Calendar

Calendar

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calendar@corvallisfolklore.org

Jun
17
Mon
Hanz Araki with Dan Faiella album release concert @ Whiteside Theatre
Jun 17 @ 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Hanz ArakiHanz Araki
with Dan Faiella

album release concert

Considered one of the most talented Irish musicians in America today, flautist, whistle player, singer, and Juno Award-winner Hanz Araki has been lauded by publications and audiences alike.  Three decades of musical exploration into Irish, Scottish, Japanese, and American traditions has yielded his distinct style described by Fatea Magazine as “achingly beautiful.”

As the sixth generation of his family to bear the title Araki Kodo, Hanz (short for Hanzaburo, his great-great grandfather’s name) spent his formative years mastering the Japanese end-blown bamboo flute.  Discovering and relishing the melodic and mechanical similarities between shakuhachi and Irish whistle, Hanz applied his natural capacity and boundless curiosity to his Irish heritage.  Taking advantage of the rich Irish music scene in Seattle, where he spent his youth, Hanz quickly became known for his exquisite instrumental work on both Irish whistle and flute and a haunting singing voice that was born to tell tales.

“Hanz Araki is a master of his art – of that there is no doubt. His stunning musicianship and mind-spinning delivery of traditional tunes is a pure exhilaration for the ears. Combining an unprecedented feel for the Japanese shakuhachi flute with an unerring ability as an interpreter of Celtic music, Araki has carved out a rock-solid status. Fashioned through a heritage of Irish and Japanese parental influence, education, and personal dedication, his musical influences combine the disciplines and traditions of both cultures to create the virtuoso we hear today.”  (Folkwords)

Over the years, Hanz has released 11 albums, including 2014’s critically acclaimed Foreign Shore.  Festival appearances include the Austin Celtic Festival, the Maine Celtic Celebration, the Missoula Celtic Festival, KVMR Grass Valley Celtic Festival, Milwaukee Irish Festival, Bumbershoot, Celtic Connections, and over 20 years of performances at the Northwest Folklife Festival. Hanz has also been invited to perform with the Seattle Symphony, at the Gates Estate, and for the Japanese Consul General.

Hanz Araki CD

 

Jun
27
Thu
Campfire Singalong @ Lisa's house in Monroe Oregon
Jun 27 @ 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Campfire Singalong

Lisa Lynne Campfire

You can come anytime to this exceptional music party. It will be wonderful musicians playing beautiful acoustic songs from the 60’s and 70’s. You can request any song you love from the provided songbooks or play along on an instrument.
Even if you just want to be a listener, you are in for a real treat. It’s not a dinner potluck but bring snacks and treats and libations. Suggested donation is only $5 as we hire an ace guitarist to help us out.

 

Jul
18
Thu
New World String Project @ Lisa's house in Monroe Oregon
Jul 18 @ 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm

New World String ProjectNew World String Project

John Weed • Aryeh Frankfurter • Lisa Lynne • Stuart Mason

Extraordinary instruments and heartwarming music rooted in the Nordic, Celtic, and American folk traditions.  98 strings on stage!

Science tells us that cross pollination can result in hybrid vigor that transcends the sum of its parts. In a parallel vein, the vibrant West Coast traditional music community has given birth to the New World String Project. Four highly skilled and well known multi-instrumentalists have joined forces to create an exciting weave of music rooted in the Celtic, Nordic and American folk traditions. Ancient and modern sounds mingle freely on Swedish nyckelharpa, Celtic harp, fiddle, guitar, cittern, bouzouki, and more. Join the New World String Project for a musical ride that will shake your boots, uplift your spirit and warm your heart.

“(New World String Project) literally pranced through their hour-long program at St. Mary’s in Pacific Grove, displaying both calculated structure and unbridled abandon.” –Monterey County Weekly (CA)

Doors open 6pm with a potluck reception.

A house concert is an excellent opportunity to hear great music in a very intimate setting.

