Scottish Folk Music

Scottish Folk Music Events
May 2008

1st May - Star Folk Club(Glasgow) - Tannahill Weavers - £10/£8(concession)
"...world class musicians with passion and a healthy sense of fun, keeping alive and making accessible the very best of the tradition itself..." Mojo Magazine
"...the Tannies are the best that Scotland can aspire to (and believe me, that is THE BEST).." The Living Tradition

1st May - The Fureys and Davey Arthur - Falkirk Town Hall, Camelon Road, Falkirk (01324 506850) - 25th anniversary tour tour for the traditionalists with tunes from their latest album My Father's House. 7.00pm, £15.

1st May - Denholm Folk Club - Guest night with Donal O'Connor.
"A Pure Joy ..." - Donal grew up in provincial Ireland of the seventies. He writes about the people and places he knows and loves. He writes about issues, which are colloquial and yet universal. He writes about ordinary everyday life in an extraordinarily simple way. Is it any wonder that the great Christy Moore described his debut album as "A Pure Joy".

1st May - Falkirk Folk Club - Fil Campbell & Tom McFarland
Polish Club on Arnott Street in Falkirk. £5.00 members, £6.00 non-members

1st - 4th May - SHETLAND FOLK FESTIVAL - various venues. Shetland's premier music event featuring acts from all over the world and the best musical talent Shetland has to offer.
Tel. 01595 694 757
email: info@shetlandfolkfestival.com

2nd May - Rolling Hills Folk Club - Melrose - Sandy Brechin and Ewan Wilkinson

2nd May - The Fureys - Lochgelly Centre, Lochgelly, Fife

2nd May - Peatbog Faeries - Clickimin, North Lochside, Shetland (01595-694757) - Scotland's funkiest folk-fusionists with a mix of trditional jigs and reels, jazz, hip-hop, reggae and more. 8.30pm, £9-£17.

2nd May - Duncan Chisholm and Ivan Drever - Maltings Art Centre, Berwick Upon Tweed (01289-330999) - the Scottish duo play traditional and contemporary folk on guitar and fiddle. 7.30pm, £12 (adv £10)

2nd - 4th May - GIRVAN FOLK FESTIVAL - various venues, Girvan. Three concert venues, competitions, ceilidh dance, childrens events, sessions for tunes and songs, open stage, workshops, secure campsite.
Tel. 01560 321102 / 01465 712128
email: margaretmacrae@btinternet.com

3rd May - The Fureys - Whitehall Theatre, Dundee

3rd May - Gaberlunzie - Ballinluig Inn, Ballinluig, Pitlochry. 8.00pm in the lounge.

3rd - 5th May - FEIS ROIS INBHICH - Ullapool, Ross-shire, Highlands. A three day tuition event for adults in many instruments, Gaelic language, singing and dancing. First class tutors, sessions and ceilidhs. Check website for details. Tel. 01349 862 600
email: fios@feisrois.org

4th May - Stephen Quigg - Glenmorag Hotel, Dunoon. 8.30pm. Tel: 01369-702227

4th May - The Fureys - Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow

5th May - Glenfarg Village Folk Club - Spring Open Stage - four acts each performing a half hour spot:

The River - Perthshire based multi-instrumental band playing contemporary and traditional music.

Irene Watt - an award winning singer and clarsach player from Aberdeenshire.

Iain Main and Andrew Lyons - some fine songs and tunes with guitar and fiddle from these two lads from Edinburgh.

Christine Bovill - wonderful singer / songwriter who won the Glasgow Songwriting Competition in 2007.

6th May - Stephen Quigg - Glenmorag Hotel, Dunoon. 8.30pm. Tel: 01369-702227

6th May - Links Hotel Folk Music Club in Montrose - Kent Duchaine

6th May - Leith Folk Club - Tannahill Weavers - £6
8.00pm - booking - tel 0131 478 7810 (Please note that reserved tickets must be collected by 7.30 pm on the evening of the performance)

7th May - Stephen Quigg - Portpatrick Hotel, Portpatrick. 8.30pm. Tel: 01776-810333

7th May - Edinburgh Folk Club - Martyn Joseph
Details to follow
Venue: Pleasance Cabaret Bar - 8:00pm
Admission: £7.00 (£6.00 concession)

7th May - Irvine Folk Club - Ben Sands - 8.00pm

7th - 9th May - Pete Clark - Short Fiddle Course - short fiddle courses during the Spring of 2008 at the Taybank, Dunkeld. Two and a half days improving your fiddle playing in the beautiful surroundings of Dunkeld. From Wednesday - Friday lunchtime. Starting at 10am on the Wednesday, each day will consist of 4 x 1-hour lessons (2 x 1-hour on the Friday). Aimed at intermediate to advanced players (NOT beginners), the class size will be limited to a maximum of 10 students. To book this course, email Pete Clark.

