2008 Newsletter, Issue 4

Transcription

1 2008 Newsletter, Issue 4 Happy 50th Birthday! Decades in the planning, the 50th Anniversary Party of the Edinburgh Uni Folk Society took place on November 15th EUFolkSoc (known in the past as EUFolk Song Society and the Crown Folk Club) was started by Stuart MacGregor and Hamish Henderson in 1958, making it one of the oldest folk clubs in the UK. As part of the Carrying Stream Festival, a sold out St Brides Centre was the venue for an across the eras concert, followed by a dancey ceilidh and singaround. Performers were all former or current stalwarts of the club: Inside this issue EUFolkSoc Anniversary Party 1-2 Aberdeen Branch News 6-7 Scots Trad Music Award Winners Kirriemuir Festival 7 Edinburgh & Lothians Branch News 4-5 Perth Branch News 8

2 PAGE 2 Newsletter 2008, Issue 4 Representing the 90s era (used, but not neglected) Kat Jary, Maria Johansen, Johnny Kemp, Scott Gardiner and Kit Patterson started the night with half an hour of tunes and songs from their time in the society. This was followed by a well thought out and performed set from the 70s & 80s (road fund tax exempt) by Donald Gorman, Ian & Gilly Hewitt, Eileen Penman and Kay Thomson, which included two Hamish Henderson songs. The current era (new and nearly new) comprised Dave Barfit, Morag Brown, Sandy James, Ella Leith, Fin Loening, Bria Mason, Paul Murray, Oisin Kingsley, Paul Plumb, Zarya Rathe, Rachel Reay, James Shewan, Alasdair Slessor, Katie Smith, Ian Ward, Becka Wolfe - cramming more folk onto the stage, and more great music into their 30 minutes, than anyone thought possible. To close the concert we had some cracking songs and entertaining reminiscences from a group of 50s & 60s club members (you can have it in any colour you like as long as it s black) with Jim Closs, David Hamilton, Dolina MacLennan and Phil Taylor taking the stage. The night continued with dancing to the Off Centre Ceilidh Band and David Stevenson, and a session in the bar. After a brief period of tidying up and bidding adieu, there was an after-match party in our wee room at the Pleasance, where plans for the 100th Anniversary Party started to take shape. Scott Gardiner, EUFolkSoc

3 Newsletter 2008, Issue 4 PAGE 3 Scots Trad Music Awards 2008 TMSA Convener Alison Mackinnon with the Scots Singer of the year Emily Smith Album of the year Farrar: Duncan Chisholm Club of the year The Wee Folk Club, Edinburgh Community Project of the year Ceolas Composer of the year Blair Douglas Event of the year Piping Live! Festival Gaelic Singer of the year Margaret Stewart Services to Industry Award Arthur Cormack Instrumentalist of the year Kris Drever Live Act of the year Peatbog Faeries Citty Finlayson Scots Singer of the year Emily Smith Scottish Dance Band of the year Skipinnish Scottish Folk Band of the year The Chair Scottish Pipe Band of the year Scottish Power Pipe Band Up and Coming Artist of the year Jeana Leslie & Siobhan Miller Strathspey and Reel Society of the year Scottish Fiddle Orchestra Venue of the year Perth Concert Hall Services to Gaelic Music Capercaillie Hamish Henderson Services to Traditional Music Award Robin Morton Hall of Fame Inductees Alastair Gillies, Alexander Brothers, Dougie MacLean, Jean Redpath, John Carmichael, P/M Ian McLellan, Runrig

