The China Project Double bassist Emma Smith toured China with an orchestra in 2005. ‘I was really intrigued – after every concert we received complaints that we weren’t wearing the same uniform, our music stands weren’t the same height and sometimes we were smiling, which displayed a lack of respect for the music. This, with the backdrop of the audience talking loudly on phones, and running down the aisles with their kids. It was a really crazy situation, especially for a classical concert. We were annoyed at them for making a racket and they were annoyed at us, but ultimately for the same reason: a lack of respect for the music. For me, there’s the intrigue. We’re looking for the same thing, but from the exact opposite angle.’ Smith has joined forces with Cheng Yu, who runs the Silk String Quartet, whom she met while playing in Damon Albarn’s Monkey Opera. The project aims to explore Scottish and Chinese culture through their respective traditional and contemporary musics, played on both traditional Chinese instruments, as well as Shetland fiddles. ■ Bongo Club, Edinburgh, Fri 4 Nov; Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh, Sat 5 Nov. (Classical)
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■ James Keelaghan Edinburgh Folk Club, Cabaret Bar, 60 The Pleasance, 563 0454. 8pm. £9 (£7; members £6). International folk music as this Canadian singer-songwriter tours his latest album, ‘House of Cards’. FREE Mike Breen & Eddy Hanson Captains Bar, 4 South College Street. 8.30pm. See Wed 26.
Thursday 3
Glasgow ■ Jim McKenna Tribute Night St Andrews in the Square, 1 St Andrews Square, 559 5902. 7.30pm. £8 (£6). A tribute to the singer-songwriter McKenna, line-up to be confirmed. Edinburgh ■ Unpeeled The Jazz Bar, 1 Chambers Street, 220 4298. 8pm. £5 (£3). Showcase of four new acts of any genre from rock and indie to folk and acoustic. FREE Muckle Flugga Whiski Rooms, 4, 6 & 7 North Bank Street, 225 7224. 9.30pm–12.30am. See Thu 20.
Friday 4
Glasgow ■ Friday Ceilidh Sloans, 62 Argyll Arcade, City Centre, 229 5270. 8.30pm–1am. £8 (£5). See Fri 21. Edinburgh ■ The Strawbs The Queen’s Hall, 87–89 Clerk Street, 668 2019. 7pm. £14.50. Folk rock survivors, celebrating their 40th year, who featured Rick Wakeman in their line-up at one time. ✽✽ The China Project The Bongo Club, Moray House, 37 Holyrood Road, 558 7604. 7.30pm. £10 (£8; students £5). Collaboration between the London-based Silk String Quartet, a group of Chinese musicians using traditional Chinese instruments, and Scottish double bass player Emma Smith. Smith plays Scots music, the Quartet plays traditional Chinese music, and then the five get together for arrangements of both, plus a new piece from Jim Sutherland that explores ways of introducing the two traditions to one another. See preview, right. ■ Mugenkyo Taiko Drummers Usher Hall, Lothian Road, 228 1155. 7.30pm. £18–£22. See Thu 3. FREE Tom Oakes & Kathryn Nicoll Captains Bar, 4 South College Street. 9pm. See Fri 21. ■ [Awry] Studio 24, 24–26 Calton Rd, 558 3758. 9pm–3am. £tbc. ‘Psychegaelic ceilidh’ and DJs playing. FREE Coyote Brothers with Gary Martin Bailie Bar, 2-4 St Stephen St, 225 4673. 9.30pm. Folk and country.
■ The Sanna Wee Folk Club, Royal Oak, Infirmary Street, 557 2976. 8.30pm. £5. A blend of bluegrass, Irish and Scottish traditional styles, featuring 2011’s BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year, fiddle player Kristan Harvey. FREE Bobby Nicholson & Eddy Hanson Captains Bar, 4 South College Street. 9pm. See Sun 23.
Saturday 5 Monday 7
Edinburgh ■ Carolyn Anona Scott Captains Bar, 4 South College Street. 4pm. See Sat 22.
✽✽ The China Project Brunton Theatre, Ladywell Way,
Musselburgh, 665 2240. 7.30pm. £13.75 (£11.75). See Fri 4. FREE Thalia Blacking & Cammy Robertson Captains Bar, 4 South College Street. 9pm. Traditional Scots/Irish folk.
Sunday 6 Edinburgh FREE Tom Oakes & Kathryn Nicoll Captains Bar, 4 South College Street. 4pm. See Fri 21. ■ The Wolfetones The Liquid Room, 9c Victoria Street, 225 2564. 7pm. £20. Celt rock veterans with a strong political slant to their lyrics. ■ Denise Black’s Loose Screw The Voodoo Rooms, 19a West Register Street, 556 7060. 7.30pm. £5. Taking a break from Sister Act, the Corrie star indulges her musical side with a night of ‘kooky and harmonic folk rock’ featuring Graeme Taylor.
Edinburgh ✽✽ Toumani Diabate Usher Hall, Lothian Road, 228 1155. 7.30pm.
£20 (concessions available). Toumani Diabate is the most famous ambassador of the kora and one of the world’s most adventurous and mesmerising musicians; hear him with his band. See Five Reasons, page 91. FREE Muckle Flugga Whiski, 119 High Street, 556 3095. 9.30pm–12.30am. See Thu 20.
Tuesday 8
Edinburgh FREE Carolyn Anona Scott & Jack Foster Captains Bar, 4 South College Street. 8.30pm. See Tue 25. ■ Ceilidh Club The Bongo Club, Moray House, 37 Holyrood Road, 558 7604. 8.30pm. £6. Ceilidh dancing, furious fiddlers and callers to lead you through the steps. Featuring Heeliegoleerie.