8th May - Falkirk Folk Club - Ben Sands - Ben Sands' songs, music and stories paint pictures of an ongoing legacy inherited in those early, influential years on a small farm in County Down and enriched by his colourful, musical, adventure-some journeys through life.
Polish Club on Arnott Street in Falkirk.£5.00 members, £6.00 non-members

8th May - Star Folk Club(Glasgow) - Kent Duchaine - £8/£6(concession) - "He's one of the few players that can really play Robert Johnson material with conviction and power"...Blueprint Magazine

9th May - Stephen Quigg - Caledonian Hotel, Fort William. 8.30pm. Tel: 01397-703117

9th May - Stonehaven Folk Club - Flossie Malavialle

9th May - Gaberlunzie - Fort Theatre, Brackenbrae Av, Bishopbriggs - 0141-959-7449. 7.30pm.

9th - 11th May - 7th MONIAIVE FOLK FESTIVAL - Craigdarroch Arms & George Hotel, Moniaive. Intimate festival in one of Scotland's most picturesque villages. Allan, The Omega 3 (formerly Roaring Jelly), Bellevue Rendezvous, Moishe's Bagel, Lionel McLelland, Paul McKenna Band and Sound Sense PA plus workshops, sessions, singarounds and children's events.
Tel: 01848 200 474
email: hughtaylor@moniaivefolkfestival.co.uk

10th May - Stephen Quigg - Fife Arms, Braemar. 8.30pm. Tel: 01339-741644

10th May - Crail Folk Club - MICK WEST BAND - Town Hall - £7 Scotland on Sunday described Mick as ‘one of Scotland’s most lyrical folksong exponents.’ With his ‘richly talented band’ (Edinburgh Evening News) in tow a high quality evening is guaranteed.

10th May - Stirling Folk Club - Fairport Convention - 8.00pm

11th May - Stephen Quigg - Glenmorag Hotel, Dunoon. 8.30pm. Tel: 01369-702227

11th May - Leith Folk Club - Kent DuChaine (in association with EJP)(£8) Venue: The Jazz Bar , doors 8.30 for 9 , details from the venue 0131 220 4298.

12th May - Glenfarg Village Folk Club - Duncan Chisholm and Ivan Drever - Ivan and Duncan are one of Scotland’s top duos. Orkney musician Ivan is known throughout the traditional music world for his songwriting as well as his work with Wolfstone. Duncan, from Kirkhill Ross-shire, is a particularly fine fiddler. The pair create an amazing sound and their introductions are legendary!
Members £5, Non-members £8

13th May - Stephen Quigg - Glenmorag Hotel, Dunoon. 8.30pm. Tel: 01369-702227

13th May - Penicuik Folk Club - Claire Mann and Aaron Jones
Claire Mann (flute, fiddle, whistle and vocals) and Aaron Jones (bouzouki, guitar, bass and vocals) are two well established musicians on the folk scene today. Claire as well as being highly regarded as a tutor of traditional music has toured extensively with bands Tabache, Craobh Rua and Christy O`Leary. Aaron is currently touring worldwide with award winning Scottish band, Old Blind Dogs. They met on the thriving Edinburgh folk music scene several years ago. Over the years they have developed a unique and exciting musical relationship, performing a mixture of traditional and contemporary Scottish and Irish music and song. They have played together in various bands and have made countless television, radio and festival appearances worldwide.
8.15pm, Royal Hotel, Penicuik: £7/£5 (conc.)

13th May - Leith Folk Club - Gillebride MacMillan - Gillebrìde, from South Uist is one of the few people to have won all major prizes at the Royal National Mod as an adult and as a child. He won the Traditional Gold Medal at the 2000 Mod in Dunoon and The Royal National Gold Medal in Perth in 2004.
8.00pm - booking - tel 0131 478 7810 (Please note that reserved tickets must be collected by 7.30 pm on the evening of the performance)

13th May - Gaberlunzie - Tummel Valley Holiday Park, Pitlochry, Perthshire - 01882-634221. 8.30pm.

