Scottish Folk News

Another bumper Summer hamper of new arrivals at Foot Stompin'! Plenty going on in Scotland at the moment!
1. New at Foot Stompin': includes Edinburgh Military Tattoo 2007, The Cast,
Roddy MacLeod MBE
2. Snippets - Piping Live Celebrates Record Year, Songwriting competition
3. Blas Festival - programme is out!
4. Books. includes Geordie's Mingin Medicine, Essential Tunes For Pipers Volume 2
5. The Living Tradition - latest edition
6. DVDs - The Vital Spark
7. Reviews: includes "The Return of the Two Heided Man"
8. Foot Stompin' Celtic Music Discussion Forum: Fiddle Pibrochs; BIG musical moments
9. Events
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO FORWARD THIS E-MAIL TO YOUR FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES.
1. New arrivals at Foot Stompin' Celtic Music (10% discount on all sales
after first purchase.)
BY THE CENTRE, QUICK MARCH!! Edinburgh Military Tattoo 2007 (CD): As web write, this amazing annual spectacle is happening nightly in Edinburgh! Against the majestic backdrop of Edinburgh Castle, the world-renowned Massed Pipes & Drums together with the impressive Massed Military Bands featuring the Household Cavalry's Mounted Band of The Blues and Royals and The Band of The Royal Regiment of Scotland are amongst those who gathered for Scotland's sensational 58th Edinburgh Tattoo. The audio CD features a selection of the music from this year's show. Stirring stuff!! £12.60 (£13.99 for first time customers) http://www.footstompin.com/music/bagpipe_music/tattoo_2007_cd
MUSICAL SHADES: Greengold - The Cast: Mairi Campbell has a gorgeous voice for Scots song but she can also tackle more contemporary material and on this, the long awaited third album from The Cast, there is a fine and well-balanced mix of both. I particularly liked the rather lovely version of the Robert Burns classic love song 'Red Red Rose' set to a tune by Simon Thoumire. Mairi Campbell and David Francis have made another excellent and totally charming album. £11.25 (£12.50 for first time customers) http://www.footstompin.com/music/celtic_bands/obj89045
GLORIOUS GAELIC SONG!! Margaret's Glen - Paul McCallum and Vivien Mackie: On this CD, Gaelic singer and Mod Gold Medallist Paul McCallum and acclaimed cellist Vivien Mackie perform songs from South Uist as collected by Margaret Fay Shaw in the 1930s. Absolutely gorgeous! £11.25 (£12.50 for first time customers)
http://www.footstompin.com/music/gaelic_song/margarets_glen
Read more about Margaret Fay Shaw:
http://www.footstompin.com/articles/celtic_music_heroes/obj88970
THE JOY OF SINGING!! Take the Road to Aberfeldy - Margaret Bennett: Margaret Bennett joins with friends from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music & Drame (RSAMD) and Aberfeldy District Gaelic Choir for this lovely CD of Scots and Gaelic song inspired by Margaret's invitation to Festival 500 (July 2007) in Newfoundland, where thousands of singers from all over the world spend a week together celebrating the voice and the joy of singing. Accompanied by Seylan Baxter, Cheyenne Brown, Heather Downie, Ruairidh MacMillan and Stuart Peters. £11.25 (£12.50 for first time customers))
http://www.footstompin.com/music/scottish_song/take_the_road_to_aberfeldy
AT RIGHT ANGLES!! Tangents - Bellevue Rendezvous: An acoustic trio featuring an unusual combination of instruments with Gavin Marwick (fiddle), Ruth Morris, (nyckelharpa) and Cameron Robson (bouzouki) and a set list which includes Polkas, Highland reels, a hypnotic Breton An Dro and airs from Scandinavia and the Balkans. £11.25 (£12.50 for first time customers)
http://www.footstompin.com/music/celtic_bands/tangents
CLASSIC BAGPIPES: Piobaireachd: Volume One - Roddy MacLeod MBE: Piobaireachd is often referred to as the classical music of the Highland Bagpipe as it takes the form of a theme and variations. Many tunes date from the 17th and 18th centuries and were composed to commemorate important events in these times. Laments and Salutes to Clan chiefs and notable characters are common as are Battle and Gathering tunes. This audio CD, featuring the playing of Roddy MacLeod MBE, contains the first 6
piobaireachds selected from a growing collection of new recordings. Each recording is accompanied by a manuscript PDF file and an additional Bagpipe Music Writer File with canntaireachd providing a valuable teaching and learning resource. £11.25 (£12.50 for first time customers)
http://www.footstompin.com/music/bagpipe_music/piobaireachd_vol_one
More arrivals at Foot Stompin' http://www.footstompin.com/music/new
2. Snippets
Places still available in Benbecula studying music and Gaelic
There are places still available on the HNC and FE courses at Lews Castle College in the idyllic Western Isles of Scotland for anyone wishing to study music and Gaelic. These are 1 year courses which can be taken full or part time and a chance to study with a fantastic selection of tutors from the highlands and islands and beyond. Any enquiries can be made to Archina MacLennan on 01851 770500. www.lews.uhi.ac.uk/gaelicmusic.htm
Piping Live Celebrates Record Year
The fourth year of Piping Live! has been hailed as a fantastic success. Taking place over 7 days at 16 venues across Glasgow City Centre, Piping Live! brought together around 8,000 pipers, created 15 full time jobs and contributes millions of pounds to the city's economy (including World Pipe Band Championships).
