It's official. The ginger nut is the favourite biscuit of Birmingham's Sounds in the Round fraternity. Not the Jammy Dodger, something called the Tunnock's Caramel Log or - a close contender - Scottish shortbread.
The appearance of two hopefuls from north of the border was no coincidence because the tongue-in-cheek competition was part of the ice-breaking banter employed by Scottish singer-songwriter Karine Polwart.
Not that her enchanting set needed any kind of warm-up to win the heart or mind.
"You take your biscuits seriously here in Birmingham," she joshed as the World Cup-inspired knockout reached its final whistle.
They take their music seriously too, although the broad smiles, swaying bodies, tapping feet and chorus singalongs showed they enjoy a class act when hear one. And Karine is certainly that.
Winner of Best Album, Best Original Song and Best Newcomer at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2005, she is an established name on the live music circuit and Friday night's big turnout at the mac arena bore testament to her popularity.
Much of the set was culled from her new album, Scribbled in Chalk, but the live show made it clear that if anything the CD doesn't do her full justice.
Perhaps it was something to do with the pre-dusk magic of the mac's open air setting but her haunting, lilting voice and the sometimes whimsical, sometimes disturbing tales seemed to gather greater power under the evening sky.
Backed by an empathetic band - drums, guitar, double bass and accordian - that dunked its musical biscuit in a bewitching concoction of indie, alt country and jazz as well as folk, this warm, wistful and witty lass from the Scottish Borders was equally at home with an unadorned voice and lone guitar.
David Faers
