Singer, songwriter, member of Germany based band CARA, Music Director of several choirs and workshop leader – that’s Kim Edgar’s CV and she is the guest at Irvine Folk Club on Wednesday 17th July.
Edinburgh based Kim is fully committed to using music and, in particular, singing in bringing about positive change. She says she is ‘quite shy’ and began performing music as a way of blending in to the background, but now finds it very satisfying to write and perform songs where she can articulate her ‘joy in, hopes for and concerns about’ the world around her.
Kim had a classical training in piano and also plays guitar. It’s her voice though that is her main instrument and it has been described as haunting and beautiful. Her rave reviews mention her ability to write absorbing, inspiring and uplifting songs that tug at the heart and the head. She has one foot in the traditional singing camp and one in the contemporary and that will be reflected at her Irvine gig. Kim is known to take a trad ballad and set it to new music – not an easy skill.
Kim has a number of solo albums to her name and all of them well received. As well touring with CARA, Kim is also part of The Burns Unit. She has played at Cambridge Folk Festival, played on TV’s Late With Jools Holland and, alongside Karine Polwart, played for HRH Queen Elizabeth,
Kim’s range of work demonstrates that she is passionate about the social and emotional benefits of singing. One example of this is her involvement with Vox Liminis, a charity which harnesses the power of music to assist the reintegration of ‘offenders’ in Scotland.
The impressive musical pedigree and interesting range of work of Kim Edgar makes for an intriguing debut at Irvine Folk Club on Wednesday 17th July. The Club meets vat Vineburgh Community Centre in Quarry Road, starts at 8pm and everyone is welcome.