14th May - Stephen Quigg - Portpatrick Hotel, Portpatrick. 8.30pm. Tel: 01776-810333

14th May - Edinburgh Folk Club - Andy White
Details to follow
Venue: Pleasance Cabaret Bar - 8:00pm
Admission: £7.00 (£6.00 concession)

16th May - Stephen Quigg - Caledonian Hotel, Fort William. 8.30pm. Tel: 01397-703117

16th May - Skerryvore - Argyll Hotel, Lochgilphead 8.00pm TICKETS £10 - AVAILABLE FROM ARGYLL HOTEL & FERGUSON BUTCHERS FROM FRI 18th APRIL. GET YOUR TICKETS QUICKLY!

16th May - Rolling Hills Folk Club - Melrose - Singers’ night

16th - 18th May - FlFESlNG 2008: The Fife Traditional Singing Weekend - Fife Animal Park, Birnie Loch, Collessie, Fife. The 6th annual Fife Traditional Singing Weekend - workshops, talks, concerts and singarounds with some of the finest exponents of Scottish traditional singing to be found today.
Tel. 01337 830 773
email: admin@springthyme.co.uk
www.springthyme.co.uk/events/fifesing

17th May - Stephen Quigg - Fife Arms, Braemar. 8.30pm. Tel: 01339-741644

17th - 25th May - 7th Annual Burns An' A' That! Festival 2008 - is set to showcase the best of Scottish Talent and bring the biggest international acts to Ayrshire, the birthplace of Robert Burns. Some of the participating acts are - STATUS QUO, FROM THE JAM, EDDIE READER, AMY MACDONALD, RED HOT CHILLI PIPERS, FRED MACAULAY, KAREN MATHESON, ALISON MCNEILL, EMILY SMITH, GABERLUNZIE, ESTHER O'CONNOR, KIN, OLD BLIND DOGS

18th May - Stephen Quigg - Glenmorag Hotel, Dunoon. 8.30pm. Tel: 01369-702227

19th May - Stirling Folk Club - Johnny Silvo - 8.00pm

20th May - Stephen Quigg - Glenmorag Hotel, Dunoon. 8.30pm. Tel: 01369-702227

20th May - Fiddle Rendezvous - this Fiddle Tree gig is a meeting and celebration of music from Scotland, Ireland and the United States,
bringing together Bruce Molsky & Mary Ann Kennedy, Gerry O'Connor & Gilles le Bigot, and Mike & Ali Vass - three fiddle players with contrasting styles, together with their musical partners, showcasing their individual and distinctive styles and collaborating in unique and original combinations.

Tickets - ADULT: £10, bought in advance from Birnam House Hotel (01350 727462), Zigzags, Dunkeld (01350 728666) and Birnam CD (01350 727158) or £12 at the door. Under-18's: £3, or 2 for £5 (in advance or on the door). Tickets can also be bought online at www.thebooth.co.uk Details of The Fiddle Tree's future events can be found at www.thefiddletree.com.

20th May - Leith Folk Club - Eric Andersen (£10)
Eric's songs, voice, and guitar have created a career, spanning over 30 years, that includes 21 albums of original songs, and numerous tours of North America, Europe, and Japan. His songs have been recorded by artists all over the world, including Judy Collins, Fairport Convention, Peter Paul and Mary, Rick Nelson, Linda Ronstadt, The Grateful Dead, and Francoise Hardy.
8.00pm - booking - tel 0131 478 7810 (Please note that reserved tickets must be collected by 7.30 pm on the evening of the performance)

20th May - Links Hotel Folk Music Club in Montrose - Tanglefoot - £7.50 - The appearance of the five piece Canadian Band, Tanglefoot at Montrose Folk Club is certain to be one of the highlights of 2008. The music of Tanglefoot is high energy, original but from the tradition featuring story songs, folk lore, drama, fun and good humour. The Band are renowned for their spectacular harmony singing, slick instrumentals and an abundance of stage presence and wild enthusiasm.

21st May - Stephen Quigg - Portpatrick Hotel, Portpatrick. 8.30pm. Tel: 01776-810333

21st May - Edinburgh Folk Club - Tanglefoot
Details to follow
Venue: Pleasance Cabaret Bar - 8:00pm
Admission: £8.00 (£6.00 concession)

21st May - Irvine Folk Club - Johnny Silvo - 8.00pm

22nd - 24th May - Isle Of Skye Accordion & Fiddle Festival 2008 - Ian Muir Scottish Dance Band, Deoch 'n' Dorus, Sileas Sinclair Trio, Ally K MacPherson, Iain Angus MacLeod and Friends, The Gunna Sound Ceilidh Band.

