Scottish Folk News

So many new arrivals a Foot Stompin' this month! So here they are along with the news from our vibrant Scottish folk scene.
1. New at Foot Stompin': includes Dàimh, Breabach, Skerryvore
2. The Kilt Towel!
3. Snippets: includes ?Who's in the studio??
4. Mull of Kintyre Music Festival
5. Books; Notes Frae Ma Heid 2, Parish Life in 18th-Century Scotland
6. Reviews: includes Breabach, Aly Bain
7. Foot Stompin' Internet Radio August programme
8. Foot Stompin' Celtic Music Discussion Forum: Unmistakable Voices; Do you Still Love your Vinyl?
9. August Events
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1. New arrivals at Foot Stompin' Celtic Music (10% discount on all sales after first
purchase.)
PAN CELTIC GATHERING!! Crossing Point - Dàimh: The third release from this brilliant six-piece group brings together an exciting combination of musicians from Cape Breton Island, Ireland, the West Highlands of Scotland and the Irish/American scene - effortlessly blending music and song from their native traditions with tunes picked up along the way. The charging pipe and fiddle led assault that has seen the 'Pirates of Puirt' rocking far and wide is now joined by the amazing vocals of (mod gold medalist & Trad Music Awards 'Gaelic Singer of the year nominee ' 2006) Calum Alex MacMillan from Lewis, adding the depth and power of gaelic song to an already phenomenal instrumental arsenal.£11.25 (£12.50 for first time customers)
http://www.footstompin.com/music/celtic_bands/crossing_point_cd
TRAVELLIN' FOLK!! On The Road - Skerryvore: Skerryvore are a busy young west coast Ceilidh band based in Glasgow. They join a long line of terrific musicians from the tiny island of Tiree, right on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. The guys have quite a following for their cool brand of folk and contemporary song and dance music. £11.70 (£12.99 for first time customers)
http://www.footstompin.com/music/celtic_bands/on_the_road
RIOTIOUS MUSIC!! The Big Spree - Breabach: One of the most talked about new acts on the Scottish folk scene. Their innovative celtic style, blending double bagpipes, whistle, fiddle, song and Scottish stepdance, brings to the stage, flare, excitement and diversity rarely seen from such a young group. The Big Spree is their debut album. Breabach are, Calum MacCrimmon (highland pipes, whistles), Donal Brown (highland pipes, whistles ), Patsy Reid (fiddle) and Ewan Robertson (guitar). 'a swirling collection of stirring tunes and top notch songs'..Living Tradition £11.70 (£12.99 for first time customers)
http://www.footstompin.com/music/celtic_bands/the_big_spree
CEILIDH EXPERIENCE!! Electric Landlady - The Sensational Jimi Shandrix Experience: Sandy Brechin's rockin' electric ceilidh band. Featuring an all-star cast of Greg Borland, Pete Clark, Ronan Martin, Gavin Marwick, Chris Agnew, Eoghain Anderson, Allan Brown, John Currie, Chris Day, Aaron Jones, Colin MacFarlane, William Oke, John Sikorski, David Taylor, Jim Walker and Roy Waterston. The SJSE have established a reputation as one of top ceilidh bands in the world: playing for high energy dances from Bangkok to Bogotá, Melbourne to Moscow. The bands are frequent guests of St. Andrews Societies and Caledonian Societies around the globe as well as being ever-popular at home. £11.25 (£12.50 for first time customers)
http://www.footstompin.com/music/celtic_dance/electric_landlady
A LOVELY DEBUT!! Dail-riata - Griogair Labhruidh: Griogair is a traditional Gaelic singer who sings in the seann-nòs style of the southern Hebrides and Argyll. He is also a very accomplished piper and composer of both bagpipe music and Gaelic song/poetry and belongs to a piping tradition that has been in his family for many generations. In this his debut CD he draws much of his material from Argyllshire's incredibly rich Gaelic tradition but also has a huge interest in the bardic tradition of South Uist, which has influenced much of his own work. Another of Scotland's talented young traditional musicians. £11.25 (£12.50 for first time customers)
http://www.footstompin.com/music/gaelic_song/dail_riata
UP IN THE AIR!! Strathosphere - Band-Re: Band Re are Barnaby Brown(Scotland) on voice, whistles, smallpipe and triplepipe, Gianluca Dessi (Sardinia) on guitar and Irish bouzouki .The album is a relaxed and beautifully crafted exploration of Gaelic culture. 'Beautiful compositions, impeccable execution and highly intelligent arrangements'. £11.70 (£12.99 for first time customers)
http://www.footstompin.com/music/bagpipe_music/strathosphere
GIE US A SANG!! Old Songs & Bothy Ballads - Some Rants o Fun: This is the third collection of Old Songs and Bothy Ballads recorded at the Fife Traditional Singing Weekend - the annual gathering of traditional singers that takes place at Collessie in the Howe of Fife - in the heart of the ancient Kingdom of Fife. These recordings were made in May 2006. With a selection of fine guest singers and an audience most of whom are singers, the album captures the atmosphere of a singers' event with around half of the songs joined in fine chorus. £11.70 (£12.99 for first time customers)