Jul
25
Thu
I Draw Slow @ Whiteside Theatre
Jul 25 @ 7:00 pm – 10:30 pm

I Draw SlowI Draw Slow

The Dublin-based roots band coaxes the past into the present with original songs that draw from the best of Irish storytelling and American folk music.

The band is fronted by siblings Dave (guitar) and Louise (vocals) Holden who have been writing together for two decades. In 2008 the pair teamed up with violinist Adrian Hart, clawhammer banjo player Colin Derham, and double bassist Konrad Liddy to form I Draw Slow.

The band has played to audiences in the UK, Germany, Denmark, Belgium, and performed at many North American festivals including MerleFest, Pickathon, Wintergrass, RockyGrass, Grey Fox, Red Wing, Edmonton Folk Fest, Sisters Folk Festival and Mountain Stage. It was their 2014 performace at MerleFest that first put the band on the radar for Compass co-founders Garry West and Alison Brown, who were impressed with the band’s performance and the reaction from buyers in the MerleFest merch tent.

First, we noticed how they got the crowd involved in what they were doing. Their energy is truly infectious,” says West. “Then we noticed that their CDs and merchandise were flying off the shelves in the festival store. That kind of immediate response is always going to get our attention! But more than anything we’ve been impressed with the strength of the songwriting, the sibling harmony and the musical proficiency of the band. They are truly dedicated to their craft.”

 

Aug
4
Sun
Cindy Kallet & Grey Larsen @ Whiteside Theatre
Aug 4 @ 7:00 pm – 10:30 pm

Cindy Kallet & Grey LarsenCindy Kallet
& Grey Larsen

Cindy Kallet and Grey Larsen, each well-known and loved for their decades of music making, come together to give a concert of contemporary and traditional songs and tunes. Cindy is a superb singer, guitarist, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. Grey is one of America’s finest players of the Irish flute and tin whistle, as well as an accomplished singer and concertina, fiddle, piano and harmonium player. As composers each contributes to the unique tapestry of contemporary folk and world music in America today. Together they weave their music with vibrant colors and subtle textures.

Scott Alarik of The Boston Globe calls Cindy “…one of folk music’s most respected songwriters… provocative, heartwise, and original …a brilliant guitarist… ” while Grey’s playing has been called “positively spellbinding” (The New Mexico Daily, Albuquerque, NM) and “exceptionally exceptional” (The Spectator, Raleigh-Durham, NC).
The duo’s repertoire includes Cindy’s sparkling original songs, distinctive settings of traditional Irish music, Scandinavian fiddle duets, old-time fiddle and guitar tunes from southern Indiana, and new music that Cindy and Grey are inventing together. There is plenty of variety and breadth of musical territory here, all deeply rooted in folk traditions, and interwoven with the renaissance and baroque counterpoint in which both Cindy and Grey were immersed while growing up. Included are vocal duets, guitar, Irish flute, Irish alto flute, tin whistle, concertina, harmonium, and duet fiddling, along with plenty of stories that put the music into a personal context. Their newest album, Welcome Day, was released in 2015, and joins Cross the Water and a CD single, “Back When We Were All Machines.”

Grey’s popular books on Irish flute and tin whistle are the most comprehensive and innovative in print today, selling more than 15,000 copies to date worldwide. His two most recent books address Irish music more broadly, embracing the interests of all Irish music players. Grey plays the wooden Irish flute with a distinctive sound that many feel is his alone. His recordings showcase this dark, silky, reflective flute voice as well as his mastery of fiddle, anglo concertina, piano, and harmonium. His music encompasses the traditions of Appalachia, southern Indiana, Scandinavia and Québec in addition to Ireland. A graduate of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Grey is a schooled composer. He brings the clarity of renaissance and baroque counterpoint into his creations and collaborations.

For more on Cindy and Grey, please visit www.kalletlarsen.com where you may listen to
their music for free and view videos of their performances.

