Bee Asha – Traverse Theatre

As part of The Soundhouse Winter Festival we’re treated to a vibrant set from poet, spoken-word, rap, jazz, dance, multi-faceted artist Bee Asha, but more of that in a minute…

Support is no less than erstwhile keys player for The Vaselines, Carla J Easton, playing a clutch of songs from a forthcoming album that started life in a small recording booth in Nashville. With Brett. Dignifying a Fender Mustang (ok, could’ve been a Jaguar or Jazzmaster), peppering the set with anecdotes ranging from buying said guitar from Glasgow’s salubrious West End, to adventures halfway up a Norwegian glacier with Mr Hefner himself, Darren Hayman, she’s accompanied by ‘the best-dressed man in music’, Paul Kelly on acoustic. He was well-attired but a touch of glitter wouldn’t have gone amiss. What really struck was when he threw in some vocal harmonies. To cap things off she finished with an Ivor Cutler cover ‘I Worn My Elbows Down’. Class.

There’s a short interval for wine, olives, or… then Bee and her band take the stage. And what a band; despite the occasional claim they hadn’t rehearsed quite enough they played beautifully, sensitively, arrangements and dynamics complementing Bee’s lyrical delivery perfectly. Drums, bass, guitars and keyboards, they were a joy to watch. Which is something given Bee’s star quality magnetism. Glamorous, sparkling, yet down-to-earth, engaging between songs and possessing a powerful voice whether singing or rapping, she’s the deal. Research reveals life’s had more than its share of up’s and down’s so the set begins with songs about Rats, Bitches and someone’s voice she’d like to quell but proceedings lighten from here without abandoning any gravitas. The dress-code for the band was ‘animal print’, a mixture of Leopard, Cow, Tiger and Cheetah adorning each musician, aprons later taken on board while the audience was gifted party hats and offered cake. Real, not idle cake, representing a song deriding those unable to cope with the concept of bisexuality. A beautiful version of Bill Withers’ ‘Ain’t No Sunshine’ covered a friend’s death and haunts as she switches between the song as we know it and her own lyrics.

Bee Asha has a reputation for being outspoken with a penchant for X-rated lyricism but tonight, as evidenced by some new songs there’s a shift in direction which portends well for the future. Recognition so far has been from BBC Introducing and the Scots album Of The Year list but surely we’re nowhere near the best of what this artist has to offer.

Most arresting track of the night was ‘Bluebells’, inspired by an event in Pilrig Park; she’s about to embark on a project entitled What A Beautiful Place To Fall Over, involving music, poetry, photography and film-making in an effort to assess and understand the effect of gentrification upon Leith. It kicks off at the Leith Laundrette on Thurs Dec 11^th, with at least five more events scheduled through to February next year. Seek one out. Would go again.

Reviewer: Roger Jacobs

Reviewed: 28th November 2025

North West End UK Rating: