Author: Joyce Hodge

Ayrshire Folk at The Ayr Gaiety……..
Some weel kent faces will gather in the Studio Theatre at The Ayr Gaiety on Friday 11th April to flag up the fact that 2014 is Girvan Folk Festival’s 40th anniversary. Amongst those performing are Sean & Robyn Grey from Coylton, Willie Sinclair and Dick & Maureen McAllister from Irvine, a squad from Girvan plus Paul Creighton & Stevie McCann under the name New Legacy.
Hosting the evening in his own inimitable style will be Gordon Potter. The evening starts at 7.30pm and tickets are on sale now.

News snippets…….
A reminder that The Ship Sessions start tonight Tuesday 1st April at 8pm in The Ship Inn at Irvine’s Harbourside……and, in a conversation with Bob Wood who guests at The Club this Wednesday, Bob said to Joyce that this would be the second time he had played in Irvine. The first time being on Christmas Night 1968 when he played at The Eglinton with Rab Noakes. Jings!

Folk music sessions start at Irvine’s Ship Inn on Tuesday 1st April and it’s no April Fool ruse! The Ship Sessions start on April 1st and will continue weekly thereafter. The starting time is 8pm and as with all such Sessions, there is no admission charge.
The new development came about when Joyce Hodge and Anne Clarke of Irvine Folk Club were discussing plans for this year’s Marymass Folk Festival with Chris and Jamie Murray of The Ship where Festival Sessions take place.
Anne said, ‘In the course of conversation, it quickly became obvious that The Ship would be an ideal venue for Sessions on a regular basis. Chris and Jamie were keen on the idea and we were confident that singers and musicians would be equally keen. We’re delighted that Folk Music Sessions will be a weekly fixture on the Irvine calendar.
The weekly Sessions at The Ship at Irvine’s Harbourside are open to folk musicians and singers from all parts and, once established, you just wouldn’t know who might drop in! Budding musicians are welcome and of course everyone who would rather listen than participate.

The guest at Irvine Folk Club on Wednesday 2nd April is Bob Wood. He is described by Ian McCalman as ‘one of Scotland’s best kept secrets’ and Bob’s debut album remains as one of Ian’s ‘most played’. Not a recommendation to be sniffed at!
Although a native of Ayr, Bob moved to the bright lights of London a number of years ago and there he has remained. He is a founder member and organiser of The Ram Folk Club in Surrey and it is in and around London and the Home Counties that Bob has established himself as a very accomplished finger style guitarist and an excellent singer. With artists of the calibre of Tom McConville, Steve Tiltson and Jez Lowe all waxing lyrical about Bob’s expertise, the Irvine audience can look forward to an entertaining evening.
Bob has played at countless Clubs and Festivals throughout the UK and has contributed to a number of albums by other artists. His deft guitar picking skills make his guitar workshops much sought after. The workshops focus on alternative guitar tunings and song accompaniment. His extensive repertoire of songs includes traditional material as well as more contemporary songs. As well as his solo career, Bob does regular gigs with Benny Gallagher of Gallagher & Lyle fame and it’s a partnership they they both very much enjoy.
Therefore to hear the much respected Bob Wood from Ayr make his debut appearance at Irvine Folk Club, get along to Vineburgh Community Centre in Quarry Road on Wednesday 2nd April for 8pm. It’s BYOB and there’s a very good café too.
Looking ahead, the 40th Girvan Folk Festival celebrations take place from Friday 2nd to Sunday 4th May. Altan, Arthur Johnstone & The Stars Band, Chris Miles, The Tattiehowkers Ceilidh Band are just some of the impressive guest list. Bookings for events are available online at www.girvanfolkfestival.co.uk

‘Whatever you say, say nothing, when you talk about you know what’ is a line from one of the seemingly endless flow of original songs by Colum Sands and he is the very welcome guest at Irvine Folk Club on Wednesday 19th March. An internationally acclaimed songwriter and a hardworking and successful performer and a record producer – Colum packs a lot into each day.

Colum has been singing for 30 plus years, having started out as part of the renowned Sands Family way back in the early 70s. It was then that The Sands first played in Irvine and a close and lasting friendship has endured with the Irvine Club since then. Colum, like his brothers has carved out a very successful solo career in the last 25 or so years and is much respected among his peers as a gifted songwriter. As a result, his songs have been recorded by a number of household names.

Colum is from Newry and is a gentle fellow. He has been described as a universal storyteller and has a warm, moving and funny on and off stage presence. His songs record life past and present and some of his work in recent times has helped break down cultural barriers particularly in places like Israel where he has been working with other musicians.