4 PAGE 4 Newsletter 2008, Issue 4 Meet the TMSA Edinburgh Board & Lothians Branch News Our most recent event was the session at the Carrying Stream Festival. We had a lively selection of visitors and songs from Scotland and beyond - including a contribution from the Hamish Henderson Society of Rome! The session was preceded by the Branch AGM. We are pleased to welcome Linda Remally and then later, Karen Beattie to the committee. Their willingness to be part of the organising team of Branch events is much appreciated! Looking ahead, our next Branch event is the Singers Gathering, February at the Regal Community Theatre, Bathgate, in partnership with West Lothian Council and Sangschule. It starts with a new Friday night concert with TMSA Young Singer of Merit, Ewan Robertson (BBC Radio Scotland Young Trad Musician of the Year 2008) and The Cast, followed by a singers' session. Workshops on Saturday include: Mairi Campbell (Sahaja Yoga and the Voice); The Red Yoyo (songs and presentation on the life and times of Matt McGinn); "Doh Ray Me when Ah wis wee" with Ewan McVicar; and Wendy Carle Taylor with songs reflecting the Homecoming and beauty of Scotland. In the afternoon we have the traditional Muckle Sing for community singing groups (and Marie and Kirstine appearing at Northern Streams 2009 anyone else interested) with Craig Morgan and Robson. There is an opportunity to talk to Singer in Residence for the event, Mairi Campbell, who will also be speaking with Ian Green in a Desert Island Discs spot and there are sessions at lunchtime and supper. The Saturday evening concert features Mairi Campbell, Ailsa Cole and Kirsty Law, and the trio of Craig, Morgan and Robson. More details are a v a i l a b l e a t and the Box Office tel: Not long after the Singers Gathering finishes,

5 Newsletter 2008, Issue 4 PAGE 5 Edinburgh's Ceilidh Culture Festival begins. Once again, the Branch is organising its Northern Streams Festival (2-5 April) - bringing together music, song, storytelling and dance from Scandinavia and Scotland at the Scottish Storytelling Centre on the Royal Mile. This year we are very pleased to feature Ante Mikkel & Inger-Biret Gaup who come from the Saami people who range from the north of Norway across to Russia. This special father and daughter duo offer a rare opportunity to hear "joik", the unique vocal tradition of the Saami culture. This is coupled with an exhibition of images of "Duodji" or the collective term for various activities such as homecrafts, handicrafts and woodwork of the indigenous Saami people. They Calum Stewart, part of the Northern Streams 2009 lineup will be joined onstage by Samling - who include members of Croft No.5, The Mavericks, Harem Scarem and Fribo combine Norwegian and Gaelic vocal music traditions in new ways and Claire Hewitt: storyteller, singer and harpist presents 'Tales and songs of Sun, Moon, Reindeer and Hare' - inspired by journeys around the Arctic Circle and Scotland. The Evening Concert on Saturday will be a night of duos, featuring: Kirstine Sand (fiddler) and Marie Sønderby Larsen (pianist) from Denmark Calum Stewart (wooden flute) from Scotland and David Carlsson (Swedish Soprano Saxophone) and Ditte Andersson (Swedish nyckelharpa) and Anders Göransson pianist also from Sweden. Many of these performers will also be running workshops during the day on Saturday including a Saami Joiking one for kids and also a Scandinavian dance workshop with an emphasis on Swedish dances such as the Polska and Schottis. We finish off the weekend with a session downstairs at the Royal Oak on Sunday 5 April at 2pm. Just to note that we are working on the possibilities of a few of the artists mentioned above performing at gigs beyond the bounds of Edinburgh - keep an eye on for details as they get finalised. Fiona Campbell, Edinburgh and Lothians Branch

6 PAGE 6 Newsletter 2008, Issue 4 Aberdeen Branch News In October the Aberdeen branch organised two concerts as part of the Doric Festival (which celebrates the language, songs and music of the North-East of Scotland). The first was a "Meal-n-Ale" at Cookney Village Hall. As ever this was a great success with the event sold out well in advance. The audience were entertained by some fine local performers. The Hull Family Fiddlers - Steve and his two loons gave us some great fiddle tunes. Ross and Tim made a significant contribution to both the nights entertainment and to reducing the average age of the performers. Catriona Smith won the Ladies Traditional Song at the last Aberdeen competition and proved this was no fluke with a sympathetic performance of Wearies Well. In addition to running the Elphinstone Institute at Aberdeen University Ian Russell is a good singer and melodeon player. Denis Shepherd was under strict instructions to supply the Doric verse ( Quote from Chairperson - We ken ye can sing - but nae the nicht ) and also managed to sneak in a tune on the moothie without breaching his remit. Geordie Murison and John Valentine supplied their legendary compère double act as usual. For once John managed to refrain from cross dressing and delivered a fully animated version of The Tradesman s Ploo in Match which left the audience in stitches. The following week a further concert took place at Daviot Village Hall Inverurie. Jim Taylor set the mood for the evening with his witty banter and couthy compering style. Moira Stewart has won several singing competitions this year and gave us her award winning rendition of The Gypsy Laddie.

