David B Archibald / Ciara Watt - The Old Dr Bell’s Baths, Edinburgh 7th December 2024

The venue is a large white walled room with chairs set out for around 100 people. The stage was no more than 6 inched high. Bearing only a seat and microphone, it didn’t give any performer a place to hide. Tonight was to be a stripped back affair.

Rhona and I got there in time to see the second artist of the night, Ciara Watt, take to the small stage. Clutching her semi-acoustic guitar, Ciara gave us 30 minutes of love and loss, friendship and teenage angst. She also threw in a bit of “Caledonia” too. I thought Ciara had a great voice and knew her way around a guitar. She also seemed, to me, to be very comfy in her own songs and the emotions that came as part of those. I really enjoyed Ciara’s half hour and hope to see her again.

The first time I came across David B Archibald was in 2018. His band, “The Rising Souls”, were headlining the new bands stage at the Ramblin’ Man Festival in Kent. As I recall it, when they took to the stage there were around 15 of us in the tent, that doubled for the festivals third stage. By the time they finished, the tent was full. The last time I saw David was, again with The Rising Souls, but this then it was in King Tuts in Glasgow. A new guitarist had been recruited and the band were pushing on. Sadly, that push was not enough and they folded. I was really sorry to see that happen, I thought then that they were a band with many good things in front of them and, they should have achieved more success.

Fast forward to last Saturday night and I was delighted to see David and his guitar take to the stage in this old swimming pool. It struck me that this evening was something of a showcase, an opportunity for the singer to introduce new songs, not just to friends, (and there were a lot of them there), but also to paying customers who may not have been just as familiar with his work. I felt tonight was a small, but significant step, along David’s musical journey.

As I said, tonight offered no hiding place but David Archibald’s voice certainly needs no place to hide. He has a mighty vocal and a range many established singers would envy. He took us on a voyage of soulful music, tinged with Americana, bluegrass and country. His time in Georgia clearly influenced his music, and for the good - even though he had to pen tunes by a cold lake so as to not upset his neighbours!

David has returned from America and is back in his hometown. The set ends with “Edinburgh” a song all about David’s early relationship with that hometown. This was a song I particularly enjoyed and it made for a powerful end to the night.

Tonight’s hour sped by. Since I first saw David play I have loved his voice and followed his output on social media. I am so pleased he is back home, and the muse is still upon him. I very much hope he gets the big break he, and his voice deserve, if you’ve not heard him before, find his stuff and give it a listen. If you like a big bit of Scottish soul, you won’t be disappointed.