Jig Blog

Crooked Still & Emily Smith: an evening of unreserved cabaret

Just back from the Fruitmarket in Glasgow hearing the excellent Emily Smith support the awesome Crooked Still.

Emily releases her latest album of Burns (Robert, not Montgomery) songs "Adoon Winding Nith". This should get a fair few spins on my compact disc audio device in the next few days.

(Interestingly, the album includes a glossary of the Scots terms used in the songs, which is handy for all you sassenachs out there...and me as well, to be fair. A good reason to buy the CD rather than download it, I think.)

Crooked Still, if you've not heard them, are a virtuosic 5 piece band of fiddle, banjo, cello, upright bass and guitar/singer. Utterly phenomenal. I used to think I could play the cello until tonight. Now I will never again.

Here they are in their former 4-piece line-up.

Interestingly, the tickets, in describing the seating arrangement (tables, with 6 chairs around) say "unreserved cabaret". Strangely apt.

Musician spotlight: Yvonne Lyon

I think Yvonne Lyon is one of the most exciting voices emerging from the Scottish singer-songwriter scene at the moment. She's gigging around the country just now, so do check her myspace page for her latest gigs near you.

She's doing her official (or is it unofficial?) album launch for her fourth album, "Ashes & Gold" on Saturday 8th August in City Halls. Gig details here.

Remember Yvonne, it's only official if an actual physical CD is actually physically launched. Not a lot of people know that.

 

A Jiggers Wedding

Congratulations to David Clifford, Jiggers ceilidh band guitarist who will be getting married in the Atholl Palace, Pitlochry tomorrow. We wish a special good luck to Kate, who will be married to him.

Clifford (right) in his polkadot jumpsuit phase.

Jigblog Musician Spotlight: Seonaid Aitken

Name: Seonaid Aitken
Instrument: Fiddle, Voice, Piano
Myspace
Website

It's pronounced "Show-na"...Itinerant musician, composer, fiddler, singer...Seonaid Aitken has been gigging with the Jiggers Ceilidh Band for a number of years. Her musical pedigree is varied and significant, crossing genres and continents.

Seonaid has performed throughout the world as the lead with the International touring dancing violin show Barrage , as a singer and Irish fiddler at Tokyo DisneySEA , Japan, and she regularly plays as a classical violinist with the Scottish Opera .

 She has over 10 years of experience as a professional recording artist (violin, fiddle, vocals and arrangement) and has recently finished her debut album entitled 'Souvenir' which combines all of her musical talents. (click here to order Seonaid's CD)

I've heard her album, and it's great. Excellent songs and really nice folk recordings interspersed with some of her other performance pieces, covers and instrumentals. Definitely worth buying, in my opinion.

If you're trying to sell something, advertisers tell you to include a clear call to action. I'm not taking a percentage or anything, but I'll give a clear call to action all the same. Are you ready? Here it comes...

Buy "Souvenir" now.

New Scottish Folk Sessions: Emily Smith

Met with the Scottish folk singer Emily Smith today to talk about the forthcoming New Scottish Folk Sessions album where she will be the main featured singer. It was a good to catch up with her and bounce some ideas around, play some demos and listen to some songs we might cover.

Things are moving forward (the label will be pleased to hear!) and I'm quite excited about getting stuck into this project. I'll blog further details in the next few months, as things progress.

In the meantime, have a listen to her music sampler from Too Long Away. You can buy her albums from her site. and I'd recommend that you do, because they're great!

Too Long Away (2008)

(click here to buy it from her site)

A Different Life (2005)

(buy)

A Day Like Today (2002)
(buy)