january 08

CELTIC CONNECTIONS! Woohoo! What a lovely festival it was too. Was involved in organising "HARP HEAVEN" a twelve strong harp show. "Welcome to heaven, here's your harp! Welcome to hell, here's your accordion!" (Box night was on the night after.) Mary Macmaster, Patsy Seddon, Catriona McKay, Laoise Kelly, Cormac DeBarra, Jochen Vogel, Ailie Robertson, Fraya Thomsen, Gillian Fleetwood, Rachel Hair and Maeve Gilchrist. And me. I was a bossy cow that weekend but in the nicest possible way. And they responded beautifully, all doing their thing, but with an ear and eye out for everyone else. It was not an orchestra of harps (not really my thing) but a group of very individual players, all related to me somehow in performing buddies, or past pupils, or from meeting them at the Edinburgh International Harp Festival (particularly Cormac and Jochen). I want to take this to other festivals!!! All the harp festivals in the world should hear this! I have two minidiscs of music recorded from it, but no time just yet to get it transferred. Soon I promise.

And it was also the launch of the EIHF brochure for this year's festival. I have been on the committee since 2002 as an artistic 'advisor' to Isobel Mieras as Artistic Director, with a group of wonderful women all taking on roles to fulfill a good festival, in order to raise funds for the charity The Clarsach Society. This years festival is a splendid one! Have a look! Edinburgh International Harp Festival

Then the Unusual Suspects played. Two new members Ewan Robertson and Peter Tickell. And Iain Copeland on his first full gig. twas a lovely thing. We have some possibilities to visit Luxembourg and Norway in the coming year. Visit the website. Go on, you know you want to. The Unusual Suspects

Then Grace Hewat Polwart. We do make a nice sound. And we got an emailed phwhooarr from a wonderful voilin player. That makes it all worthwhile. Ha! We had such fun. the Celtic Connections staff, artist reps, marketing staff, and Donald and Jade who put it together are SO GOOD at what they do. What a legacy Colin Hynd has left behind him. It's an amazing thing he has created. And I thought that was the best one yet. I certainly felt more at ease with myself and the projects i was involved with. S'pose that's because I am off the pills now. Ha. We then went on to have a small part in a most wonderous show Voices of the World. I ended up coordinating it, which was an utter joy. And quite an undertaking. Of course though, all these women, from Italy's rice fields, to Bulgarians to Lewis Gaelic singing, to us. It was a wild variety of women and backgrounds, and yet we all had a common bond. They were a joy to work with and hear. I loved it. Read Karine's beautiful blog on it here There's no need to say any more really. She has a way with words eh? Makes me feel quite lacking on occasion.

And we had a surprise invitation to join Kirsty McGee on her Hobopop gig. It was a beautiful event, although putting Kirsty in front of Capercaillie I thought was a strange mix. The Capers are very much an 'electric' band at the moment, although still incorporating the acoustic instruments of Charlie McKerron on fiddle, Anna Massie on mandolin and Donald on accordion. Oh yeah and Manus Lunny. But I couldn't really hear him too well. We were right below the speakers at the front though, so that will have been a factor. Ewen Vernal was on electric and double bass - he is a great player - and there was a lot of room for him to solo which was excellent. But it's all getting very 70's retro just now. But still Capertastic.
Kirsty, Mat Martin and her band were very acoustic, rockabilly, rootsy, jazz tinged, 'hobopop'. Great songwriter. Go and visit her here.

Reflecting in winter

The Scots Trad Music Awards started the month off well. The Unusual Suspects opened the proceedings with a set starting with Pressed for Time written by Gordon Duncan.  What a great tune that is.  We had Iain Copeland on drums this time round.  Sorry Alyn Cosker wasn’t able to make it, and he can’t do Celtic Connections either.  But Iain is a great substitute, very different, but great.  All the dignitaries and high heid yins were there.  And everyone has there own agendas.  And many a judement is made. It's a strange thing, but a very wonderful thing to be able to celebrate our culture and our music. We're all here for the right reasons. We're all trying our best. To survive, and thrive, and make some good come out of our being here. And give back what we have been given. Playing an instrument is a gift. Being able to sing is a gift. Being able to share it is a gift too. The Trad Awards are magnificent for bringing all the facets of the traditional scene together. Less judgements, more celebrating I say!

Flu – that’s what happens when a heap of musicians get together – all that snogging each others faces off in humble recognition that you are all still well, alive and coping.  So we all got flu. Wasn't it a hideous one this time round? Blaargh. *cough splutter

Did a lovely gig on my birthday for a couple getting married near Peebles in a beautiful place called 'Cringletie House'. Aw what a lovely place. The couple asked that I play a song they were fond of. And thus I was introduced to Lou Rhodes! Beloved One was the main one, although I ended up learning Save Me as well. What a low and mellow voice. I really enjoyed learning it. It was a beautiful wedding. I know Jodieanne and Marcus will have lots of happiness in their lives together.

Christmas - good times – singing with mum and jade.  Loads of carols, then onto “Our favourite songs” Needless to say we were quaffing back the champagne which made it all the more fun.  Although I couldn’t make it to the end.  Had to stagger to bed around 4am hearing Jade and mums voices fading as I tiptoed up the stairs.  It was fantastic to hang out with the two of them without work being at the root of it. 

And I am now the proud owner of a ukulele. And what utter joy it has brought me. I love it. Aaaahhhhh. I really do. I need a case for it. That's my excuse for not taking it out...

David’s granny turned 100!  How amazing is that?  Brought up in Dundee, and then went on to live in Burnt island, Fife, and the Borders.  She gave up after she hit the big century, and sadly died on New Year’s Eve.  Very long life, a beautiful daughter (David's mum) and a wonderful husband who was the station master.  Never watched television, hardly listened to music, rarely listened to the radio.  A very closed life, yet long and happy.  It was sad to see her go.

Corrina