Having learned to play the fiddle from his late Father, Colum also plays concertina and is also a fine guitar player. When he first played in Irvine he played the double bass too – but travelling with it had its difficulties!

Colum takes his music all over the world and has played in over thirty countries. As well as smaller venues like Irvine Folk Club, Colum has played in New York’s Carnegie Hall. In addition, for the last 20 years Colum has presented BBC Radio Ulster’s Folk Club from Belfast. And somehow he manages to record albums. His most recent one being Turn The Corner.

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear one of the folk scene’s most accomplished and entertaining performers Colum Sands when he plays Irvine Folk Club on Wednesday 19th March. The Club meets in Vineburgh Community Centre, starts at 8pm and it’s BYOB.

Barluath

Glasgow based five piece outfit Barluath are the welcome special guests at Irvine Folk Club on Wednesday 5th March. Bar-lhu-ah is how to pronounce the name and, for the record, it’s the name for an ancient bagpiping embellishment, which because it consisted of 19 separate grace notes, meant it was too difficult to practice. So now we know!
The five Band members met while studying at the Royal Conservatoire in Glasgow, where between them their tutors read like a who’s who of the giants in Scottish music. Barluath play traditional contemporary music of Scotland, Ireland and America. Formed in 2010, as well as playing Folk Clubs and Concerts they have played at Celtic Connections and Piping Live! and also Washington DC as part of the St Andrew’s Day Celebrations in the USA.
Ainsley Hamill from Cardross does lead vocals. She is also a member of Bannal the ladies waulking song group. On piano and keyboards is Alistair Paterson from Bishopton. Alistair was a Mod Gold Medal winner for Piano in 2006 and 2007 and is in demand as a session musician. Colin Greeves from East Kilbride is on pipes and whistles and came through the ranks via the National Centre for Excellence in Trad Music at Plockton where he was tutored by the renowned solo piper Ian MacFadyen.
Edinburgh man Edward Seaman plays pipes, whistles and bouzouki and began playing the pipes when he was 12. After studying at Plockton he moved to The Conservatoire where his tutors included Finlay MacDonald for piping and Marc Duff for whistles and bouzouki. Finally, on fiddle is Eilidh Firth from Dundee. She is a member of The National Youth Orchestra of Scotland and was section principal of The National Youth String Orchestra of Scotland. Eilidh is already an experienced teacher and her work has taken her to New York and the Fiji Islands so far. Her tutors having included Alastair McCulloch and Marie Fielding must have helped considerably!
Liz Clarke who hosts the Danny Kyle Open Stage at Celtic Connections never tires of saying that with Barluath the tradition is in very safe hands.
Hear Barluath at Irvine Folk Club on Wednesday 5th March in Vineburgh Community Centre complete with the excellent cafe. The Club starts at 8pm and it’s BYOB.

‘I play the flute and tin whistle and I sing songs and I’ve been around for many, many years’ – that’s how Cathal McConnell describes himself and he will be the special guest at Irvine Folk Club on Wednesday 19th February.

Fermanagh born Cathal was co-founder of the The Boys of the Lough – the first of the touring Celtic bands. The band with Cathal in it, played in Irvine on a number of occasions and people will recall the bespectacled Irishman who played up to being a bit bewildered at being on stage. But his onstage eccentricities belie a formidable musician.

Having taken up the whistle at age 11 and the flute at 15, Cathal was the All-Ireland Champion for both instruments. He has a deep love and knowledge of Irish music in particular and when not playing on stage is frequently to be found in the heart of a session. Cathal’s endearing stage presence is well known and the onstage eccentricities mentioned earlier would often include playing two whistles at the same time!

Resident in Scotland for a number of years, the Irvine Club is very pleased to have Cathal McConnell as guest artist on Wednesday 19th February. The Club meets in Vineburgh Community Centre in Quarry Road, starts at 8pm and it’s BYOB.

Finally, to hear young local traditional musicians, get along to Irvine Burns Club on Thursday 20th February to hear the North Ayrshire Young Traditional Musician of the Year competition. The young people are all pupils in North Ayrshire Academies and deserve to have a good audience. The competition organised by North Ayrshire Council’s Music Services starts at 7pm and admission is free. Go along and help keep music live.