http://www.footstompin.com/music/compilation/some_rants_o_fun
More new arrivals at Foot Stompin' http://www.footstompin.com/music/new
2. The Kilt Towel!
How about this for a fun item? The Kilt Towel - Is it a beach towel or is it a Kilt? This season's NEW must have product! 100% cotton in a bright red tartan with a belt and sporran pictured on the front. There's even a picture o' a wee kiltpin at the side just for authenticity so tae speak:)) Size 60inches x 30inches. We couldn't resist getting some for the Foot Stompin' website. £11.70 (£12.99 for first time customers)
http://www.footstompin.com/music/obj87581/kilt_towel
3. Snippets
A Celebration of the Music of Gordon Duncan.
The Gordon Duncan Memorial Trust will be presenting ?A National Treasure? ? ?A Celebration of the Music of Gordon Duncan? in The Perth Concert Hall on Saturday, 29th September, 2007, at 7.30p.m. Dougie MacLean, Session A9, Kris Drever, Duncan Chisholm, Maggie MacInnes, Jock Duncan, Allan MacDonald, Ross Ainslie , Jarlath Henderson, Ali Hutton, Gerry O'Connor, Sylvain Hamon, Xose Manuel Tejedor, National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland, The Atholl Highlanders Pipe Band. Tickets 0845 612 6322, http://www.horsecross.co.uk
Ofcom awards licence to Celtic Music Radio.
Congratulations to Celtic Music Radio who have been awarded a licence to operate on the AM medium wave band in the Glasgow area. Celtic Music Radio intends to launch an Online streaming programme service in August and be ?on-air? as quickly as possible.
http://www.footstompin.com/forum?threadid=87582
Seachd ? The Inaccessible Pinnacle: World Premiere.
The first Scottish Gaelic feature film specially made for the cinema will have its World Premiere at The Edinburgh International Film Festival on 16th & 19th August. Jim Sutherland?s soundtrack features Gaelic vocalists and musicians including Cairistiona Primrose, Màiri Nic a Ghobhainn, Caitlin NicAonghais, Allan Macdonald, Alasdair Codona, Mary MacMaster, and Hamish Moore, and also the sound of ancient and modern Gaelic instruments including the Carnyx, the Triplepipes and the Clàrsach.
http://www.footstompin.com/forum?threadid=87519
Who's in the Studio?
According to the Foot Stompin' Forum, artists currently in the recording studio include fiddler Catriona MacDonald making her follow up to her 'Bold' album, piping duo Ross Ainslie & Jarlath Henderson, Blazin' Fiddles, the Argyll ladies Gaelic choir - Atomic Piseag, Orkney's 'Lazy Boy Chair', the Battlefield Band making their first CD with new guitarist Sean O'Donnell, current Young Musician of the Year - Catriona Watt. The one and only Arthur Cormack, Mary Sine Campbell (with Hamish and Fin Napier and Ali Hutton), North east fiddler Paul Anderson. Should be a bumper autumn!
http://www.footstompin.com/forum?threadid=88185
4. The Mull of Kintyre Music Festival
The Mull of Kintyre, a region brought to prominence in song by Sir Paul McCartney, has held this annual music festival, which has grown each year since it’s inception in 1993. Set in the community of Campbeltown, the festival has become the region’s top cultural event being nominated in the Best Event category in the Hands Up For Trad Awards 2006. It is now an event, which encourages people to visit Kintyre from all parts of the globe. Satisfying an ambition of the Festival to showcase the very best in traditional and contemporary music worldwide whilst also displaying the region’s cultural individuality through the talents of the local musicians of all ages.
