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.