5TH February The Morgan Lee Band
The Morgan Lee Band, a five piece outfit from Glasgow who have described themselves on occasion as ‘Celtica Eclectica’ to convey their range of material, are the guests at Irvine Folk Club on Wednesday 5th February. Yes, the second month of the year already!
The five band members are Hugh Lee on lead vocals, mandolin, fiddle, harmonica and whistles; Anne Morgan on fiddle, viola and backing vocals; Emma Bullen on lead vocals; bass player Stevie Mason and Tony Llewyn on acoustic guitar and backing vocals. The sometime sixth band member is Zoe – a small, toffee coloured Terrier.
The band plays everything from traditional through to Dylan plus some original material too. Mostly their gigs are in Scottish folk clubs and at festivals such as Moniaive and Arran. One of their favourite venues is at the Kibble Palace in the Glasgow Botanics where they have played several times.
Whilst this will be the first time that Morgan Lee has topped the bill at the Irvine Club, the band has played at Irvine before. To hear The Morgan Lee Band, get yourself along to Vineburgh Community Centre in Quarry Road, home of Irvine Folk Club on Wednesday 5th February. The Club starts at 8pm and it’s BYOB.
Looking slightly ahead, the North Ayrshire Young Traditional Musician of The Year competition takes place on the evening of Thursday 20th February at Irvine Burns Club in Wellwood. This annual event is open to pupils from all Academies in North Ayrshire and is organised by the Council’s Music Services. The weel-kent and much respected Gillian Frame will be the judge. The young competitors deserve a good audience, so put the date in your diary.

Celtic Quines are three of Scotland’s finest female vocalists and they are the special guests at Irvine
Folk Club on Wednesday 22nd January. The trio made a brief appearance at last year’s Marymass Folk Festival but this will be the first time at the Irvine Club for the Quines.

Katherine McLeod, Celine Donohue and Eilidh Grant are the Celtic Quines. The three all have first class singing ability and a love of good songs. Katherine, Celine and Eilidh emerged on the folk scene by different routes. This variety of backgrounds serves to make a Celtic Quines performance all the richer.

Celine Donoghue is well known to Irvine audiences having played at the Club and Marymass Festival. She is at home playing either banjo and fiddle both of which she does extremely well. Celine is also a fine singer and just likes playing music. This combined with a very relaxed stage presence makes her a very entertaining musician.

Eilidh Grant’s stunning voice helped her win the best Folk/Trad recording in 2011 – and it was with her debut album ‘Masks and Smiles’. She also won the Danny Kyle Award at Celtic Connections in 2004. It’s all about the songs with Eilidh. She has a love for classic folk songs as well as original material but her real passion is Burns material.

Whilst there is little information to be found about Katherine McLeod, suffice to say that with Celine and Eilidh as her band mates then we can be assured of her strong musical pedigree! Somewhere along the way these three females have found a musical chemistry that clearly works for them and for audiences.

As with so many bands these days, appearing as the Celtic Quines is not their only performance base and so it’s fortunate that the Irvine Club has secured a booking of this richly talented trio.

Get along to the Irvine Club on Wednesday 22nd January for 8pm at Vineburgh Community Centre in Quarry Road where it is BYOB and there is a very good café!

Finally, opportunities abound from 16th January to 2nd February to take in the breathtaking range of music offered by Celtic Connections in Glasgow. Enjoy keeping music live.

8th January
Alastair McDonald

Scotland’s musical minstrel, Alastair McDonald is Irvine Folk Club’s first guest of 2014. Alastair plays at the Irvine Club on Wednesday 8th January in Vineburgh Community Centre. He played the closing Club night in 2012 and now balances the equation by opening this new year.

Alastair is a man of ever-extending musical horizons and, depending on the venue is described as a folk-singing banjo player who also plays jazz or the jazz banjo player who also does folk music! In 1970 he became a full-time professional musician and since then has taken his music to the USA, Denmark, Thailand, East Africa, Israel and numerous places in between – with Scotland always being where he does most of his work.

Equally at home in folk clubs, jazz venues, concert halls, theatres or churches – Alastair’s aim is to share some of the very best of his wide repertoire. Scottish historical ballads, Gospel, humorous music hall ditties, Gaelic laments are all covered by Alastair. Thought-provoking, wholesome, uncompromising, uplifting are the main criteria for Alastair’s choice of material.

Glasgow born Alastair emigrated with his family at the age of eight to Australia. It was while growing up in the Australian outback that he developed an interest in ‘home made’ entertainment. Returning to Scotland four years later, there was a growing pop scene and skiffle had also arrived. At just 21, Alastair was already regarded as one of the leading jazz banjo players and the reason he can be still heard all over the country with various Jazz combos.

The always entertaining Alastair McDonald is a very popular guest at the Irvine Club and you are advised to get along in good time on Wednesday 8th January to Vineburgh Community Centre in Quarry Road. The Club starts at 8pm and it’s BYOB.

And finally, on 16th January Celtic Connections begins its 21st birthday celebrations with an 18 day event in venues across Glasgow and the help of 2000 musicians – home grown and international. Too much on offer to mention, visit celticconnections.com – there’s bound to be something to interest you!