Carl Marah Live at The Harrison, Kings Cross: A Night of Timeless Folk and Storytelling

There are musicians who play songs, and then there are those who summon stories. Carl Marah belongs firmly in the latter camp — a songwriter whose music feels unearthed from a forgotten reel of film, flickering with emotion, memory, and cinematic detail. On stage at The Harrison in Kings Cross, Marah brings that world to life with an intimacy that captivates from the first note.

An Edinburgh-based folk artist with roots in the psychedelic pop group Logan’s Close, Carl Marah has now stepped confidently into the solo spotlight. His sound is steeped in tradition — but not stuck in the past. As SNACK Magazine puts it, “Carl Marah carries a traditional feel that remains timeless… familiar yet fresh.” It’s this balance that makes his music so magnetic: grounded in the storytelling heritage of folk, yet entirely his own in tone and texture.

Marah’s music calls to mind the poetic introspection of Bob Dylan, the melodic warmth of Paul Simon, and the shadowed mystique of Rodriguez. His songs don’t just describe feelings — they immerse you in them. Armed with a guitar, loop pedal, and a voice that drifts between vulnerability and quiet fire, he builds songs that stay with you long after the lights go down.

Medicine Show Radio praised his work as, “Lyricism, consciousness, musicality, seamless vocal, guitar and looping dexterity, ultimately all rolled up into his uniquely intimately genial story.” That “genial story” is the thread running through every Carl Marah performance — inviting, honest, and deeply human.

Marah has long been a fixture in the Edinburgh music scene, but 2025 saw him take his sound further afield. Following the release of his haunting single “Siren Song” — a fever dream of Lynchian tension, blurred realities, and slow-motion beauty — he embarked on a UK-wide tour. From Ullapool to London, audiences leaned in, drawn to the atmosphere he creates: shadowy, cinematic, yet full of warmth and connection.

“Siren Song” is a perfect example of what makes Carl Marah’s music so compelling. The song moves like mist over water — mysterious, slow-burning, and strangely beautiful. His voice flows through it like a ghostly narrator, grounding surreal imagery with emotional truth.

The Harrison in Kings Cross is the ideal setting for Marah’s style — intimate, soulful, and soaked in the history of live music. This isn’t a gig for background noise; it’s a space for listening. Expect a set full of original material, both new and unreleased, interspersed with stories, laughs, and those rare moments of collective silence when the entire room is held in a lyric.

If you’re a fan of indie folk, acoustic singer-songwriters, or simply music that resonates deeper than the surface, this is the show for you. Whether you’re discovering Carl Marah for the first time or following him from his Edinburgh roots, this performance promises to be something rare: a gig that feels personal, even in a crowded room.

Source: The Harrison website