Irvine Folk Club will close its 2014 diary on Wednesday 10th December with another excellent evening. With Mick West & Muldoon’s Picnic as special guests a really first class night’s entertainment is guaranteed.
Mick West is widely regarded as one of the finest interpreters of traditional song. His rich, warm and expressive singing is out of the top drawer. Mick has been around Folk Clubs and Festivals for a number of years and his musical talent eventually took him to the National Centre for Excellence in Traditional Music in Plockton where he tutored adults and young people.
In 2011 whilst listening to and being very impressed by a debut performance of a cappella group Muldoon’s Picnic, Mick thought of a project called A Scots Chorus. Like all the best ideas it’s simple. Mick believed that a folksong with a good chorus would unlock the self-belief of non-singers in their ability to sing.
Muldoon’s Picnic – ask them at the Irvine Club for an explanation of the derivation of their name – and Mick started exploring the different harmonic possibilities of the most interesting and representative songs they could find. This culminated in the production of a limited edition CD and accompanying booklet of lyrics and arrangements called A Scots Chorus. At Celtic Connections in 2013, A Scots Chorus played to a sell-out audience.
The kind of tunes you might hear at Irvine include Time Wears Awa’, Aye Waukin O, Mary Mack , The Broom o’ the Cowdenknowes – all well-known and easy to pick up melodies. People like joining in, whether it’s singing along with tribute bands, nursery rhymes, Mama Mia or The Sound of Music – singing has so many benefits.
Therefore, for the final Irvine Folk Club Night of 2014, be at Vineburgh Community Centre in Quarry Road on Wednesday 10th December at 8pm to hear Mick West & Muldoon’s Picnic. It’s BYOB.
And finally, Irvine Folk Club starts back on Wednesday 7th January with Mike Vass as guest.