Sassy, sexy, singer songwriter (with a penchant for the dark side) from Muscle Shoals, returns to Scotland for a short tour at the end of July. 26 July – Argyll Hotel, Glasgow 27 July – Tolbooth, Stirling 28 July – Weem Inn, Aberfeldy 29 July – Southern Fried Festival, Perth New album Gold Rush was released 16 Jun 2017, and has had rave reviews – “Queen of Southern gothic“, “country music with balls“, “a future star“, “unstoppable” – and seen her in session with Robert Elms (BBC London), Under the Apple Tree (WBTV) and airplay all over, including Iain Anderson Show and Ricky Ross’ Another Country (BBC Radio Scotland).
Tickets and info: Voodoo Rooms, Edinburgh “One of the most promising rootsy women artists in the Americana scene” No Depression “Dazzling fusion of bluegrass, country, pop and even a bit of tin pan blues!” Music News Nashville
Harmonies. Soul-touching lyrics. Eye-catching stage presence. Underhill Rose has become synonymous with beautiful music, charming personalities, and rippling success. In the last four years, the all-female trifecta from North Carolina has independently released two albums in the top of the Americana Music Association Airplay Chart and the Roots Music Report Chart, all the while garnering critical acclaim from around the globe.
Tickets and info: Voodoo Rooms, Edinburgh Irish-born, Nashville-based singer/songwriter Ben Glover has a rich, powerful voice and music that mixes Americana from his adopted home in Nashville with his native Irish soul.
His new album The Emigrant (released Sep 2016), folds his two worlds into one.
Co-produced by Glover and Neilson Hubbard, the album features six traditional folk songs and four original compositions (including co-writes with Gretchen Peters, Mary Gauthier, and Tony Kerr) as Glover addresses the universal theme and personal challenge that is immigration. Though that hot topic lies at the heart of this pseudo-concept album, The Emigrant also concerns itself with how we deal with change, loss, and hope, as well as how we ultimately survive when faced with the trials and tribulations of life.
…superior songwriting and vocal talent as wide as the Nashville skyline… MAVERICK The Emigrant is a fully realized record, a work of art. Ben has paid his dues, and it shows. I love this record MARY GAUTHIER Glover is one of the finest in the Americana genre… FOLK RADIO UK …a Hibernian Tom Waits… a powerful listen… BLABBER’N’SMOKE 1 of only 2 Scottish dates in UK tour
New Scots: Land features music, dance, theatre and films from some of the country’s “new Scots” – professional creative people who live in Scotland but who have roots elsewhere.
Approximately 30 performers with roots in a wide range of places including Senegal, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Liberia, Ghana, Chile, India, Argentina, Spain, Ireland, Scotland, England and USA, but all currently based in Scotland – a very small sample of the talented diversity of creative voices currently living and working in Scotland.
Performers are Samba Sene & Diwan, Dance Ihayami, Cheekyrrikis – Flamenko Power, Sankofa Beats, Rise Kagona, Benny Tetteh Lartey, Annie George (with Alloysious Massaquoi (Young Fathers), Eve and Amber Allan) and Galo Ceron Carrasco & Carlos Arredondo.
Dance Ihayami
PHOTOGRAPHS BY: ALAN PEEBLES
The short films programme represents people from Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Chile, Cuba, Japan, Poland, Australia and includes professional films and a charming selection of animated shorts by young people living in Edinburgh (Unsung Stories – An Animated Ceilidh).
Films are Nae Pasaran, Children of the River – Os Meninos do Rio, Our Sea – Nuestro Mar. (Huge thanks to IberoDocs and Mary Walters for help with curating the films)
With Dick Gaughan, Blue Rose Code, Dean Owens & The Whisky Hearts
A night to celebrate the songwriting and musical talents of three Men From Leith – outstanding musicians who all hail from the same small corner of Edinburgh. A mix of original and traditional songwriting and compelling performances, with grit, fire, honesty and wry humour.
Dick Gaughan is an internationally established and greatly loved giant of Scottish music, while Blue Rose Code (Ross Wilson) and former Felsons frontman Dean Owens are widely acknowledged as two of Scotland’s finest contemporary singer songwriters.
Inspired by Owens’ classic song Man From Leith, this promises to be an unforgettable evening.
Anda Union – Stunningly brilliant 9 piece band from Inner Mongolia at St Bride’s, Edinburgh The brilliant 9-piece band Anda Union from Inner Mongolia first toured the UK in 2013 and stole the show everywhere. The band members all grew up in families ‘with the music’, several of whom still live in the traditional Mongolian way, and came together at music college in Hohhot, their capital city. There they were able to integrate traditional forms – like the now-famous throat singing – into creating a sound uniquely and mysteriously Mongolian but with a strong appeal to a western sensibility.
Promoted by Edinburgh’s Stoneyport Associates, Jan & Feb 2016 sees them touring the length and breadth of UK, with 22 dates from London to Inverness, including Glasgow’s prestigious Celtic Connections festival, and St Bride’s Centre, Edinburgh.
“Their opening number alone could have supplanted an entire old-fashioned BBC sound effects department…” 4 STARS – Scotsman (Jim Gilchrist)
“extraordinarily rich vocal and string harmonies, masterly flute and percussion and general joie de vivre… easily in the front rank…” 4 STARS – Herald (Rob Adams)
“fine singers and instrumentalists…complex and gently dramatic…” 4 STARS – Guardian
Up and Coming Act of the Year – 2014 MG Alba Scots Trad Music Awards
Award winning Neo-Trad quintet forged in the Highlands of Scotland. Drawing influences from many different genres, they create a progressive blend of intricate tunes, engulfing guitars, monstrous bass and pounding drums. Already renowned for their breathtaking live shows, summer 2014 saw the band climb to new heights with the release of their critically acclaimed debut album: The Elusive Highland Beauty.
“Quite possibly the best instrumental debut since ‘Venus in Tweeds’ by Shooglenifty” – Bruce MacGregor, BBC Radio Scotland Travelling Folk Doors 7:30pm, gig from 8pm Band website – www.elephantsessions.com
Plus dance and guitar classes on Saturday and Sunday
April 2015 sees an exciting first for Edinburgh flamenco fans – two authentic flamenco nights.
Three celebrated flamenco artists direct from Seville – dancer Charo Cala, singer Iván Ramos and guitarist Fernando de María will be performing traditional flamenco for two nights only in Henderson’s Café in the Crypt under St John’s, Princes Street, an intimate venue that recalls the gypsy caves of Granada where flamenco was flourished.
The aim is to recreate an authentic Andalusian flamenco evening in Edinburgh, with dance, guitar and song. All three performers grew up in families steeped in flamenco tradition, and are among the most respected performers in Seville.
The group is also offering 2 x 2 day workshops, which will be tailored to suit all skill levels.
Flamenco Guitar class (with Fernando de Maria and singer Iván Ramos) Saturday 25 Apr – 10.00-11.30 Sunday 26 Apr – 14.00 – 15.30 (£35 early bird till 15 Apr/£40)
Flamenco Dance Class (with Charo Cala, and live singing and guitar accompaniment) Saturday 25 Apr – 11.30 – 13.00 Sunday 26 Apr – 15.30 – 16.30 (£35 early bird till 15 Apr/£40)
At dance studio of Heriot’s Centre for Sport & Exercise, Lauriston Place, Edinburgh, EH3 9HE
Fri 24 & Sat 25 Apr Fab Flamenco Nights Hendersons Café at St John’s, Princes St
