Hi from Foot Stompin! Only two hail storms this week so that must mean summer's just around the corner. We would love to hear any of your ideas you think would enhance footstompin.com and our newsletter.
1. New at Foot Stompin': includes Heather and Glen, Glasgow Gaelic Choir, TMSA Young Trad Tour 2007
2. Book Choice: Scottish Fiddle Music For Beginners
3. Battle of Culloden
4. News Snippets
5. Foot Stompin’ Radio Programme
6. Guide to Scottish Music
7. CD Reviews: includes Dick Gaughan, Fred Morrison
8. Foot Stompin' Celtic Music Discussion Forum: includes “A song and a tune”
9. Events
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1. New arrivals at Foot Stompin' Celtic Music (10% discount on all sales after first purchase.)
PICK OF THE WEEK: Heather and Glen - We think this CD is a wee gem! Here we have an invaluable collection of folk songs and folk music from Aberdeenshire and the Hebrides collected by Alan Lomax, Calum McLean and Hamish Henderson in 1951. Many of the artists featured have themselves become legendary figures of the traditional music genre. Jeannie Robertson was awarded an MBE for her services to preserving Scottish folk songs, and along with Flora McNeill and John Burgess ("The King of the Highland Pipers") has been inducted into The Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame.
The booklet reproduces Alan Lomax's original sleeve note, which gives fascinating and detailed background to the artists and songs and how they were recorded.
£9.90 (£10.99 for first time customers)
http://www.footstompin.com/products/cds/heather_and_glen
TOTAL HARMONY!! Slighe an Airgid (The Silver Way) - Glasgow Gaelic Choir: This album by one of Scotland's top Gaelic choirs features songs delightfully arranged by their conductor, Kenneth Thomson who is celebrating his long-term membership of the choir, and another significant milestone as the choir’s conductor for the past 25 years. This lovely album features eighteen of the sixty songs Kenneth has arranged for choral singing to date. £11.25 (£12.50 for first time customers)
http://www.footstompin.com/products/cds/gaughan_live_at_the_trades_club
TALENT GALORE!! TMSA Young Trad Tour 2007: Each year the TMSA (Traditional Music and Song Association of Scotland) organises a concert tour round Scotland featuring the finalists from the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musicians Awards plus the previous year's winner. This album recorded live at some of the concerts lets us hear these great young players and singers and allows us to appreciate how fortunate we are to have this well of talent coming through for the future. Featuring Catriona Watt (voice - winner 2007), Shona Mooney (fiddle - winner 2006), Darren MacLean (voice), Mike Vass (fiddle), Calum MacCrimmon (pipes, whistles), Calum Stewart (flute), Martin Hunter (button box accordion), Mhairi Hall (piano, backing vocals) and Innes Watson (guitar, fiddle, backing vocals). £9.89 (£10.99 for first time customers) http://www.footstompin.com/products/cds/tmsa_young_trad_tour_2007
THE BIG MUSIC!! The Waking of the Bridegroom - Dùsgadh fir na bainnse – Patrick Molard: Acclaimed Breton piper Patrick studied Piobaireachd with the two great Scottish pipers Robert Brown & Robert Nicol (The Bobs of Balmoral) both Queen Elizabeth' personal pipers. With those Scottish masters, he worked on a hundred or so classical pipe pieces. They not only taught him to play Piobaireachd but also its spirit, philosophy, the differences between space and time, shadow and light, the kind of recipe that enables the playing of such moving tunes. In these recordings he demonstrates the scope of his Pìobaireachd repertoire. £11.70 (£12.99 for first time customers)
http://www.footstompin.com/products/cds/bagpipe/the_waking_of_the_bridegroom
Read more about The Bobs of Balmoral: http://www.footstompin.com/artists/bobs_of_balmoral__robert_u_brown_and_robert_b_nicol
WORDS & MUSIC!! Ivver Entrancin Wis – Lise Sinclair: Lise Sinclair's debut album 'Ivver Entrancin Wis' is an original collection of Shetland poems put to music, including cello, harp, viola and voice. Featuring Lise Sinclair (voice), Chris Stout (viola and fiddle), Catriona McKay (pedal harp), Abby Heyward and Wendy Weatherby (cello), Friarey and Capella (voices). "Moving and wonderful. Like a shell to the ear... New Hope International " £11.70 (£12.99 for first time customers)
