LIVE REVIEW: BUCKLE & BOOTS 2025 - MAIN STAGE & PADDOCK STAGE - GLIMTVIS

One of the joys of Buckle & Boots is delving into the various names that have never featured on your radar before. One such name was the Danish country duo Glimtvis, whose album "Nashville Confessions" and the EP that preceded it in the previous year suggested that they were well worth highlighting as being ones to watch. There is always the risk with recommending an act that you have not seen live that they may eventually turn out to be disappointing in the flesh, and when Glimtvis took to the Main Stage as just an acoustic duo there was more than a hint of trepidation - that this recommendation could go terribly wrong - as it happened, we needn't have worried.

Introduced by Blue Foley, Glimtvis consisting of Rasmus Pedersen on guitar and vocals, along with Rikke Egholm Ravn on a variety of handheld percussion and vocals would put in an enthusiastic thirty minute set that would delight and more than fulfil our prediction. Opening with "Bronco Love" from their "Nashville Confessions" album, Rasmus would forcefully play his acoustic guitar, while Rikke on tambourine would lead out on the first verse. Like all duo's the real magic happened when both of them combined.

"You gotta get back up

When you get bonked off that bronco love!"

Rikke would swap tambourine for shaker on "Is Anybody Missing Me?" with her free hand becoming highly expressive while Rasmus did not let only having an acoustic from stopping him adopting some classic rock guitarist poses. It is one of the undoubted highlights of their album and this excellent stripped back version retained the power of the original. Their vocals ranging from rocking to a hushed whisper seemed to generate more noise than you'd imagine.

Written in a trailer in Kentucky, in a Springsteen mood, "Brave Or On The Run" opened to a raspy singalong chant. Once again this time also with the aid of a stomp pedal they made a truly rocking sound. Rasmus definitely had a Springsteen rasp to his vocal, while Rikke effected a little dance as she tambourined.

Still breathing heavily as he introduced "Superhero", Rasmus would make a moving introduction. Built around a gentle guitar riff, Rikke would move to hand holding the microphone, as things would move to a more gently pace. The quieter sound allowed a chance for Glimtvis to display some beautifully entwining vocals

Rikke would observe that she was close to crying at seeing a front row fan singing along, but that is the sort of devotion that comes with a Buckle & Boots crowd. Another Kentucky song "We Are, We Aren't" would once more see some vigorous tambourine work, and a stirring chorus that was a real European / Nashville mashup - the pay off line sounding distinctly European.

"Homebound" was another tune that showcased Glimtvis at their most harmonious best, encapsulating their joy at eventually returning home after a long spell away.

Their final song "Open Road" would offer a chance for an audience singalong, with it's rising "Oooh ing" chorus. It was a chance for a final burst of tambourine and some acoustic guitar thrashing and posing. A joyful song including the line about "Spin the throttle" would closed out their first set in style.

In a festival first, they would go on to play another full set on the Paddock Stage the next day. Anyone expecting a carbon copy though would have been pleasantly surprised as it would prove to be a totally different show entirely.

The second set would start with "Is Anyone Missing Me?" however this would be the only crossover from the previous appearance, indeed the following song "Never Said No" about taking every opportunity seems to not yet be released.

Dropping back to their 2024 EP title track "Weren't We Just Dancing" there was the now standard mix of posing and dancing!. They would drop their vocals to barely a whisper on the final chorus.

An unexpected cover would come in the shape of Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time" for which Rikke would sing while gripping the microphone stand, they would also conclude by inserting in a little snatch of "Walking In Memphis"

Written with Dan Smalley, Glimtvis would air their more soulful side, with "Finding Me And You" which would move from a quiet start before gradually ramping up in volume.

For "Again", Glimtvis would decamp from the stage and play within the middle of the tent and "Feel The Rain" would arrive just in time as the rain would start to hit the roof. By now they were playing atop hay bales - it may well be the case that few knew about Glimtvis before their arrival in Manchester but they were going all out to make sure that they would not be forgotten.

Their final contribution "What more You Need" would see the Paddock Stage clapping along captivated by the performance of the Danish duo.

The overriding memory of Glimtvis is of musicians who just love to perform and who clearly enjoy themselves whenever they get a chance to do it. Hopefully we'll get to see them do it again one day.