Wednesday 9 Edinburgh FREE Easy Chair The Jazz Bar, 1
Chambers Street, 220 4298. 6pm. See Wed 26. ■ Declan O’Rourke The Bongo Club, Moray House, 37 Holyrood Road, 558 7604. 7pm. £12. Solo set from Irish singer-songwriter O’Rourke. ■ Tom Paxton The Queen’s Hall, 87–89 Clerk St, 668 2019. 7.30pm. £20. US singer-songwriter who has been honoured with two Lifetime Achievement Awards. ■ Martin Carthy Edinburgh Folk Club, Cabaret Bar, 60 The Pleasance, 650 2458. 8pm. £10 (£8; members £6). The respected English folk singer and guitarist. Part of the Carrying Stream Festival. FREE Mike Breen & Eddy Hanson Captains Bar, 4 South College Street. 8.30pm. See Wed 26.
Thursday 10 Glasgow ■ Alison Krauss & Union Station SECC, Finnieston Quay, 0844 395 4000. 6.30pm. £27.50–£37.50. The much respected bluegrass and country singer- songwriter and fiddler who has scored a big hit with her Raising Sand collaboration with Robert Plant. ■ Bruce Molsky Star Folk Club, St Andrew’s in the Square off Saltmarket St Andrew’s Street, 563 0454. 7.30pm. £10 (£8). See Wed 2. ■ Declan O’Rourke CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. 7.30pm. £12. See Wed 9. ■ Mugdock Music Festival Mugdock Country Park, Craigallion Road, Milngavie, 956 6100. 7.45pm. £12 (£10) per evening. Three evenings of music in
FOLK Music
the country park, featuring great Scottish acts. Thursday’s singer-songwriter evening includes young, soulful Jonny Jack and Love and Money’s James Grant. Booking essential. Edinburgh ■ 60 Years Anniversary Concert Malone’s Irish Bar, 14 Forrest Rd, 226 5954. 8pm. £15 (£12). Event celebrating 60 years since the First People’s Festival Ceilidh in 1951, presented by Ewan McVicar, with Sheila Stewart, Margaret Bennett, Phil Cunningham and friends. Part of the Carrying Stream Festival. ■ Fred Morrison & Matthew Watson The Voodoo Rooms, 19a West Register Street, 556 7060. 9pm. £10. Benbecula-based Morrison plays the Highland pipes, Border pipes, uilleann pipes and low whistle. FREE Muckle Flugga Whiski Rooms, 4, 6 & 7 North Bank Street, 225 7224. 9.30pm–12.30am. See Thu 20.
Friday 11 Glasgow ■ Mugdock Music Festival Mugdock Country Park, Craigallion Road, Milngavie, 956 6100. 7.45pm. £12 (£10) per evening. See Thu 10. Friday is an Traditional Folk Evening with Bill Adair and Cruachan. ■ Friday Ceilidh Sloans, 62 Argyll Arcade, City Centre, 229 5270. 8.30pm–1am. £8 (£5). See Fri 21.
Edinburgh ■ James Yorkston The Queen’s Hall, 87–89 Clerk Street, 668 2019. 7pm. £16 (£14). Spectral and traditional sounds from the East Neuk of Fife’s alternative folk-troubadour. ■ Will Kaufman and David Ferrard The Pleasance Cabaret Bar, 60 Pleasance, 556 6550. 7.30pm. £9 (£7). Kaufman performs ‘Hard Times and Hard Travellin’: The Songs of Woody Guthrie’ while Ferrard launches new album, Journeyman. Part of the Carrying Stream Festival. ■ Ken’s Ceilidhs Lauriston Hall, 28 Lauriston Street, 339 5374. 8pm. £6–£10. Ceilidh with Scott Leslie ceilidh band with a piper and international folk dances. FREE Tom Oakes & Kathryn Nicoll Captains Bar, 4 South College Street. 9pm. See Fri 21.
Saturday 12 Glasgow ■ Mugdock Music Festival Mugdock Country Park, Craigallion Road, Milngavie, 956 6100. 7.45pm. £12 (£10) per evening. See Thu 10. Sunday rounds things off with a Celtic Evening featuring the Brendan McCreanor Trio and the Rachel Hair Trio.
Edinburgh FREE Annual Hamish Henderson Lecture Edinburgh City Chambers, High Street, 529 4003. 3pm. Owen Dudley Edwards presents ‘Sectarian Songs - Hamish Henderson and Ireland’. Part of the Carrying Stream Festival. FREE Gilly Hewitt Captains Bar, 4 South College Street. 4pm. Folk session. ■ Eddi Reader The Queen’s Hall, 87–89 Clerk Street, 668 2019. 7pm. £23. See Fri 11. ■ Salsa Celtica Brunton Theatre, Ladywell Way, Musselburgh, 665 2240. 7.30pm. £15.25 (£13.25). A heady mix of jazz, African, Latin and Celtic rhythms from this lively group. ■ Gala Concert The Pleasance Theatre, 60 Pleasance, 650 4673. 8pm. £12 (£10). Featuring staff tutors and students from the School of Scottish Studies and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, featuring, among others, Gordeanna McCulloch, Rod Paterson, Patsy Seddon, Jean Redpath, Margaret Bennett and Gary West. Part of the Carrying Stream Festival.
20 Oct–17 Nov 2011 THE LIST 105