Music FOLK
■ Portobello Fun Fiddle St James Church Hall, Rosefield Place Portobello. 1.30pm. £10 (£8; children £5; family £20). Traditional music from beginner to advanced fiddlers (feel free to bring your own instrument) for a mini-ceilidh and a ‘Fun Fiddle’ led by Jenny Gardner, Gica Loening, Gordon Turnbull and Conrad Molleson, with workshops and a ‘Grand Carnival Stramash’ at 3.30pm. Part of Ceilidh Culture. ■ Jacobs Pillow, Bosie, Wailing Miserere, Emelle and Andy Mill & the Stolen Pirates The Canon’s Gait, 232 Canongate, 556 4481. 7.30pm. £4 (£3). Andrew Gordon hosts this night of innovative modern folk and roots. Part of Ceilidh Culture. ■ Nick Keir and The Ideal Band The Voodoo Rooms, 19a West Register Street, 556 7060. 7.30pm. £10 (£8). A McCalman solo outing playing guitar, mandolin, whistles and moothie. Part of Ceilidh Culture. ■ Northern Streams: Denmark, Sweden & Scotland The Pleasance, 60 Pleasance. 7.30pm. £10 (£8). Music form across Denmark, Sweden and Scotland from Celtic Nyckelharpa Project, Hal Parfitt-Murray and Niola Busk and a performance from The Dancing Danes. Part of Ceilidh Culture. ■ Baltik Ceilidh Band Baron, Corn Exchange, 11 Newmarket Road. 8pm. 10 £12. A funky fresh take on ceilidh music as the BCB make their Scottish debut. FREE Seraphim Whiski, 119 High Street, 556 3095. 10pm. Acoustic funky folk. Part of Ceilidh Culture.
Sunday 3
Glasgow ■ From Russia With Lev Café Cossachok, 10 King Street/Trongate 103, 553 0733. 9pm. £6. Russian, classical and gypsy folk melodies from violinist Lev Atlas. Edinburgh ■ Jimmie Macgregor’s Gathering The Queen’s Hall, 87–89 Clerk Street, 668 2019. 3pm. £12 (£10). As part of the legendary duo with Robin Hall, Jimmie Macgregor appeared every weeknight on the BBC’s Tonight show for over ten years, with a night of ‘songs, stories and famous folk’. Part of Ceilidh Culture. ■ Roots Showcase The Jazz Bar, 1 Chambers Street, 220 4298. 8pm. £4 (£3). Roots, R&B and blues from Toby Mottershead and friends. ■ Fil Campbell & Tom McFarland Wee Folk Club, Royal Oak, Infirmary Street, 557 2976. 8.30pm. £5. Northern Ireland based singer/songwriter Fil Campbell performs a blend of acoustic pop, jazz, folk and traditional songs accompanied by Latin, African and Irish percussion. Part of Ceilidh Culture. FREE FOOTSTOMPING: Traditional Scots Music Whiski, 119 High Street, 556 3095. 9.30pm. Evening celebrating the best of traditional Scottish music. Part of Ceilidh Culture.
Monday 4
Glasgow FREE Brel Sessions Brel, 39–43 Ashton Lane, 342 4966. 8pm. Folky jam session with an indie edge from Laura Wilkie (Rachel Sermanni Band) and Sarah Hayes (Admiral Fallow). Edinburgh ■ Columcille Music Workshop Nelson Hall, 2 MacDonald Road Leith, 228 1155. 10.15–11.45am. £4. See Thu 31. ■ Simon Kempston, Mark Barnett and Tom Fairnie The Royal Oak, 1 Infirmary Street, 557 2976. 8.30pm. £8 (£6). A triple bill of Edinburgh songwriters with a mix of blues, folk, Celtic and roots. Part of Ceilidh Culture. FREE Muckle Flugga Whiski, 119 High Street, 556 3095. 9.30pm. Trad Scottish music from this ceilidh band. Part of Ceilidh Culture.
104 THE LIST 31 Mar–28 Apr 2011
Tuesday 5
Glasgow FREE Traditional Music Sessions MacSorley’s Music Bar, 42 Jamaica Street, 248 8581. 9pm. Informal session with local musicians. Edinburgh ■ Kirsty Law and Ryan Young Leith Folk Club, The Village, South Fort Street, 07502 024852. 7.30pm. £6. Double bill of rising young folk stars. ■ Ceilidh Club The Bongo Club, Moray House, 37 Holyrood Road, 558 7604. 8.20pm. £6. Ceilidh dancing, featuring live music from the Scott Leslie Ceilidh Band. Part of Ceilidh Culture. ■ FOOTSTOMPING: Traditional Scots Music Whiski, 119 High Street, 556 3095. 9.30pm. See Sun 3.
