Gig-Guide 2013

- May -

21st May
Jennifer Crook
£9
English singer songwriter Jennifer Crook has surely elevated into 'a talent with a white light future'
(Musician). She is currently touring her recent solo album 'Merry-Go-Round' which was recordedin Glasgow with producer and hit songwriter Boo Hewerdine. The vivid storytelling, beautiful imagery and infectious melodies on 'Merry-Go-Round' have earned her excellent reviews, national airplay and a live session with the legendary Bob Harrison BBC Radio 2, who whispered, "I'm really, really loving the new album Merry-Go-Round – its beautiful".

28th May
Showcase
£5A chance to hear to hear some of the best new talent on the Folk scene. With Mayy, an exciting new trio formed in the Glasgow session scene, playing a dynamic blend of traditional as well as more contemporary tunes. Mankind, a duo with a twist of lime. They have been performing together since 2010 with shared backgrounds in Pop, Rock, Soul and Jazz. Their style is unique and distinctive, and their performances are entertaining and energetic. Sleepy Eyes Nelson is a country blues singer, songwriter, and guitarist from Ayrshire, Scotland. Known as the King of the Clyde Delta Blues. Celtic Connections 2013 Danny Kyle Open Stage award winners Gria are a Glasgow-based folk group hailing from Shetland, Orkney, Lewis and Northumberland

- June -

4th June
Corran Raa
£8
A Scottish band, heavily influenced by the traditional music that has flowed across the North, Atlantic and Irish Seas. Moving melodies, lush harmonies, soulful vocals and inventive accompaniment. Formed on a normally uninhabited Hebridean island, Corran Raa have a passionate interest in their native music. Originating from the length of the country, from Shetland to London, their intertwined musical paths eventually converged on Taransay in 2005. The inspiration of those all night, midsummer, musical sessions led the band to take its name from a landmark of the islands stunning coastline.

11th June
Bob Hall & Hilary Blythe
£9
Critically acknowledged as Britain’s finest blues and boogie pianist, Bob Hall’s distinctive and original piano style has influenced generations of piano players and left a lasting legacy.  He first came to fame in the rhythm ‘n’ blues explosion of the sixties, as a founder member of The Groundhogs and later Savoy Brown.  Nowadays, the Bob Hall Show is pure enjoyment, full of energy and enthusiasm. Much credit for this must go to Bob’s long-time partner, Hilary Blythe, whose crystal-clear harmony vocals and rock-steady bass playing underpin all his performances.  A diminutive dynamo, Hilary’s own moving treatment of blues and gospel classics are highlights of their show.

18th June
Munro: O’Callaghan: Titchener
£10
Three of Adelaide’s premier folk musicians have banded together to bring a new talent-filled trio to the acoustic music scene.
John Munro, Mike O’Callaghan and Pete Titchener, all well respected musicians in their own right, are on a musical journey making a new sound for themselves. It was internationally successful folk band Colcannon that brought these musicians together. After 21 years of harmonies Colcannon put down their instruments only to be picked up again a short while later by three good friends: Munro, O’Callaghan and Titchener.

25th June
Judy Dinning & Kenny Speirs
£8
Judy Dinning is a singer/songwriter who performs her own compositions as well as those of contemporary writers from the USA and UK. Drawing also from the library of traditional songs of her native North East, she plays guitar, keyboards, dulcimer and percussion. Her own style is predominantly English, with her main influences being Sandy Denny, Maddy Prior and Jacqui McShee; but she acknowledges that the American singer/songwriters Judy Collins, Joni Mitchell and Joan Baez have also been a great influence in her musical career. Judy is also a great admirer of the Irish tradition and the singing of Naimh Parsons and Mary Black in particular. With Kenny Speirs (guitar).

- July -

2nd July
Dr Mango & The Chickpeas
£8
Dr Mango & The Chickpeas are an exciting new band based in Glasgow who have produced their own unique mixture of self penned and traditional Scottish music, Scots and French song.

9th July
Showcase
£5
Your chance to hear to hear some of the best new talent on the Folk scene.

16th July
Maz O’Connor
£9
Maz O’Connor, finalist in the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award 2009 and nominee for 2013′s Horizon Award, is one of the most promising voices to emerge onto the folk scene in recent years. From her early singing days at Folkworks summer schools, through her year in the youth ensemble run by Kathryn Tickell Folkestra North, to her performances with young folk award winners Last Orders at festivals across the U.K., Maz has come a long way in just a few years.