The Festival committee have mixed the content of their programme to suit all tastes in music, whilst remaining aware that the main format has been formed around the traditional music of Scotland and Ireland. They have adopted a theme based on an affinity with the people of Northern Ireland and the historical links to them as the sea kingdom of Dalriada. The first Scots set foot in Kintyre circa 300 AD and the evidence of their occupation is all around. The fact that an influential association had previously existed between our two regions is reflected in the Festival motto – ‘Cradle of the Nation’
By year 12 the festival was operating at capacity, with sell out performances and an unsatisfied demand for tickets. The organisers faced with the choice of either remaining as it was or progressing to a higher level by expanding to meet the events full potential, something they firmly believe could be achieved. Plans were drawn up, advice was sought through the local enterprise company (Argyll and the Islands Enterprise) and a decision was made to expand the Festival and introduce a new format to the event. Additional funds were successfully sought through EventScotland to help market and develop the event and the new and expanded Festival was born.
Established events such as the Festival Ceilidh, Grand Parade and Survivors’ Night, are now complemented by the Festival Club held in the Town Hall, while the family-orientated outdoor event Harbour Splash Day has received a makeover to become “Doon the Green”. The town’s Burnside Square transforms into a fantastic outdoor venue for the Burnside Bash on Saturday evening and also hosts live music on the Sunday to ease you back into the mood again following Saturday’s revelries. The new all standing concert with its increased capacity has proved a huge success and is perfectly complemented by the Traditional concert in the Campbeltown Picture House which has proved to be a magical venue. In addition, Campbeltown’s pubs and hotels are be so crammed full of musicians that many of them end up playing out in the street. Whether you are there to listen to music or to join in a session you are guaranteed the warmest of welcomes.
The 15th Mull of Kintyre Music Festival takes place in Campbeltown, 16th- 19th August, 2007
Festival guests include Dougie MacLean, Archie MacAllister, Moishe's Bagel, Skerryvore, Sylvia Barnes, Ed Miller.
http://www.footstompin.com/articles/festivals/august/mull_of_kintyre_festival
5. Books
Notes Frae Ma Heid 2 - Chris Armstrong: Second music book by one of the world's most gifted pipers. The book contains a wide variety of 2/4 and 6/8 marches, strathspeys, reels, slow airs, suites, and of course hornpipes and jigs - tunes played in concert and on recordings by Chris, and by his ScottishPower Pipe Band. .£13.50 (£14.99 for first time customers)
http://www.footstompin.com/books/bagpipemusic/notes_frae_ma_heid_2
Parish Life in 18th-Century Scotland - A Review of the Old Statistical Account.: In 1790 Sir John Sinclair of Ulbster sent an exhaustive questionnaire to every parish minister in Scotland, covering such diverse subjects as lifestyle, customs, industry, agriculture, geology and wildlife. The results were gathered and published in the 'Old Statistical Account', a massive 20-volume work. In this 208 page paperback Maisie Steven presents a selection of that wealth of material in a lively and accessible form. It is a remarkable and unique insight into the lives of Scottish people from very different parishes, urban and rural, rich and poor, highland and lowland. It positively bursts at the seams with insights into just about every area of life in an age of radical change. This book is an essential resource and even includes the original questionnaire. .£13.50 (£14.99 for first time customers)
http://www.footstompin.com/books/traditions/parish_life
More books: http://www.footstompin.com/books
6. Reviews
CD: The Big Spree - Breabach: The Scotsman
IT IS not that long since a band playing to the standard of Braebach would have been considered a remarkable phenomenon on the Scottish folk scene. These days, however, no-one bats an eyelid at a young group performing with the technical assurance and feel for traditional idioms that are abundantly evident here, a measure of how much standards have risen across the board since the early 1990s. Braebach are unusual in that their quartet line-up is dominated by two Highland pipers, Donal Brown and the man with the famous piping lineage, Calum MacCrimmon. Their raucous, driving attack, underpinned by Ewan Robertson's propulsive guitar work, is energised and exciting. Fiddler Patsy Reid is no slouch when the spotlight falls on her either, and both she and Robertson throw in a song as well. The tunes are mostly well-known traditional pieces, with a leavening of more contemporary material. http://thescotsman.scotsman.com http://www.footstompin.com/music/celtic_bands/the_big_spree
CD. First Album - Aly Bain: Customer Review 5 Stars
It's astonishing to think I'm the first to review this! It's usually on my PC's CD player to cheer me up when I need it. Aly sublime as usual, and it's a treat to hear the support from Violet Tulloch and the wonderful Willie Johnstone (sadly recently deceased). Essential listening for anyone who likes honest craftsmanship and artistry....Steve Warrington
http://www.footstompin.com/music/fiddle_music/first_album
7. Foot Stompin' Internet Radio
Listen to the current programme on our popular Internet radio show! Our playlist for August 2007 features tracks from the CDs Breabach's "The Big Spree", Maeeve Mackinnon's 'Don't Sing Love Songs', Nuala Kennedy's 'The New Shoes', Allan MacDonald's 'Dastirum', Fionnair's 'An t-ionnsachadh Òg' and Griogair Labhruidh's Dail-Riata.
