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Thursday 11 March 2010 - Emily Smith and Jamie McClennan (Scotland)
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‘Scots Singer of the Year 2008/9’ Emily Smith has firmly established herself as a
leading light in the Scottish folk scene.
Since winning the 2002 ‘BBC Young Traditional Musician of the Year Award’
she has released four critically acclaimed albums, toured extensively with
her band on the international folk circuit and is recognised not only as one
of Scotland’s finest interpreters of traditional song but also as a talented
songwriter and multi-instrumentalist.
Emily spent six years living in Glasgow during which time she gained an Honours
degree in Scottish Music from The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.
Now living back in her home area of Dumfries & Galloway in South West Scotland
Smith has found her niche drawing on the rich local history and ever changing
landscape as the source and inspiration for her music. She has an affection
(and growing reputation!) for collecting dusty old poetry and song books in
search of new material. The results are re-worked ballads which seamlessly
interweave with Smith’s own descriptive songs, often confusing the listener
as to which material is old and which is new.
Her songwriting has not gone without recognition – She became the first ever
winner from Scotland in the USA Songwriting Competition in 2005 after winning
the folk section with her song ‘Edward of Morton’, another of her songs
‘Always a Smile,’ about the life of her Polish grandmother, was short
listed in the final ten.
Alongside her solo career Smith has written, recorded and toured with artists
from the folk scene and beyond including Eddi Reader, Beth Nielsen Chapman,
Karine Polwart, John McCusker, David Scott and Phil Cunningham.
She has recorded live sessions for BBC Radio 2’s Bob Harris, Aled Jones and Mike
Harding alongside receiving regular play on BBC Radio Scotland. Recent television
work includes performing on BBC 1 Scotland’s Hogmanay show and she will be featured
in the new series of Transatlantic Sessions.
Frequently performing in the same line up as her musical heroes, Smith’s star
is definitely in the ascendant.
Emily's website.
Jamie's website.
Emily's MySpace
Tickets available at the door for $20 and $15 for members and concession.
Under the Grandstand, Queen Elizabeth Oval, View Street, from 8:00pm for an
8:15pm start.
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Thursday 25 March 2010 - Whitetop Mountaineers (USA)
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The Whitetop Mountaineers is made up of the young duo, Martha Spencer and
Jackson Cunningham. They both live in Whitetop, Virginia, at the highest mountains
in Virginia. Their shows feature Old Timey music that is true to its roots
in the Appalachian Mountains. Tight harmony singing, up tempo old time fiddle,
clawhammer banjo, and bluesy mandolin instrumentals. Martha will also slip
Appalachian dancing into their performances.
Martha grew up in a musical family; her uncle Albert Hash was legendary
fiddler and instrument maker that gained widespread attention for his music
and craft. He had a great impact on old time music and taught countless
musicians and luthiers. Her parents, Thornton Spencer and Emily Spencer,
are the leaders of the Whitetop Mountain Band and are well known and
respected musicians and teachers of old time music. Her great-grandfather,
Bud Spencer, won many big dance competitions such as the Whitetop
Folk Festival in the 1930s. Martha began dancing and playing at very
young age. Now 22 years old, Martha plays fiddle, banjo, guitar, bass,
dulcimer and sings.
Jackson originally from Oregon, also grew up in a musical family. His
father played several instruments like guitar and harmonica and sang
country and traditional music. Jackson's grandmother was also a very
accomplished musician, singer, and music teacher. His mother and siblings
also play and sing as well.
Jackson began playing at the age of nine on guitar. He went on to later
pick up mandolin, harmonica, and clawhammer banjo as well.
As the Whitetop Mountaineers, Jackson and Martha have played concerts,
festivals, workshops, and dances throughout the United States and
abroad such as: GrahamFest USA, Cornish Bluegrass Festival in England,
Illwarra Folk Festival in NSW, Australia, Tamworth Country Music
Festival in NSW, Australia, Open House Festival in Belfast, Ireland,
San Francisco Bluegrass and Old Time Festival, Harrisonburg Crooked Road
Concert, and Grayson Highlands State Park concert series.
The band has been featured on many recordings throughout the years and
are currently Arhoolie and Virginia Foundation for the Humanities label
recording artists.
The Whitetop Mountaineers website
and their MySpace
Tickets available at the door for $20 and $15 for members and concession.
Under the Grandstand, Queen Elizabeth Oval, View Street, from 8:00pm for an
8:15pm start.
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Wednesday 7 April 2010 - James Keelaghan with Hugh McMillan (Canada)
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James Keelaghan is an artist who has proven to be a man for all seasons.
As the calendar pages have turned, for almost a quarter of a century now,
this poet laureate of the folk and roots music world has gone about his work
with a combination of passion, curiosity intent and intensity.
His masterful story telling has, over the course of nine recordings, been part
of the bedrock of his success, earning Keelaghan nominations and awards -
including a Juno (Canada's Grammy) - and acclaim from Australia to Scandinavia.
Possessed of an insatiable appetite for finding the next unique story line,
Keelaghan forges his pieces with brilliant craftsmanship and monogrammed artistic
vision, making him one of the most distinctive and readily identifiable voices
on both the Canadian and international singer-songwriter scenes.
His songbook has enlightened, enthralled, and been embraced, by audiences around the world.
James Keelaghan's website and
his MySpace
Tickets available at the door for $20 and $15 for members and concession.
Under the Grandstand, Queen Elizabeth Oval, View Street, from 8:00pm for an
8:15pm start.