23rd July
Rallion
£8
Rallion are a three piece contemporary folk group, hailing from Glasgow and Perthshire. They bring a wide range of musical influences together to create their powerful persuasive music. Their unique sound is based around the fiddle powerhouse of Fiona Cuthill, the distinctive voice of Marieke McBean and the virtuoso guitar and bouzouki playing of Steve Lawrence.

30th July
Malcolm Bushby & Seth Tinsley
£8
Born in Tasmania, Australia with a strong Scottish heritage Malcolm grew up listening to the traditional music of Scotland and Ireland through his parents playing and recordings. Malcolm has taught fiddle at Core Music Shop in Hexham, Northumberland and ran workshops on traditional fiddle playing. Seth Tinsley is the fine young guitarist and singer, with the band Tyde who were BBC Radio Two Young Folk Award Finalists.

- August -

6th August
Barluath
£8
Winners of 'The Danny Kyle Open Stage' at Celtic Connections 2012, Barluath are a Scottish folk band based in Glasgow made up of five students from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. They embrace a wide range of musical styles including Scots and Gaelic Song, Bagpipes, Whistles, fiddle, Guitar, Mandolin, Bass, Clarinet and Piano. With these instruments the band members explore both the Traditional and Contemporary music of Scotland.

13th August
Alasdair Roberts
£9
Alasdair Roberts’ set is tinged with folk references and it is inspired by traditional Scottish ballads. Death and tragedy are always at the core of Roberts’ songs, but the way he delivers them in his calm and clear voice, as if he were telling us a story, is mesmerizing. 'It's a long time since balladry has sounded this vital and primordial' Uncut
‘One of Britain’s most singular and original talents’ Colin Irwin.

20th August
Rudeigin
£8
Lanarkshire songwriter Frank Rae sits at the heart of Rudeigin, providing original material in a traditional style with a delightfully laid back air to it, graceful and captivating. There are times when a good steady rhythm beats the heck out of fast and furious; that burst of passion that leaves you with the feeling that it's all over too soon. Sometimes you want to really immerse yourself and feel the joy building. Rudeigin have some beautiful songs in their repertoire and the quality to make their delivery something you'll remember long after the music has come to a finish.

27th August
The Outside Track
£10
A stunning synthesis of virtuosity and energy, The OutsideTrack's marriage of Canadian, Scottish and Irish music and song has been rapturously received around the world. Hailing from Scotland, Ireland, Cape Breton and Vancouver, its five members are united by a love of traditional music and a commitment to creating new music on its foundation. Using fiddle, accordion, harp, guitar, flute, step-dance and vocals these five virtuosos blend boundless energy with unmistakable joie de vivre.

- September -

3rd September
Katy Moffatt
£10
The most memorable American roots music -- be it western, country, folk, rock or the blues -- is always informed by a simple fact of life: you live and you learn. Just ask Katy Moffatt. Or better yet, listen to her sing, be it a song from her own prolific pen or a choice cut from a favorite songwriter. It’s clear that Katy sings and writes with the voice of hard-won authority.

10th September
Jenna Reid & Kevin MacKenzie
£9
Hailing from Shetland, Jenna is undoubtedly one of the finest fiddle players ever to grace the traditional music scene. Kevin Mackenzie is one of Scotland’s most in-demand musicians with projects ranging from Trio AAB and the Scottish Guitar Quartet to the Finlay Macdonald Band and Jenna Reid.

17th September
Edwina Hayes
£9
Edwina Hayes numbers Michael Parkinson and Perez Hilton among her fans. Her beautifully written songs, charming stage presence and voice of an angel have won her a reputation as a true natural talent of gentle folk-americana. She has opened numerous shows for Jools Holland and Van Morrison and the title track of her album Pour Me A Drink was covered by Nanci Griffith who calls her 'the sweetest voice in England'. Her cover of the Randy Newman song Feels Like Home was featured in the Cameron Diaz film My Sister's Keeper and has since had over three million plays on You Tube.