Wednesday 6
Glasgow FREE Seeds at the CCA CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. 7.30pm. Acoustic music, African drumming, stand up comedy and urban poetry night presented by Seeds of Thought. Edinburgh ■ Columcille Music Workshop Nelson Hall, 2 MacDonald Road Leith, 228 1155. 10.15–11.45am. £4. See Thu 31. FREE Easy Chair The Jazz Bar, 1 Chambers Street, 220 4298. 6pm. Laidback folky sounds from Graham Laird and Mike Bennet. ■ Ceilidh Beginners Thomas Morton Hall, Ferry Road, Leith, 554 1408. 6.30pm. £6.50 (£5.50). Sheilia McCutcheon leads this class for those who want to learn Scottish dance, with live music from Callum Marwick or Freeland Barbour. Part of Ceilidh Culture. ■ Ceilidh Intermediate Thomas Morton Hall, Ferry Road, Leith, 554 1408. 7pm. £6.50 (£5.50). Sheilia McCutcheon teaches those who want to brush up their ceilidh skills, with live music from Callum Marwick or Freeland Barbour. Part of Ceilidh Culture.
■ Other Roads Edinburgh Folk Club, Cabaret Bar, 60 The Pleasance, 650 2458. 8pm. £8 (£7; members £5). Wide range of instruments coupled to perfect harmonies. Part of Ceilidh Culture. FREE The Fyrd Blind Poet, 32c West Nicolson Street, 667 4268. 9pm. Folk on guitar, vocals and violin from Eddy Hanson and Mike Breen. FREE FOOTSTOMPING: Traditional Scots Music Whiski, 119 High Street, 556 3095. 9.30pm. See Sun 3.
Thursday 7
Glasgow ■ Other Roads St Andrews in the Square, 1 St Andrews Square, 559 5902. 7.30pm. £8 (£6). See Wed 6. Edinburgh ■ Kim Richey The Bongo Club, Moray House, 37 Holyrood Road, 558 7604. 7pm. £12. Country rock from this Nashville native. ■ A Visit to the Old Town in Story & Dance Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. 7pm. £6 (£4). A mix of music, stories and dance to tell the tales of the Old Town’s twists and wynds. Part of Ceilidh Culture. ■ Malinky, Jeana Leslie and Siobhan Miller The Pleasance, 60 Pleasance. 7.30pm. £8 (£7; members £5). A showcase from Scotland’s leading traditional music label Greentrax as they celebrate their 25th anniversary this year. Part of Ceilidh Culture. FREE The Gorms Whiski, 119 High Street, 556 3095. 9.30pm. Scottish/Irish music. Part of Ceilidh Culture.
Friday 8
Glasgow ■ Kim Richey CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. 8pm. £12. See Thu 7. Edinburgh ■ Carrie on Dancing with Carrie Thomas Ghillie Dhu, 2 Rutland Place, 222 9930. 7.30pm. £25 including three course dinner; £2 for ceilidh and DJ only. A lively night of music and dancing at the Burly Ceilidh Club. Part of Ceilidh Culture.
■ Kim Robertson Trio and Ralf Kleemann Merchiston Castle School, 294 Colinton Road, 478 8446. 7.30pm. £13 (£11). A mix of Scottish and American folk traditions. Part of Edinburgh International Harp Festival and Ceilidh Culture. Saturday 9
Edinburgh ■ Edward Witsenburg Merchiston Castle School, 294 Colinton Road, 478 8446. 3pm. £10 (£8). Witsenburg is joined by Rachel Ann Morgan, Anne Macdearmid and Chris Witsenburg. Part of Edinburgh International Harp Festival and Ceilidh Culture. ■ Bosie The Bongo Club, Moray House, 37 Holyrood Road, 558 7604. 7pm. £tbc. Launching their début album Shoebox Memories of alternative acoustic/folk and jazzy influences. ■ Ingrid Henderson Quartet Merchiston Castle School, 294 Colinton Road, 478 8446. 7pm. £10 (£8). A mix of story, song and visuals to tell the story of Scotland’s most famous export, whisky. Part of Edinburgh International Harp Festival and Ceilidh Culture. ■ Family Ceilidh with Bella McNab’s Dance Band Merchiston Castle School, 294 Colinton Road, 478 8446. 8pm. £8 (under 12s free). A fun informal ceilidh dance for all ages. Part of Edinburgh International Harp Festival and Ceilidh Culture. FREE Seraphim Whiski, 119 High Street, 556 3095. 10pm. Acoustic funky folk. Part of Ceilidh Culture.
Sunday 10 Edinburgh ■ Sileas Merchiston Castle School, 294 Colinton Road, 478 8446. 11.15am. £8. Harpists and vocalists, Patsy Seddon and Mary Macmaster. Special ‘audience with’ performance with a Q&A session. Part of Edinburgh International Harp Festival and Ceilidh Culture. ■ Rebecca Tavener & Bill Taylor and Robin Ward Merchiston Castle School, 294 Colinton Road, 478 8446. 3pm. £10 (£8). Modern and medieval songs. Part of Edinburgh International Harp Festival and Ceilidh Culture.
The Unthanks with Trembling Bells
The critically acclaimed folk sisters The Unthanks begin touring after the release of their much-anticipated fourth album Last in March. Their original material lies alongside the unlikely covers that have earned them both criticism and praise; they are storytellers, they say, and in retelling the stories in their unique way, new meaning is found. Glasgow’s excellent Trembling Bells support. Drummer and songwriter Alex Neilson’s background in free jazz and improvisation enables him to cast a quirky eye over his particular brand of folk and give the genre a boot where, some would say, it needed one. ■ Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh, Fri 15 Apr; The Arches, Glasgow, Sun 17 Apr.