 

Aug
13
Tue
Harris Bridge Folk Festival Song Writing Camp @ Harris Bridge Vineyard
Aug 13 @ 10:00 am – Aug 16 @ 6:00 pm

Harris Bridge Folk Festival Songwriting Camp

Harris Bridge Folk Festival 20118HARRIS BRIDGE SONGWRITING CAMP:   A retreat exploring songwriting, folk music, community, nature, and how they all intersect. The 3-day camp includes workshops, small-group song swaps, co-writing opportunities, 1-on-1 time with instructors, as well as plenty of opportunities for jamming, writing, and exploring the gorgeous Harris Bridge area’s hiking trails, vineyard, river, and swimming hole!  This is a welcoming and non-judgmental community where songwriters at any stage of experience can come and be inspired, connect with their creativity and to the land, and have the time and space to write, reflect, and play!

WHO ATTENDS AND HOW MANY?  All levels of writing and musical experience are welcome.  What matters most is that you are a great appreciator of music and people and the outdoors.  Most songwriters play guitar or keyboards, but songwriters can also work acapella and on a range of other instruments. All genres are welcome.  Note, all under 21 years of age must be accompanied by an adult due to the host site being a winery/vineyard.  Attendance is capped at 25 guest participants.

OUR INSTRUCTORS:  Beth Wood and Clara Baker have decades of experience writing songs, teaching, touring and performing professionally. They will lead guided workshops and small group classes, and can also offer 1-on-1 song feedback, guitar and vocal mini-lessons, and more.

OUR SCHEDULE:  Check-in begins on Tuesday Aug 13th, at 10am. Participants set up and get to know one another the first afternoon with, followed by dinner and a campfire song circle. In the mornings we will gather as a group and share in writing exercises. Afternoons we will focus on co-writing and one-on-on mentor sessions with plenty of free time sprinkled in to explore and gather inspiration from each other and the beautiful setting. In the evenings we will gather in a circle and share songs.

The camp ends on Friday morning by 11am, after breakfast and a closing gathering.  All guests are invited to stay as complimentary guests for the Harris Bridge Folk Festival, or we can see you safely on your way on Friday, just let us know your desire at the time you register for the song camp.

TUITION FEE:  Tuition is $295 and includes the following.

  • A spot for tent camping and/or vehicle camping (RV availability is limited).
  • Access to all classes as well as the occasional opportunity for private instruction
  • Nightly song circles
  • Three meals daily from Tuesday Aug. 13 dinner to Friday Aug. 16 brunch (8 meals).
  • Self-serve coffee and tea.
  • Access to hiking trails, and the swimming hole on the Mary’s River.
  • Complimentary tickets/all access passes to the Harris Bridge Folk Fest (Aug 16, 17, 18, includes complimentary camping!  Value is $80)

OUR LOCATION:  The camp is hosted by Harris Bridge Vineyard, on a 4 acre patch of paradise, located right in the heart of Harris Valley, Oregon, just West of Corvallis.  The site includes a beautiful winery and tasting room, camp sites, 3 separate fire circles, and two distinct places to dip toes into the Mary’s river to restore after long day.  It also includes access to hiking.  The site is a 2-hour drive from Portland, and a 1-hour drive from Eugene.

OUR ACCOMMODATIONS and FOOD PROVISIONS:  Most participants camp in tents or vehicles. We also have a limited network of friends who host guests in their homes.  If you would prefer to be set up in a home, please contact us at harrisbridge@yahoo.com and we will attempt to connect you with a host (may involve additional cost). The camp is an outdoor experience: all classes, song circles and meals are outdoors. Weather is most often beautiful in August, but it can be cool in the evenings and possibly even rainy, so campers should come with enough clothes to keep them warm and dry. 
We’ll provide three delicious meals a day, beginning with dinner on Tuesday through brunch on Friday.  Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options are available. Please let us know of any food allergies or restrictions when registering. Self-service tea and coffee is provided, and beer and wine will be available for purchase through the tasting room all day long.


If you have any other questions, please let us know by contacting Nathan and Amanda (Owners of Harris Bridge) at harrisbridge@yahoo.com.