http://www.footstompin.com/radio
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
Unmistakable Voices
What artists do you regard as being so distinctive you can hear them sing or play, even a relatively short phrase, and know...Not just voices, but instrumental playing comes in to this too... unique styles, phrasing, http://www.footstompin.com/forum?threadid=88414
Do you still love your vinyl?.
An article in yesterday's Herald got me thinking about the old favourites languishing in the cupboard.
Silly Wizard?s ? Caledonia?s Hardy Sons and So Many Partings ? still treasured... The Wild Geese with Gerry O?Connor playing Naimh?s Capers on the banjo. Meat Loaf?s - Bat Out of Hell...
http://www.footstompin.com/forum?threadid=87508
9. Events
3rd - 5th August: Common Ground Festival Weekend: Glaisnock House, near Cumnock, Ayrshire. A full programme of concerts, ceilidhs and sessions throughout the Festival Weekend and at some venues within the town of Ayr. Weekend Tickets for all events £40. Individual tickets from £5. http://www.commongroundscotland.com/
3 - 25 August: Scottish Folk Roots & Offshoots. David Ferrand. 18:45 (1:00) £5.00 From historical ballads to the love songs of Robert Burns, enjoy an evening of Scottish song and its transatlantic offshoots in Edinburgh's most intimate folk pub. The Royal Oak Infirmary Street. box office phone: 0131 557 2976. Check out the many artists appearing at 'Festival Folk at the Oak' - full list in our Guides section.
http://www.footstompin.com/articles/festivals/august/festival_folk_at_the_oak
5th - 27th August: Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The world's largest celebration of the arts, the annual Edinburgh International Festival Fringe, is a massive explosion of cultural and artistic expression centred around the official festival. Check out the masses of trad music in our Foot Stompin' Guide.
http://www.footstompin.com/articles/festivals/august/edinburghfringe
6th - 12th August: Over the last four years, Glasgow's Piping Live! has established itself as one of the most exciting celebrations of Scottish culture, offering a refreshing twist on traditional piping events. Bigger than ever, this year?s festival will host a record number of homegrown acts including Simon Thoumire?s Garvie Bagpipe Concerto, Wolfstone, Finlay MacDonald, Daimh, Bodego and the Peatbog Faeries to name a few alongside international names such as Luigi Lai (Italy) and Anxo Lorenso (Spain). Loads of events across the city culminating in the marvellous World Pipe Band Championships on Glasgow Green on Saturday 11th August.
http://www.footstompin.com/articles/festivals/august/piping_hot_festival
6th - 12th August: Shetland Fiddle Frenzy: A fiddle school covering the music of Shetland's own authentic traditions including the music of Dr. Tom Anderson and Willie Hunter. Workshops, concerts, master-classes, sessions, tours/visits. A must for all fans of traditional music.
http://www.footstompin.com/articles/summer_schools/shetland_fiddle_frenzy
17th - 19th August: Innerleithen Music Festival. A lovely festival set amongst the rolling hills of the Scottish Borders. Concerts, competitions, workshops, pub sessions, childrens activities and more. Martin Carthy, Tannahill Weavers, Real time, Kris Drever and more..
http://www.footstompin.com/articles/festivals/august/obj13858
More festivals: http://www.footstompin.com/articles