22nd May - Falkirk Folk Club - Flossie - A welcome return to Falkirk for Flossie. A wonderful French singer (based in Darlington!) with a powerful voice and a wicked sense of humour. Not be missed!
Polish Club on Arnott Street in Falkirk.£5.00 members, £6.00 non-members

22nd May - Star Folk Club(Glasgow) - Tanglefoot - £10/£8(concession) - Canada's Tanglefoot are a thunderous live band with a reputation for spectacular vocal harmonies. Once descibed as "Stan Rogers meets Van Halen."

22th - 25th May - ORKNEY FOLK FESTIVAL - Stromness and outlying areas
26th year of Scotland's premier folk festival. Famed for mixture of high quality big name concerts, friendly sessions and workshops.
Tel. 01856 851 331
info@orkneyfolkfestival.com

22th - 25th May - WORLD CEILIDH - Knockengorroch Farm, Carsphairn, Castle Douglas. Unique family friendly Celtic/World music festival on remote greenfield site in the Galloway hills. High profile and emerging performers. Two stages, sessions, workshops, storytelling, fire performances, children's marquee, DJs and more.
Tel. 01644 460662
email: info@knockengorroch.org.uk
www.knockengorroch.org.uk

23rd May - Stephen Quigg - Caledonian Hotel, Fort William. 8.30pm. Tel: 01397-703117

23rd May - Stonehaven Folk Club - Johnny Silvo

23th - 25th May - BUCHAN HERITAGE FESTIVAL - Ritchie Hall, Strichen, Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire. Pre-festival dance on Friday night with Nicol McLaren and Glencraig Dance Band. Competitions for traditional song, music and verse on Saturday. Prize-winners concert and ceilidh on Saturday evening.
Tel. 01779 821 301
email: info@buchanheritagesociety.co.uk

23th - 25th May - DUNBLANE FLING - Dunblane
A friendly traditional festival, now in its 15th year, offering ceilidh, concerts, free workshops and outdoor entertainment and the ever-popular Fling at Doune Castle. Fun for all the family.
Tel. 01786 824092
email: info@dunblanefling.com

24th May - Crail Folk Club - DANNY SPOONER - Town Hall - £5 Australian singer, guitarist and concertina player with a passion for expressing British and Australian culture through folk music, talents that he has toured widely through Europe and North America as well as his native Australia.

24th May - The McCalmans - Lochside Road, Castle Douglas, Scotland 8.00pm

24th May - Dougie MacLean - Doune and Dunblane Fling - for one wild weekend in May musicians, performers, dancers and visitors descend on the beautiful villages of Dunblane and Doune to sing, dance, play and have fun. From bodhrans to bellydancers, sessions to sword fights, the Fling has done it all. So for just one weekend why not dig out your dancing shoes, leave your inhibitions at home and join us for a Fling! The Fling is 15 years old and to celebrate the acclaimed Scottish singer and songwriter Dougie MacLean will be headlining at the Fling, ably supported by the Calum Stewart 3.

25th May - Stephen Quigg - Glenmorag Hotel, Dunoon. 8.30pm. Tel: 01369-702227

26th May - The McCalmans - Doune, Scotland 8.00pm

26th May - Stirling Folk Club - The Tannahill Weavers - 8.00pm

27th May - Stephen Quigg - Glenmorag Hotel, Dunoon. 8.30pm. Tel: 01369-702227

27th May - Leith Folk Club - Dana and Susan Robinson (£6)
Dana and Susan Robinson sing dust-on-the-boots vignettes of rural America. They reach back into the roots of American music, to the days before bluegrass and country crystalised from the pre war mix of traditional songs and influences brought there by the early seetlers. Their stories reflect a deep affection for the landscape and a sense of place within it. Dana and Susan are tremendous multi-instrumentalists (guitar, banjo, fiddle, mandolin) integrating styles from the Appalachian, Celtic, and African traditions to create a fresh and contemporary sound that is uniquely their own.
8.00pm - booking - tel 0131 478 7810 (Please note that reserved tickets must be collected by 7.30 pm on the evening of the performance)

27th May - Gaberlunzie - Tummel Valley Holiday Park, Pitlochry, Perthshire - 01882-634221. 8.30pm.

