antlered shaman.
The set was adorned with trees, bushes, and drums made of actual animal skin, surrounded by instruments decorated with animal bones and skulls. Everything about this stage felt alive and natural, with the air filled by the aromatic burning of sage. This performance activated every sense, immersing us completely in its natural and ritualistic atmosphere. This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, destined to linger in memory. Within the halls of Usher Hall, we were transported—for one extraordinary evening—into a world both ancient and timeless.
HEILUNG