Lau

Simon Thoumire

The Scots Fiddle Concerto:

Aidan O’Rourke, Jenna Reid, Gordon Gunn, Mairi Campbell. Patsy Reid

This stellar lineup of fiddlers and accompanists drawn from the traditional music world will play solos and duets including the world première of The Scots Fiddle Concerto commissioned by the Scottish Arts Council.  The concerto, for solo fiddle and ensemble, was written to give a platform for highly talented traditional musicians to show their virtuoso skills within this format.  Simon’s work in this area is exceptional and has been described by Rob Adams in The Herald as ‘delicate lyricism…commanding in its execution’ – and by Sue Wilson in The Scotsman as ‘brimming with wit, mischief and virtuosity…nothing short of electrifying.’  This will be a historic occasion not to be missed!
The ensemble comprises: 2 fiddles, piano, guitar and flute.  The soloist for the Scots Fiddle Concerto is Gordon Gunn.

Ryan Young

Only 16 and already a phenomenal player. Winner of the Danny Kyle Award at Celtic Connections, finalist in the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award, on his way to RSAMD, Ryan is definitely a star of the future.

Border Fiddles

Lori Watson, Shona Mooney, Innes Watson, Rachel Cross, Carly Blain (fiddles) Sandy Watson (guitar/bouzouki)
Five of the most inspired fiddle players around, whose first album Borders Young Fiddles woke this beautiful tradition from its slumbers.  Hear some of the music from their forthcoming album – aching, atmospheric airs, driving jigs, reels and hornpipes.  Compelling music where innovation meets tradition with intriguing and beautiful results.

Catriona Macdonald & Annbjørg Lien

One of the sparkling gems in Shetland’s musical crown, Catriona Macdonald has grown into a powerful and innovative musician.  Also well-known as a king pin of the hugely popular Blazin Fiddles she works here with her childhood friend from Norway, hardanger fiddler Annbjørg Lien, to move into new musical contexts. Their programme will highlight the historic links between Shetland and Norway and bridge the gap between age-old tradition and contemporary music.  Some of the beautiful tunes will be fresh compositions of their own.  A feast of dynamic and magical playing that crosses borders in every directions.  Unmissable!

A hugely popular band,
skilled in making a ceilidh fun for experts and beginners!

SWÅP  The Du Da tour

Karen Tweed (piano accordion) Ian Carr(guitar)                          
Ola Bäckström(viola d’amore/fiddle) Carina Normansson (fiddle/voice)
Last chance to hear this exciting group at the end of their Du Da Tour. 
Winners of many awards (Songlines Top of the World, BBC R2 Folk Awards Best group nomination…) they describe their performance as chilling, thrilling musical adventures in Anglo-Scandinavian roots ‘n’ reel and song, where Swedish polskas and schottis shake hands with jigs and waltzes from all over the British Isles and Ireland.  Rave energy and string quartet subtlety by turn.
‘The whole zany, playful, energetic instrumentally brilliant and, vocally, ever so slightly otherworldly adventure should be sampled at full length and full strength.’ Rob Adams The Herald. ‘infectious…try to catch them if you can.’  Dave Beeby The Living Tradition

 Whatever you do don’t miss it!     

Tim O’Leary with Aaron Jones

Cammy Gaskell

A memorial recital for Cameron Gaskell
A special recital in honour of Cameron Gaskell who died unexpectedly this year.  Cameron was a great fiddler, a hugely popular teacher and accomplished session-leader. Generations of faltering beginners owe their pleasure in playing to him. Tim, a talented and versatile musician/actor/musical director, has made Edinburgh his home and worked and played here alongside Cammie over many years. He is currently working on a new CD on which he will play most of the instruments and will have written most of the music.

Heeliegoleerie

Eilidh Steel (fiddle)Mark Neal (guitar/cittern/vocals) Ali Macleod (djembi)   
Formed while helping get Fiddle 2003 on the road (!) this enterprising innovative group have gone on to win the Danny Kyle award at Celtic Connections in 2006 and to play in festivals countrywide. Their originality pours out in self-composed tunes and songs, but these are solidly grounded in the traditions of Scottish music, especially of Argyll and Scotland’s west coast where Eilidh and Mark come from.

Bellevue Rendezvous

Gavin Marwick (fiddle) Ruth Morris (nyckelharpe) Cameron Robson (bouzouki)
Individually highly thought-of and brought together by their love of beautiful, quirky music, this vibrant new group has already received lavish exposure and accolades from the press.  They have just released their first album Tangents. Their recital will contain much original material along with lyrical interpretations of music from all over Europe.

Brendan Hendry with Paul McSherry

A highly respected musician steeped in the tradition, Brendan is currently working with flautist Brendan Mulholland and guitarist Paul McSherry on an album which will be finished later this year.  His recital will include some of his own compositions and scan the whole spectrum of the Scottish and Irish traditions. 

Tymao

Alasdair White with Ewan MacPherson

Best known as the Battlefield Band’s virtuoso fiddle player and a king pin of their continuing success, Alasdair has just released his first solo album An Clar Geal to high acclaim. His creativity and musicianship are on display here as he unites the North-West Scottish style of his youth(heavily derived from the piping tradition) with fresh compositions of his own.

Charlie McKerron with Ross Martin

A member of Capercaillie for 23 years and founder member of Session A9, Charlie has been at the forefront of the traditional music world for over 20 years.   Award-winning composer for film and television (Rob Roy, Crowdie and Cream) Charlie also won best composer at the 2005 BBC/Trad music awards in 2005.  His recital will feature his own tunes and a mixture of contemporary and favourite traditional tunes.

Lauren MacColl with Barry Reid and James Ross

No longer a newcomer to the scene, Lauren (2005 BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award winner) now confidently fronts her talented trio to general acclaim - ‘Her slow airs may well make you cry,’ Rob Adams, Herald.  Her recital will showcase material from her much-praised debut album When Leaves Fall released earlier this year.

Fribo

Sofie Linge Valdal, Sarah-Jane Summers, Ewan MacPherson
A wonderful collaboration of different talents and cultures which has shot to prominence in no time at all. Their debut album The Ha’ O Habrahellia, achieved with a Creative Development Award from the Scottish Arts Council, has been highly praised for its ‘haunting beauty’ Fiddle On Magazine, ‘freshness and zest’ Rock n’ Reel Magazine, ‘masterly, intoxicating impressionism’ David Kidman. Their recital will contain many of their own beautiful compositions.

Something very special in the world of traditional music, this group, formed in the late 1960s, led the revival in the use of the bellows-blown bagpipes in Scotland and were the first to combine the three national instruments: the fiddle, bagpipes and clarsach, in regular performance. They use only authentic traditional instruments for their repertory drawn from all periods of Scottish music and all regions of the country.  Traditional music at its best!
This event is sponsored by the MacRobert Trust