http://www.footstompin.com/forum?threadid=89292
Congratulations Field Marshall Montgomery Pipe Band from Northern Ireland who beat off stiff opposition to become 2007 World Champions at Glasgow Green on 11th August.
http://www.footstompin.com/forum?threadid=89203
An Exciting Project in the Highlands
Funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, young people are going to be going out in their own communities to collect songs, tunes and stories first-hand, digitise them and archive them for use in future Fèisean. A very exciting project that will hopefully engender respect in the young people for those who are considered to the bearers of the Gaelic tradition.
http://www.footstompin.com/forum?threadid=87193
Songwriting Competition
SongWright (The Glasgow Festival of Songwriting) is about to start the latest competition for songwriters. First heat is on Saturday 1st September. A further seven heats with the final in November.
http://www.footstompin.com/forum?threadid=89337
Celtic Connections announces venue for Festival Club 2008
..It's back to the renowned Central Hotel! The Quality Central Hotel, situated just above Glasgow Central Station, was the location of the Celtic Connections Festival Club since its inception in 1996 to the end of 2004. Celtic Connections Festival happens in Glasgow every January.
http://www.footstompin.com/forum?threadid=89477
3. BLAS 2007
The leading Gaelic and Traditional music festival in the Highlands has published its 2007 programme of events detailing 53 shows across 48 venues in the region. The BLAS festival will host an array of homegrown and internationally-renowned musicians from 31st August - 8th September and is a
highlight of the Highland 2007 programme. It is a celebration of Highland music which will see a variety of performances ranging from The Scottish Ensemble with Capercaillie's Karen Matheson, to KIN - a new commission from Duncan Chisholm.
Other highlights include Donald Shaw's 'Harvest', Dòchas, Mary Jane Lamond
Band, Kathryn Tickell Band, Na Seòid - The New Gaelic Men, and Shooglenifty.
Festival Director Donna Cunningham said: "This is our third year and we've managed to create our best programme yet. We have something for everyone with performances in big venues such as St Andrew's Cathedral in Inverness, the Nevis Centre in Fort William, and the Macdonald Aviemore Highland Resort. There will also be shows in more intimate community venues such as village halls and schools.
"BLAS is truly a festival of the Highlands and we have shows taking place in all areas of the region, including Inverness for the first time.
Information about the festival events is available from the website http://www.blas-festival.com. Tickets are available by telephone hotline: 01463 782213; from venues staging the festival shows; or on-line at
http://www.thebooth.co.uk
4. Books
Geordie's Mingin Medicine: Based on the Roald Dahl classic book ' George's Marvellous Medicine' Matthew Fitt of Itchycoo fame has given the story the 'Scots' treatment and it's brilliant!
"Geordie's Grannie wis a grabbie crabbit auld wumman wi peeliewally broon teeth and a wee snirkit-up mooth like a dug's bahookie. She wis aye compleenin, girnin, greetin, grummlin and mulligrumphin aboot somethin or ither. She wis a meeserable auld grumph."
£4.50 (£4.99 for first time customers)
http://www.footstompin.com/books/scots_language/geordies_mingin_medicine
Essential Tunes For Pipers Volume 2 (Book & CD): Volume 2 of this comprehensive guide to the tunes every piper should know by Dugald MacNeill. These are the tunes that are both popular, easy and useful for the different occasions when a piper may be asked to play. They also constitute the basic pipers' repertoire, so that when you meet up with other pipers, these are the tunes you will have in common. £9.90 (£10.99 for first time customers)
http://www.footstompin.com/books/bagpipemusic/obj89522
Fiona Driver's Orkney Tune Book: An outstanding publication of newly composed tunes in traditional style. The collection reflects the recent resurgence of interest in traditional music in Orkney and highlights the work of no fewer than fifteen young tune writers. These new compositions represent a landmark, as the very first collection of 'modern day' Orkney tunes, and they can only enhance the already rich tradition of these islands. £13.50 (£14.99 for first time customers)
http://www.footstompin.com/books/fiddle_music/orkney_tune_book
Check out Fiona Driver's CD 'The Orkney fiddler':
http://www.footstompin.com/music/fiddle_music/the_orkney_fiddler_cd
More books: http://www.footstompin.com/books
5. The Living Tradition
A great 'read' for folk fans with consistently fine articles, reviews, insights and more into the world of traditional music. The latest edition features articles on Rachel Unthank and the Winterset, Karen Matheson, The Nu-Nordic Reunion, Steve Ashley, The Magic of Folksong, Mike McGoldrick, Alistair Anderson, Old Stagers - A venerable anglo, Vaughan Williams Memorial Library. £2.93 (£3.25 for first time customers) http://www.footstompin.com/books/magazines/lt_75

6. DVDs
The Vital Spark: We just couldn't resist this! If your memory goes back a bit you might remember the wonderful television comedy series about the crew of a Clyde puffer based loosely on the Neil Munro Para Handy stories. Join Roddy McMillan as Captain Para Handy , John Grieve (engineer Dan MacPhail), Walter Carr (Dougie) and Alex McAvoy (Sunny Jim) on their precarious voyage of life through the uncharted seas of change. Or, more precisely - up and down the Clyde. Sadly, these are the only five remaining episodes of this classic BBC series. This DVD is a real treat for fans of Scottish humour!