 

Aug
17
Sat
Harris Bridge Folk Festival @ Harris Bridge Vineyard
Aug 17 @ 4:00 pm – Aug 19 @ 8:00 pm

Harris Bridge Folk Festival 20118

The Harris Bridge Folk Festival (Aug. 17th – 19th) features PNW songwriters Anna Tivel, Jeffrey Martin, Beth Wood, Dave McGraw & Mandy Fer, Tyler Stenson, and Wilhelmina FrankZerda, our very own songwriter from just up the road in Summit, Oregon. The weekend will be filled with concerts, camping, swimming, food, all family friendly (Children 8 and under are free!), so come spend the weekend with us!

TICKETS (Both Concert and Camping passes) available on the Harris Bridge Vineyard website (www.harrisbridgevineyard.com).

FRIDAY Aug 17th

SATURDAY Aug 18th

  • 12pm: DTW concert on the river
  • 3pm: Depart for the Summit Fest (10 mile drive into the woods) for an afternoon and evening of arts, crafts, music, all in support of the Summit Community.

SUNDAY Aug 19th

FOOD: Brad Burnheimer will be cooking all weekend with lots of fresh, local veggie and meat options!

Note: food and drinks are not included in this ticket price.

When you arrive please check in at the winery and give your name for confirmation.

Campers may set up on Friday from 10am to 4:30pm or after the concert. Campers joining on Saturday or Sunday may set 9am to 11:30am or after 8pm on both days.

Aug
23
Fri
Noctumbule – Marla Fibish and Bruce Victor – House Concert @ CedarHouse (see website for address)
Aug 23 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

NoctambuleNoctumbule
– Marla Fibish and
Bruce Victor –

Original and Traditional, harmonized poetry songs, lots of humor.

 This incredible duo are our best friends from where we lived in the bay area. That could make us partial, but indeed they make some of the most beautiful acoustic music you will ever hear. Marla is my idol. She is one of the foremost Irish mandolin players in the world. But that is just the tip of the iceberg. Bruce is the funniest guy we know, a great guitarist with a side hobby as a psychiatrist. They are a songwriting duo that layers incredible sounds and virtuosity with their clever and brilliant songs.   They use musical settings of a broad array of poetry that they sing in harmony, original instrumental pieces, and traditional Irish tunes and songs.  Aryeh recorded their first album in our home studio and whenever they play, we get to sit in. You will get to hear an unusual array of strings  — fine guitars in varied tunings, mandola, mandolin, bouzouki, cittern, tenor guitar — and their blended voices. More about their music: https://www.noctambulemusic.com/us

Go to https://lisalynne.com/cedarhouse-concerts/ for location details.

A house concert is an excellent place to hear and meet great musicians in a very intimate setting.

Sep
13
Fri
HighTime @ Whiteside Theatre
Sep 13 @ 7:00 pm – 10:30 pm

HighTimeHighTime

This fresh new trio from the heart of Conamara, Ireland combines Irish music and an intriguing blend of modern folk influences to produce a rich sound and exciting experience to delight listeners.

Featuring an unusual line-up of flute, whistles, harp, bodhrán, guitar and vocals (with some Irish dancing steps thrown in!), HighTime make a youthful and energetic statement.

Equal measures of music and tradition from old Ireland coupled with bold new arrangements make for a tasty platter of story, music, song and dance from these three young men; All hailing from the village of Ardmore on the rugged west coast.

Ciarán Bolger is an entertainer, singer and guitarist from Garraí Árd in the village of Ardmore in Conamara. Learning whistle and traditional sean-nós singing at a young age, Ciarán developed a love and respect for the music tradition of Conamara. Focusing on guitar in his teens, Ciarán explored a mixture of traditional and contemporary music. This exploration has formed the basis for his emotive vocals and also his vibrant and expressive guitar style; drawing inspiration from a multitude of genres.