http://www.footstompin.com/products/cds/ivver_entrancin_wis
BRAND NEW MUSIC!! Beo An Duil - Bi Beo: Bi Beo are a six piece contemporary Gaelic band from the Hebrides forging unique styles to self-penned folk/pop/rock songs. The album is one of entirely new Gaelic songs in a contemporary style that continues to show respect for the old ways particularly in lyrics and song content . £11.25 (£12.50 for first time customers)
http://www.footstompin.com/products/cds/beo_an_duil
More 'new arrivals' at Foot Stompin': http://www.footstompin.com/collections/new
2. Book Choice
Scottish Fiddle Music For Beginners: Alpha Munro: If you want to learn to play the fiddle then Alpha Munro’s book is perfect ! Simple instructions and lots of great traditional tunes such as Gaelic airs, marches, strathspeys, jigs and reels. It starts with identifying all the bits of the fiddle, how to hold it and the bow; the names the strings, how to read music, and it progresses, - through graded exercises and tunes - to playing complete melodies. There's information on the origin of tunes, and of the dances they were written for, plus some excellent illustrations. It's a paperback and it's written in Gaelic and English too! £9.00 (£9.99 for first time customers)
http://www.footstompin.com/products/books/scottish_fiddle_music_for_beginners_book
3. Battle of Culloden
The 16th April is the anniversary of the Battle of Culloden. Bonnie Prince Charlie's exhausted forces met a much larger army of Hanoverian regulars led by the Duke of Cumberland. Reckless bravery they displayed in plenty, but it was not enough to win the day.
262 years on the exciting new Culloden Battlefield visitor centre and exhibition is now open. Through recent archaeological and historical research the National Trust for Scotland discovered that the previous centre was sited on the third Government line of the battlefield. With the Trust's resolve to return the battlefield to as close as we know it on 16 April 1746, the centre was moved. The previous facilities had struggled to cope with visitor numbers at peak times and its site will be returned to being part of the battlefield. The new centre and exhibition allows the whole Culloden story to be told in an innovative and interactive way which appeals to all the family. Culloden Battlefield visitor centre, Culloden Moor,
Inverness,IV2 5EU. Email: culloden@nts.org .uk Tel: 0844 493 2159
Check out our discussion forum thread “Songs about Culloden” http://www.footstompin.com/public/forum?threadid=150628
Check out the DVD ‘Culloden 1746 - The Last Highland Charge’ - The dramatic story of the last charge of the Highland Clans: http://www.footstompin.com/products/dvd/culloden_1746__the_last_highland_charge_dvd
4. News Snippets
Nòs Ùr song competition finalists announced
The finalists have been selected for the first Celtic and Scots languages song contest to be held in Inverness as one of four regional competitions held across Europe. The Nòs Ùr finalists are: Aled Myrddin, Welsh; Davie Tait, Scots; Dilwyn Llwyd, Welsh; Fiona J Mackenzie, Scots Gaelic; Gillebride MacIllemhaoil, Scots Gaelic; Gwennyn Louarn, Breton; Oi Polloi, Scots Gaelic; Gareth Bonello, Welsh; Yr Annioddefol, Welsh; Phamie Gow, Scots Gaelic; Paula Kehoe, Irish; and Lleuwen Steffan, Welsh. Read the press release.
http://www.footstompin.com/public/forum?threadid=163258
Job Opportunity
The Scottish Folk Arts Group has an immediate vacancy for a paid administrator to support the Scottish Folk Directory and related projects. This position would require one day per week working in Edinburgh..
http://www.footstompin.com/public/forum?threadid=163255
Chilli Pipers at Burns An’ A’ That Festival
Along with the Red Hot Chilli Pipers, the Ayrshire festival, which celebrates the life of poet Robert Burns, will also feature, singers Karen Matheson, Eddi Reader and Amy MacDonald and……… rockers Status Quo!
http://www.footstompin.com/public/article/festivals/may/obj150447
Accordions on Display!