£13.50 (£14.99 for first time customers)
http://www.footstompin.com/dvds/scottish_dvds/the_vital_spark_dvd
Jim MacLeod - Non Stop Ceilidh Dancing : A cheery non-stop dancing DVD with Eightsome Reel, Dashing White Sergeant, Virginia Reel and more. Starring
Jim MacLeod and his band with guests featuring Scottish Country Dancing, Highland Dancing and Scottish Step Dancing. £9.90 (£10.99 for first time customers)
http://www.footstompin.com/dvds/scottish_dvds/non_stop_ceilidh_dancing_dvd
More DVDs: http://www.footstompin.com/dvds
7. Reviews
CD: The Return of the Two Heided Man - Customer Review 5 stars
It is said that prophets are rarely appreciated in their own land. If ever there was a case in point, it is Matt McGinn. He was called a songwriter, but only as the term could be applied to Rab Burns or John Clare. For I think it is arguable that Matt McGinn is as important a poet for Alba as Burns was...Jess
CD: Greengold - The Cast. Reviewed for Scotland on Sunday by Norman Chalmers
(http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com)
The third album from Mairi Campbell and Dave Francis, on vocals, fiddle, viola and guitar, is a gentle collection of mainly self-penned songs with a couple of winsome tunes. Burns' 'The Lea Rig' and 'Red Red Rose' get the stylised Campbell vocal treatment, while the couple's compositions tend towards the sincere and sentimental. Vocal and instrumental skill shines from a beguilingly low-key production
http://www.footstompin.com/music/celtic_bands/obj89045
CD: Crossing Point - Daimh. Reviewed for Scotland on Sunday by Norman
Chalmers (http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com)
A second album, and a new singer, outstanding young Gaelic vocalist Calum Alex MacMillan, who has teamed up with the brilliant pan-Celtic brotherhood of pipes, fiddle, frets and bodhran. The Moidart-based band members come originally from Ireland, Cape Breton, California and Scotland, and on this album pals from Iberia join them on gaita bagpipes, lute and recorder. The production is very clean, and my only gripe is I remember them being wilder, if rougher, in Highland halls. Or maybe that was the whisky.
http://www.footstompin.com/music/celtic_bands/crossing_point_cd
8. Foot Stompin' Celtic Music Discussion Forum:
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
Fiddle Pibrochs
Can anyone tell me where they came from and is it only Bonnie Rideout who plays them? Can you buy music for them?
http://www.footstompin.com/forum?threadid=89494
BIG musical moments
... I remember going to see Jim Reid years ago in the Elbow Room and thinking I wouldn't enjoy myself. What a night. I was in tears at Bogie's Bonnie Belle. He influenced my appreciation of the North East just in one concert, including the North East Poets. What about the rest of you. Any particular BIG moments at live music?
http://www.footstompin.com/forum?threadid=88631
9. Events
21st August: Leith Folk Club presents Sheena Wellington. All Scotland surely remembers Sheena's singing of "A Man's A Man For 'a That" at the Opening Ceremony of the first Scottish Parliament for three hundred years as the highlight of that very special day. Her repertoire draws on the rich Scottish tradition passed from musician to musician through the ages and covers everything from Burns to ballads to the best of contemporary songwriting. The village, South Fort Street, just off Ferry Road, EH6 4DN.
Tel: 0131 478 7810
23rd August: The Star Folk Club presents Dick Gaughan. Passion, commitment from one of the finest performers to come out of Scotland. St. Andrews in the Square. 1 St. Andrews Square ( off Saltmarket ) Glasgow. http://www.starfolkclub.com
24 - 26th August: Dunure Inn & Legacy's August Music Festival: Situated near Ayr, the Dunure Inn is staging a weekend music festival with guests, bluesman Tam White, Sara Grey & Keiron Means, Irvine and District Pipe Band.
http://www.footstompin.com/articles/festivals/august/obj88338
31st August - 2nd September: Port Patrick Folk Festival: Small but very attractive, this festival, brings in scores of musicians to join in the myriad of sessions in a delightful waterfront setting. Concert guests are
The Anna Massie Band.
http://www.footstompin.com/articles/festivals/september/portpatrick
1st - 2nd September: Tional - Gaelic Learning Gathering. MacPhail Centre, Ullapool A unique vibrant, family-orientated Gaelic learning experience comes to Ullapool. With activities including walks, cooking, shinty, exercise classes and theatre workshops. Whatever your level of Gaelic, from complete beginner to fluent native speaker, there are activities for you at Tional.
http://www.footstompin.com/forum?threadid=89832
More festivals: http://www.footstompin.com/articles