Conall Flaherty is a multi-instrumentalist and singer hailing from South Conamara in the village of Ardmore. Growing up in an area famed for its musicians, singers and dancers, it wasn’t long before Conall turned to music and singing at the young age of four. He learned the ropes from neighbour, fellow flute player and maker, Marcus Hernon who also made the flutes which Conall plays today.

Séamus Flaherty’s skills in dancing, singing and playing instruments reflect his personality. At only nineteen years old, Séamus meets each discipline with a passion and quiet zeal backed up by a love of the traditional Irish music heritage. Since the age of sixteen, he has been making waves in the fields of music, dance and singing across the globe; performing in China, U.S.A, Canada, The United Kingdom, Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium, Holland and France. He had the privilege of performing more recently alongside Cherish the Ladies at the world renowned Celtic Connections in 2017.

 

Sep
25
Wed
Peppino D’Agustino @ Lisa's house in Monroe Oregon
Sep 25 @ 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Peppino D'AgustinoPeppino D’Agustino

A young Sicilian artist left Italy over 30 years ago, with the dream of “playing with the greatest guitarists”. Peppino has achieved his dream and he’s now firmly planted in the “who’s who” of the guitar world.

Peppino D’Agostino emerged on the acoustic guitar scene in the early 80’s as a leading member of the second wave of the great fingerstylists that helped redefine the instrument in the ’90s. His remarkable technique, penchant for open tunings, and percussive effects are the basis of his unique compositional style which has been inspiring musicians and audiences alike for decades. Add to that his natural warmth, playfulness, and broad musical tastes and you have the recipe for what he calls “minestrone music”. His virtuosity and his emotional charge have also had a significant influence on the younger generation of fingerstyle guitarists. D’Agostino continues to evolve and grow in ways that would have been hard to predict when he first showcased his melodic yet emotionally intense style on the recordings Acoustic Spirit, Close to the Heart, and Every Step of the Way which was named one of the top three acoustic guitar albums of all time by Acoustic Guitar magazine readers.

Doors open 6pm with a potluck reception.

A house concert is an excellent opportunity to hear great music in a very intimate setting.

Oct
10
Thu
FAR-West 2019 Music Conference @ Warner Center Marriott
Oct 10 – Oct 13 all-day

16th Annual FAR-West 2019 Music Conference

FAR West 2019FAR-West, one of five regions of Folk Alliance International, celebrates folk music through our annual conference. We invite you to join us this October — to listen, celebrate, recognize, and enjoy the richness of folk music in the West.  Our regional conference offers an affordable, intimate and interactive way for acoustic artists and presenters to focus on the folk community in the western region of the US and Canada. Join us for four days of music, learning and connecting. We welcome a wide variety of styles, levels and disciplines, encouraging musical and cultural diversity and excellence.

Che Apalache @ Whiteside Theatre
Oct 10 @ 7:00 pm – 10:30 pm

Che ApalacheChe Apalache

A blend of Appalachian and Latin music

Immigration is a powerful topic for Che Apalache bandleader Joe Troop. A polymath, polyglot, and world traveller, Troop left home at a young age, emigrating from this country in search of a better life. Raised in the North Carolina Piedmont, in the foothills of the Appalachian mountains, Troop came of age to the music of bluegrass and all-night jam sessions at festivals, but being a young, queer man in the South, at a certain point he no longer felt welcome in his own home region. He took refuge abroad, traveling Europe and immersing himself in his two great loves: music and language. He studied Spanish in Spain, spent summers in Morocco, and eventually moved to Japan to teach English. He carried his music and his fiddle with him always, picking up elements of flamenco, jazz manouche, and swing. In 2010, Joe immigrated to Argentina, and, looking to make friends and build a scene, he began teaching bluegrass.

