Last updated 05:37, Friday, 29 August 2008

RORY CONNORIt seems we can only make sense of solo talent by drawing comparisons.

And singer/songwriter Rory Connor did not escape the predilection for parallels.

He’s been compared to folk legend John Martyn – maybe because lyrically, both tap into emotions hidden deep in the chest.

Some of the hundreds who turned out to see Connor at the Drystone Stage on Friday pointed to Damien Rice – perhaps due to a shared talent for rolling melodies, and the power to move with a bittersweet, pared-down sound.

Others nodded to Gomez – a vocalist with the same smoky quality.

Compare Connor if you will, but at Solfest his vocals and penmanship struck chords with the crowd in a way all his own.

Sarah Sawyer, 37, of Alston, said: “He’s fantastic, a real talent. He has this ability to connect with you through his music. It’s restful, but it can challenge you with the depth of his voice and lyrics.”

With a set that ranged through the emotional spectrum, Connor’s voice swung between feather light and a soaring crescendo, sweeping up the crowd into dreamtime as they sipped a little Australian Wine.

SARAH NEWSTEAD