A unique collection of accordions is on display at Bogbain Adventure and Heritage Farm, Inverness. They've been collected by Caroline Hunt and it is, without doubt, the most unique collection in the UK.She has instruments from Italy, France, Russia, Germany, Japan, kids accordions,button accordions, key accordions and some that date back to the early 1800s.
http://www.footstompin.com/public/forum?threadid=150566
2008 Isle of Skye Music Festival Cancelled
This festival has been cancelled. Crowds at the last festival, were lower than had been anticipated, leaving organisers with debts. The festival was launched in the summer of 2005 and attracted some of Britain's biggest bands to Ashaig airstrip near Broadford. The festival was voted the UK's most fan-friendly in 2006.
Simon MacKenzie RIP
….the noted Gaelic actor who portrayed the college principal in Scottish TV's Gaelic soap opera Machair, has died of cancer aged 58. Among his many contributions to artistic and cultural life, he was a regular adjudicator at the Mod.
http://www.footstompin.com/public/forum?threadid=163049
5. Foot Stompin’ Radio Programme
Tune in to our latest programme which features exciting folk music tracks from - Fiddling sessioneers Session A9, Dick Gaughan Live at the Trades Club. Ceol Uibhist, Shetland fiddler extraordinaire Steven Spence and the supreme talent of the TMSA Young Trad Tour. Remember this broadcast is also available as a podcast. Visit the site and get the details.
http://www.footstompin.com/radio
6. Guide to Scottish Music
We're compiling a guide to Scotland's music for visitors to the site who don't know much about Scotland and it's music. Can you help us? What information would you add? I think it can be funny as well as educational. Either post your ideas on our forum (http://www.footstompin.com/forum?threadid=163294) or reply to this email.
7. Reviews
CD: The Sound of the Sun - Fred Morrison Customer Review 5 Stars.
Wonderful, magical, what a talent this man has, made the hair on the back of my neck stand up and my skin crawl. Progressive piping at the top of the league. Cant wait for more releases to be available. Lang may yer lum reek Fred........Michael Smith.
http://www.footstompin.com/music/bagpipe_music/the_sound_of_the_sun
CD: Og - Mhadainn Shamhraidh (Summer Dawn) – Kathleen MacInnes. Customer Review 5 Stars
Full marks for service from Foot Stompin' Ordered disc on Sunday, arrived first thing Tuesday following. What a voice Kathie Mac Innes has brought on scene. Sweet as the machair full on, perfect rythmn as a Atlantic roller. Most of all the pungency of a windless, hard frost catch at the back of the throat peat fire day. Once tasted never forgotten…Sandy
http://www.footstompin.com/products/cds/ogmhadainn_shamhraidh_summer_dawn
CD: Fama Clamosa – The MacKenzies: Customer Review 5 Stars
I bought this CD on a whim, never having heard anything of theirs before. The harmony is just awesome, it's amazing what these three are able to do together...Richard
http://www.footstompin.com/products/cds/fama_clamosa
CD: Gaughan Live! – Dick Gaughan – Reviewed for Scotland on Sunday by Norman Chalmers
A baker's dozen from Leith's finest, as he preaches to the converted in the Trades Club, Hebden Bridge, the last gig of his 2007 winter tour of England and Wales. The troubadour, patriot, internationalist, songwriter and, most importantly, socialist, has been a tirelessly touring, much-loved campaigner for justice and equality through most of the latter half of the 20th century. Accompanied by his own complex, expressive guitar, he works through a selection of political favourites, including 'Thomas Muir', and some of his most enduringly beautiful songs, 'Both Sides The Tweed' and – spot the tiny lyric change – Burns' 'Westlin Winds'.