Nine years later, Che Apalache, led by Troop, features three powerhouse Latin American musicians – two from Argentina, Franco Martino (guitar), Martin Bobrik (mandolin), and Pau Barjau (banjo) from Mexico – and has been taking audiences by storm with their fusion of Latin and American roots music. Famed banjo player and cross-genre trailblazer Béla Fleck was so taken with the band that he signed on to produce their new album, Rearrange My Heart, coming August 9, 2019 on Free Dirt Records. “I love to work with music that intrigues, excites and inspires me,” Fleck explains, “and that describes Che Apalache to a T! We first met at my Blue Ridge Banjo Camp last year. They had come from Buenos Aires and asked to play for me. I was blown away and they blew away the crowd a few days later. It’s been a blast to get to know them in the creative environment; together we’ve come up with what I believe is a truly striking album. I hope you’ll enjoy listening as much as I enjoyed producing.”

With Béla Fleck as producer and a new album on its way, Che Apalache is a success story, but Troop hasn’t returned to the States after over a decade abroad to comfort listeners. He’s here to challenge the narrative, to speak directly on what American policies and perspectives are doing to the world. “We’re trying to take our message to the people who most need to hear it.” Troop explains. “We want to have respectful dialogue with people that aren’t coming from the same place we are, and we want to challenge their way of thinking.” Opening with a traditional greeting in the Uruguayan murga style before segueing into the song “María,” which has touches of candombe, flamenco and Spanish Sephardic Jewish music, Che Apalache’s global sensibilities are clear. The heart of the album, though, lies with the powerful song “The Dreamer,” written about Troop’s friend Moises Serrano. A queer North Carolinian immigrant from Mexico and a DACA recipient, Serrano was raised in the same region as Troop. “The Dreamer” states Che Apalache’s mission: subvert the narrative from within. “We’re reeling people in with music they understand,” Troop explains, “but then we give them a twist. This is all intentional, I’ve had years living outside this country to think about how to do this.” The power of the subversion lies in how well Troop understands Appalachian and Southern audiences, and also in an honest love for the music. The band spent years perfecting Stanley Brothers-style harmonies, trying to get the sound just right. They then married that sound with brutally honest lyrics lamenting Trump’s rhetoric for “The Wall.” This level of subversion brings its own risks though. They sang the song at a famous Virginia fiddler’s convention the same day that Nazis marched in the streets of nearby Charlottesville, and had to drop everything and run for safety when an enraged audience member stormed the backstage to attack them.

Che Apalache was formed to enjoy music, to honor it, and to bridge the gap between North and South America, creating a vision of a truly “American” music. Through the controversy and the political fire that fuels Che Apalache’s music, Troop hasn’t lost sight of what first inspired him, the first moment he fell in love with the music. At just fourteen years old, in a small diner in Boone, North Carolina, he heard a humble man playing with his friends and family. That man was Doc Watson. For Troop and Che Apalache to come full circle and to create a new album with another legend of bluegrass, Béla Fleck, that’s the American dream that Che Apalache embodies.

Oct
12
Sat
Compton & Newberry Roots of Bluegrass Tour @ Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Hall
Oct 12 @ 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm

Compton & NewberryCompton & Newberry
Roots of Bluegrass Tour

Nationally recognized Bluegrass duo Mike Compton and Joe Newberry have agreed to swing through Jordan while on their West Coast tour!

Compton is a Grammy award-winning mandolinist and Newberry is an IBMA award-winning songwriter who have teamed up for the “Roots of Bluegrass” tour. Their combined music industry endeavors have enabled them to entertain millions of people, including the more than 4 million regular listeners of A Prairie Home Companion, and through the Grammy Award-winning soundtracks from the movies, O Brother, Where Art Thou and Cold Mountain.

Mike Compton has entertained from Carnegie Hall to the White House – and lots of good folks’ houses in between. The New York Times calls him “a new bluegrass instrumental hero.” He has performed on 100+ CDs in a variety of genres with some of the most beloved artists of our day. At heart, Mike Compton is a preservationist, continuing the music that Bill Monroe innovated on the mandolin and which set the standard for two generations of bluegrass mandolin players.

