Illuminated by the thrill of Halloween night and eager students for a taste of fun music, the student band Folkish played in the Lion’s Pause on Oct. 31. Performing for a run time of two hours, they played 15 covers as well as one original. Each song was played intently to accommodate the holiday theme, being enhanced by both vocals and instruments. 12 members filled the stage, some switching between instruments or assisting with vocals.
The crowd watched the band in awe. At the end of every song, the audience erupted in applause and shouted compliments, completely taken away by the commitment of the band in every aspect. From the vocal range down to the outfits, the band made sure that they held true to their name.
The mix of mostly acoustic and some electric instruments, as well as repeated harmonies in each song, helped the band stay true to the traditional definition of folk music. Each song told a story and was carefully chosen not only to captivate the audience’s attention, but also to play within the gothic undertones of Halloween. Selecting songs like “Season of the Witch” and “Take Me Home, Country Roads”provided that fine balance between Halloween and folk undertones.
Knowing that Halloween night would be busiest for people going out and celebrating, they worked hard in promoting the night across campus, and even harder to show their commitment to making that night special. To do so, they performed an original song towards the end of the night titled “Bone Waltz” by the lead singer Clara Smith ’26 — which the audience was especially lost in.
Watching as the vocalist hauntingly sang out to the crowd as a young woman danced across the stage, everyone hung on to each word ringing out to them. With each instrument utilised to its full potential, the song stood out like no other. Leaving the audience with a swell of emotions, the band received the most applause once the song concluded.
The band concluded the night with a parting gift to the crowd. Singing the well known “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” each vocalist participated as the quiet instrumentals played in the background. The crowd was encouraged to sing along in harmony with the band, ending a successful performance by bringing everyone together in the final moment of the night.
If you are looking for good music played by an exceptionally talented band, then look no further than Folkish. You are guaranteed to be pleasantly swept away by their skills and enjoy what they have to offer.