28th May - Stephen Quigg - Portpatrick Hotel, Portpatrick. 8.30pm. Tel: 01776-810333

28th May - Pete Clark In Concert. One of Scotland’s top fiddlers, Dunfermline born Pete Clark will be making a rare appearance on solo fiddle in the Long Gallery at Abbot House Dunfermline. Tickets: £12. Available from Abbot House. 01383 733266

28th May - Edinburgh Folk Club - Kevin Burke
Details to follow
Venue: Pleasance Cabaret Bar - 8:00pm
Admission: £7.00 (£6.00 concession)

28th May - Leith Folk Club - Laura Cortese (£6)
Singer, songwriter and fiddler, Laura lights up the stage with a radiant smile, dazzling musicianship and uninhibited delight. A graduate of Berklee, perhaps the world's top music school ( where Edinburgh's saxophone legend Tommy Smith studied), Laura is a top class musician. In her self-styled "drum-chop-fiddle-pop", she has created a frisky ix of traditional grace and modern sophistication that is completely unlike other. She has played in Edinburgh a couple of times recently, including one particularly memorable appearance as the bass player with the ever popular Uncle Earl.
8.00pm - booking - tel 0131 478 7810 (Please note that reserved tickets must be collected by 7.30 pm on the evening of the performance)

29th May - Falkirk Folk Club - Titch Frier - Titch is a traditional Scottish folk singer who has a wide appeal with audiences both at home and abroad which all adds up to an entertaining evening of music and good chat.
Polish Club on Arnott Street in Falkirk.£5.00 members, £6.00 non-members

29th May - Leith Folk Club - Groanbox Boys (£6)
The Groanbox Boys are the NY/London-based music duo, Cory Seznec and Michael Ward-Bergeman. The two play a highly unique blend of what they call Old Time Mountain Gypsy World Folk Blues Music on accordion, acoustic guitar, banjo, harmonica and odd pieces of percussion, including their self-made "Freedom Boot". Their foot-stompin' sound features unconventional arrangements weaved together by tight vocal harmonies sung with raw intensity.
8.00pm - booking - tel 0131 478 7810 (Please note that reserved tickets must be collected by 7.30 pm on the evening of the performance)

29th May - Links Hotel Folk Music Club in Montrose - Michael Marra - special one off concert to open Montrose Music Festival

29th May - Star Folk Club(Glasgow) - Wailin' Jennys - £13 (from www.ticketweb.co.uk and Tickets Scotland, Argyle Street) - Canada's Wailin' Jennys combine traditional bluegrass instruments with contemporary lyrics and memorable three-part harmonies. (In association with the Fallen Angels Club www.fallenangelsclub.com as part of the Glasgow Americana Festival)

30th May - Stephen Quigg - Caledonian Hotel, Fort William. 8.30pm. Tel: 01397-703117

30th May - 1st Jun - Dundonald Music Festival - a small Ayrshire village with historic attractions and immersed in great music. Tickle Your Fancy, Paul McKenna Band, Dave Leonard, MAK, Kin, Dick Gaughan and Legacy.

30th May - 1st Jun - MONTROSE MUSIC FESTIVAL - various venues. Features live music from a wide range of genres, from rock to jazz, folk to latin, blues to bluegrass and more.
Tel. 01674 677 117
email: webmaster@montrosemusicfestival.co.uk

30th May - 1st Jun - THE BORDER GAITHERIN' - (Note New Dates) various venues in the picturesque town of Coldstream on the banks of the River Tweed Tutors confirmed so far are Liz Doherty (fiddle) and Lori Watson (Border tunes and song). Ceilidh, concert featuring tutors, sessions, singarounds and open stage performances.
Tel. 01573 224 920
lizmarroni@argonet.co.uk

31st May - Stephen Quigg - Fife Arms, Braemar. 8.30pm. Tel: 01339-741644

31st May - Leith Folk Club - Burkitt & Stone (£tbc)
The big party night of our festival. We're celebrating Leith Folk Club's 200th gig and the launch of Frank Burkitt's first album 'for a little less care'. Frank will be joined by the amazingly stylish aussie fiddle player Chris Stone and friends for an evening of song after wonderful song.
8.00pm - booking - tel 0131 478 7810 (Please note that reserved tickets must be collected by 7.30 pm on the evening of the performance)

31st May - Heelster Gowdie in concert - Boys Brigade Hall, Glebe Car Park, Bearsden Cross, Bearsden, Glasgow 7.30pm - in aid of 1st Bearsden BB America 2008 fund. Heelster Gowdie are a group based around the Dumbarton area specialising in well-known and well-loved folk songs. The band are Russell Wheeler (guitar, harmony vocal), Vincent Mellon (guitar, percussion), David Thornaby (bodhran), James Thumath(strings, whistle vocals).
Tickets £5.00(adult) & £3.00(child) available from: Robertson Jeen, Butchers, New Kirk Road, Bearsden or Douglas Annan 0141 586 5095.

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If you know of any folk music events not on the events pages, please feel free to contact me with the relevant information.