24th September
Jim Malcolm
£8
Jim Malcolm is the ultimate Scots troubadour. Travelling the world with his guitar, harmonicas, and engaging wit, he sings the traditional songs of Scotland and his own masterfully crafted songs in a style which is modern and accessible, yet utterly authentic. He is highly regarded as an interpreter of the songs of Robert Burns, and has been described as “one of the finest singers in Scotland in any style”.

- October-

1st October
Dick Gaughan
£10
A superb guitarist and fiery singer with an uncompromising political commitment Dick Gaughan has been one of the most potent forces in British folk for over four decades. His songs will make you laugh cry and howl with rage.

8th October
TBA 

15th October
Eddie Walker & Fraser Speirs
£9
Eddie has not only a fine reputation as a great interpreter of ragtime and blues, but also for his own material. Fraser is synonymous with diatonic harmonic playing of the highest quality.

22nd October
Andy Irvine
£10
Andy is one of the great Irish singers, his voice one of a handful of truly great ones that gets to the very soul of Ireland. He has been hailed as "a tradition in himself".
Musician, singer, songwriter, Andy has maintained his highly individual performing skills throughout his 45 year career.
From Sweeney's Men in the mid 60s, to the enormous success of Planxty in the 70s and then from Patrick Street to Andy Irvine & Dónal Lunny's Mozaik, Andy has been a world music pioneer and an icon for traditional music and musicians.
As a soloist, Andy fills the role of the archetypal troubadour with a show and a travelling lifestyle that reflect his lifelong influence, Woody Guthrie.
To quote the Irish Times, "Often copied, never equalled", his repertoire consists of Irish traditional songs, dexterous Balkan dances and a compelling cannon of his own self-penned songs.

29th October
Pete Coe
£8
“Pete Coe in many ways represents the backbone of the modern folk revival.
A fine solo performer and an energetic activist for the scene as well, founding Ryburn 3 Step, running folk clubs, dances and workshops in Ripponden and beyond while also teaching music and dancing in schools. He's still one of the most committed, most versatile, most important folk artists in Britain.” Colin Irwin MOJO

- November -

5th November
Mairearad Green and Anna Massie
 £9
Multi-instrumentalists, Mairearad Green and Anna Massie are a captivating duo. Providing a highly energetic performance with a warm and friendly stage appearance, this duo will engage any audience. Individually, they can be seen performing with a number of well-known artists such as The Poozies, Blazin’ Fliddles, Karen Matheson, Box Club, Eddi Reader and Karine Polwart, and together in Scotland’s one and only Celtic Big Band, The Unusual Suspects.                                                                             Both growing up in the Highlands with similar musical backgrounds, (most notably, mandolin playing Dads!) Mairearad and Anna share an innate understanding of Scottish culture and music. Having played together for 8 years, they have an intuitive approach to each other’s musical ideas and interpretations. “Anna Massie on guitar, fiddle and banjo, Mairearad Green on accordion and smallpipes – adds up to a wide palette of permutations, most of which featured in this relaxed, highly enjoyable performance…...shifting the lead/accompanist balance, swapping and sharing the melody, harmony, chords and rhythms with deceptive fluency.” * * * * The Scotsman

12th November
Showcase
£5
Your chance to hear to hear some of the best new talent on the Folk scene.

19th November
Clive Gregson
£9
         "One of Britain's most cultured singer-songwriters." The Times
"A player of great taste and sensitivity - not to mention one of our finest songwriters." Guitarist
"Gregson is a consummate songwriter." Chicago Daily Herald
Clive's songs have been recorded by many artists including Nanci Griffith, Kim Carnes, Fairport Convention, Claire Martin, Norma Waterson and Mary Chapin Carpenter

26th November
Sylvia Barnes  & Sandy Stanage
£8
Sylvia Barnes’ pedigree in traditional music is a long and distinguished one. Among the very top flight of Scots singers, Sylvia is a dramatic performer with a wonderful voice. She can render passion, humour and gentle sentiment with equal ease. Her deep commitment to her songs and her involvement in them bring them to life in a way that few other singers can achieve. Sandy is considered one of Scotland's finest guitar players.

- December -

3rd December
Brian Peters
£8
Brian Peters is one of the English folk scene’s great all-rounders: a compelling singer, a top squeezebox player and a skilled guitarist. Brian is one of the country’s best anglo-concertina players and is just as good on melodeon, while he’s also internationally-known as a singer of traditional ballads.