7 Newsletter 2008, Issue 4 PAGE 7 Irene Watt and Graham White serenaded us with a varied programme of song, featuring beautiful harmonies accompanied by clarsach and bouzouki. Jimmy the whistle Mitchell led some rousing tunes with support from Irene and Graham. Doug Stewart from Huntly delivered some classic Ian Middleton pieces and fair brought out the Doric humour. The singing of Sarah Walker of Cullerlie would have made her grandma (Anne Reid) very proud. There was also an unexpected bonus guest in the form of Norman Kennedy who regaled us with tales and songs including The Beggar Man. A special thanks has to go the committee and TMSA members that made these events such a great success through all their hard work in the background. Graham White, Aberdeen Branch Kirriemuir Festival 2008 On Firday 5th September the Airlie Arms Hotel became the venue of a capacity audience Ceilidh, as the Angus Strathspey and Reel Society opened the 27th Kirriemuir festival with a stirring selection of well known tunes. This was followed by a multitude of invited guest artistes, singing and playing various instruments until the small hours of Saturday morning, all expertly compèred by Joe Aitken (who also sang) and Jim Taylor and coordinated by Lona Thomson. Saturday was given over to the competitions and music sessions started up throughout the town, with musicians circulating from one to another. Saturday evening kicked off with the Prize-winners Concert in the Church Hall, followed by ceilidhs in the Bowling Club and the Airlie Arms, both with capacity audiences. Later in the evening a sing-around started in the Masonic Hall (bring your own bottle) which was followed by a tremendous Chorus Cup competition. Sunday morning once again saw the Angus Strathspey and Reel Society playing at the Festival church service and the afternoon ceilidh in the Thistle club was once more a full house, ably compered by the indefatigable Joe Aitken/Jim Taylor duo. Sunday evening brought the Festival to a close with the Survivors Ceilidh in the Airlie Arms, featuring guest artistes and other performers alike and ending with a rousing rendering of Caddam Wood which has become Kirriemuir Festival s anthem. Sadly, on the Thursday following the Festival, a serious fire destroyed a large part of the Airlie Arms Hotel. Patrick Newman, TMSA Angus Branch

8 PAGE 8 Newsletter 2008, Issue 4 Highland Annual / An Dannsa Bliadhnail 21st February 2009, 9pm till 3am Teviot Union, Bristo Square, Edinburgh Tickets (available through Ticketmaster, Coda Music, Sandy Bells and on the night): 10 adult, 5 student, 4 musicians, 10% off for groups over 10. Music at the Ceilidh Dance from the Fergie and John Fergie MacDonald Highland ceilidh Band and Òr Ceilidh Band Music at the Traditional Ceilidh from Allan MacDonald, Gillebrìde Mac a Mhauilein and Mary Ann Kennedy. Ceilidhs, Friendly Session and Open Stage Perth Branch News Glenfarg Village Folk Club committee is delighted to accept the offer of TMSA funding for two workshops at the Folk Feast on the weekend of April 17th 18th & 19th. One workshop will be a Beginners Guitar workshop with a guitar tutor who lives in the village, Gordon Baillie. The other workshop will be Songwriting with Tutor Dave Gibb who is already booked as a Folk Feast guest. AGM I m sure everyone would like to join us in thanking the Glasgow Branch of the TMSA for all their hard work and effort in putting together an excellent day for us on the 8th of November at the College of Piping in Glasgow. The superb spread laid on by the branch and the thoroughly enjoyable concert in the evening made the day into a real occasion and ensured the nuts and bolts business of the AGM was dealt with efficiently. Congratulations to all concerned and a warm welcome to Andy McInally as a new Director of the TMSA. We wish all of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Next issue out in March 2009 Copy deadline: 20 February Please send general enquiries and correspondence to: Caroline Scott, Office Manager Tel: TMSA National Office office@tmsa.org.uk G43, The Drill Hall, Web: Dalmeny Street Edinburgh EH6 8RG The TMSA acknowledges the support of the