Joe Newberry is a prizewinning guitarist, songwriter and vocalist known far and wide for his powerful banjo playing. He won the songwriting prize for “Gospel Recorded Performance” at the 2012 IBMA Awards for his song “Singing As We Rise”, and was co-writer [with Eric Gibson] of the 2013 IBMA “Song of the Year,” “They Called It Music.” A longtime guest on A Prairie Home Companion, he was a featured singer on the Transatlantic Sessions 2016 tour of the U.K., and at the Transatlantic Session’s debut at Merlefest in 2017.

Oct
20
Sun
Dàimh @ Whiteside Theatre
Oct 20 @ 7:00 pm – 10:30 pm

DaimhDAIMHDàimh, Gaelic Supergroup and unchallenged champion, play straight in the eye Highland music and are based around West Lochaber and the Isle of Skye.
Formed around the turn of the century and taking the name from the Gaelic word for kinship Dàimh (pronounced Dive) have taken their contemporary take of Highland and Gaelic music to over 20 countries, setting audiences alight from Moscow to San Francisco.

With a reputation as giants of the Bagpipes and Fiddle, Angus Mackenzie and Gabe McVarish lead the melodic powerhouse with fellow founder member Ross Martin underpinning the groove on the Guitar. The Band is joined by new guy Murdo Yogi Cameron on Mandola and Accordion to complete the instrumental line up.

Recent accolades include last year’s award for the “Best Folk Band in Europe” at the prestigious Folkherbst competition in Germany and most recently winner of “Folk Band of the Year” at the Scottish Traditional Music Awards.

A  Scottish Heritage Week celebration

Oct
24
Thu
Alan Reid @ Whiteside Theatre
Oct 24 @ 7:00 pm – 10:30 pm

Alan ReidAlan Reid

Glasgow born Alan  has been taking Scottish folk music all over the world since 1975. He joined the fledgling Battlefield Band in 1969 while studying at Strathclyde University and subsequently recorded almost 30 albums with this hard-working and enduring band, in that time garnering a reputation for his playing and his singing.  His groundbreaking keyboard work helped cement the band’s reputation as one of the most influential Celtic bands of its generation. With the band Alan toured the world, bringing Scottish traditional music to audiences in five continents and playing in many prestigious music festivals and venues. Along with former Battlefield Band colleagues he was inducted into the Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame in November 2016 in recognition of their contribution to Scots traditional music.

He began composing songs and tunes in the 1980s and from 1990 was the band’s principal songwriter. His songs are noted for their strong storytelling element whilst being firmly grounded in Scots history and tradition. His songbook ”Martyrs, Rogues and Worthies”, was published in 2001 and in 2009 he was nominated in the ‘Composer of the Year’ category at the Scots Traditional Music Awards.

In 2010 he left the ‘Batties,’ to concentrate on his duo with guitarist/singer Rob van Sante. He composed all the music for the duo’s third album, ”The Adventures of John Paul Jones’, which told the story of the Scots born mariner who was a hero for the American colonists during the American Revolutionary War. A presentation of the album (with drama written by Alan) was performed at the 2012 Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival and at the 2013 Edinburgh Festival. The duo also developed a multi-media show telling Jones’ story which was showcased at Mystic Seaport Sea Festival in Connecticut in 2015.

2014 saw his music featured in the National Theatre of Scotland’s award winning production of “The Glasgow Girls” musical about asylum seekers, while his singing and speaking talents were featured in “The Life and Times of Scrooge”, the solo album of Finnish rock star Tuomas Holopainen of metal band Nightwish.  That same year Alan and Rob’s fourth CD “Rough Diamonds”  was released and was followed by “The Dear Green Place”  in 2017. The duo continues to tour Europe, North America and Australia.

In recent years Alan has taught Scots Song at the prestigious annual “Swannanoa Gathering” in North Carolina, USA. He was also a guest artist in the Linn Records mammoth 12 CD recording of the songs of Robert Burns, Scotland’s beloved National Poet, whose poems, songs and music have endured over the centuries.

As well as the recordings with Battlefield Band and with Rob Van Sante, Alan has released two solo albums, “The Sunlit Eye” and “Recollection”.

A  Scottish Heritage Week celebration