Irvine Folk Club starts back Wednesday 15th January with a Canadian duo whose music is described as buzzing with energy. They are Ben Miller & Anita MacDonald and after doing the Irvine gig, they are playing at Glasgow’s Celtic Connections for three nights before returning to Canada. So, make the most of the opportunity to hear them in Irvine.
American born Ben now lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia and Anita is from Little Narrows in Nova Scotia. They play Scottish Lowland Pipes and Cape Breton Fiddle with Gaelic song and step-dance. Described as one of the most important folk acts in Cape Breton Island today, Ben and Anita blend the threads of old and new world traditions by playing great music very well in a refreshing and entertaining style.
Ben and Anita have won all sorts of awards in the music business and are in demand around the globe as musicians and educators. They have played at Celtic Colours International Festival, Tonder in Denmark, Edinburgh Fringe plus festivals in Texas, California and Maine in the USA, not forgetting Austria, Italy and Switzerland!
A Day at the Lake was Ben and Anita’s debut album. On occasion, Ben and Anita team up with multi-instrumentalist Zakk Cormier from Prince Edward Island and go on tour. The sometimes trio released an album South Haven to wide critical acclaim.
Seems like Ben Miller and Anita MacDonald will kick off the year at Irvine Folk Club on Wednesday 15th January in excellent style. The Club starts at 8pm, it’s BYOB, there’s a very good café and it all happens at Vineburgh Community Centre in Quarry Road.
Leaflets giving a list of artists appearing at the Irvine Club are available from Libraries across North Ayrshire plus various other places. The same info is also available online at www.irvinefolkclub.org.uk