http://www.footstompin.com/products/cds/gaughan_live_at_the_trades_club
DVD: Songs From a Woman’s Heart – Lena Martell: Customer Review 4 Stars
I really enjoyed this dvd , in fact I like Lena's voice much more now than when she was younger , it has become smoother and even more engaging. My favourite tracks were the title song , My Homeland, and Always On My Mind, also for a lady in her sixties Lena looks remarkably fresh in close up! N othing can match the magic of Lena on stage but this is a good substitute....Fred Oneil
http://www.footstompin.com/products/dvd/songs_from_a_womans_heart_dvd
CD: No. 1 Scottish - Traditional Music from the RSAMD: Customer Review 5 Stars
“Scottish traditional music knowledge & skills are also in very good hands”
This album is a splendid, monumental and celebratory milestone for the Academy. It demonstrates the great teamwork there, and it would be nice to see an annual album from their talented students. Besides performance, the art of recording should certainly be an important part of their training too. Apparently, they are in very good hands at the school, and Scottish traditional music knowledge and skills are also in very good hands for the future. (Joe Ross, Roseburg, OR.)
http://www.footstompin.com/music/compilation/rsamd
8. Foot Stompin' Celtic Music Discussion Forum:
Our Discussion forum is a lively place! Here are some of the topics under discussion at the moment on our Foot Stompin' Celtic Music Forum. Feel free to join in! http://www.footstompin.com/forum?forumid=3
A Song and a Tune
At our local folk club the other night, comments were made to the effect that when we booked an act which was entirely instrumental then we should, at least, ensure that the support and/or floor spots included singing…
http://www.footstompin.com/forum?threadid=163101
Gaelic in Nova Scotia
Could anyone tell me which areas in Nova Scotia contain the largest Gaelic speaking population? Thinking of doing a Gap Year, and I know there’s a Gaelic college on Cape Breton Island, but I’m still a little confused as how far spread Gaelic is spoken.
http://www.footstompin.com/public/forum?threadid=151145
9. Events
25th – 27th April 2008: Mull Music Festival - This music festival takes place in and around the Mishnish Hotel which is located in the Main Street, Tobermory. Impromtu's, ceilidhs, singing, dancing and much fun. Guests - The Raggaels, Archie MacAllister and the Kinloch Ceilidh Band.
http://www.footstompin.com/public/article/festivals/april/obj150407
27th April 2008: Scottish Fleah: Starting 11am at St Paul’s High School, Pollok, Glasgow. Fleadhs are competitions in Irish music, song and dance that encourage and promote Irish traditional music, song and dance here in Scotland and across the globe. Each year one of the four Scottish branches of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann takes a turn at convening this key event in the traditional music calendar.
http://www.footstompin.com/public/article/festivals/april/obj150401
1st May 2008: The Tannahill Weavers, much-travelled top folk band at the Star Folk Club St Andrews in the Square, 1 St Andrews Square, Glasgow. 8pm. tickets at the door.
http://www.starfolkclub.com/contact_live_music.htm
1st - 4th May 2008: Shetland Folk Festival - The festival, first held in 1981, features a heady mixture of talented local performers and visiting musicians and artistes from many parts of the world. Guests include Le Vent du Nord, Breabach, Peatbog Faeries, Kevin Henderson & Brendan Begley, The Chair, Henrik Jansberg Band and many more..
http://www.footstompin.com/public/article/festivals/may/obj150405
9th - 11th May 2008: Moniaive Folk Festival - Moniaive is set in the beautiful Cairn Valley approximately 15 miles north of Dumfries. Saturday concerts and a ceilidh in the Memorial Institute, and competitions sessions, workshops and more in the local hotels throughout the weekend. Car park with picnic area, small campsite. Festival guests include Altan, Moishe's Bagel, Bellevue Rendezvous
http://www.footstompin.com/public/article/festivals/may/obj150442
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