In this edition: Fraser Fifield, Carmel Gunning and Calum Stewart
Fraser Fifield, EDINBURGH, Britain (UK)
The Music of Fraser Fifield
My last edition covered music from Ireland, Wales and Brittany. Our new edition unleashes another talent from Scotland by the name of Fraser Fifield. I became familiar with his work after seeing videos of Salsa Celtica. This is the same band where Kenny Fraser of Music Scotland(who was our featured artist/interview) plays the fiddle in.
The fascinating thing about his work is his love for improvisation and fusion. His bio states this interesting info: “A Piper and Low Whistle player who improvises like a jazz musician. A Soprano Sax player playing the traditional music of his native Scotland like it had always been played on that instrument.” I think one of the most haunting track in his compositions is Softly Spoken, with its hypnotic arrangements and syncopated beats. He has other gems in his soundcloud page and I am sure you will definitely buy his albums when you hear his tracks. He has other equally wonderful tracks and your way of relating or liking them will depend on how you respond to the music upon hearing each track.
I am doing a correspondence with him which will be a structure for an upcoming featured artist/interview. I embedded few tracks of my choice but I recommend for you to click Fraser Fifield’s soundcloud channel http://soundcloud.com/fraserfifield to listen to the music continuously.
She moves between two worlds. The fast paced playing and the delicate execution of some tracks. A native of Sligo, she came from a musical family. I think she is one of those amazing artists who contribute their efforts in making sure Irish music gets national and international
Carmel Gunning
recognition. I wonderful info I uncovered about her: She runs The Carmel Gunning School of Music all year round in Sligo town and runs a festival annually in August. She has written 2 books on music and song and currently working on another. She has produced 5 CDs to date and is working on a singing album currently. Many of her past pupils, Liam Kelly of Dervish being the most well known, are top class in their field today.
With this kind of music and also a unique way of playing the whistle, I am sure she will conquer more ears. Let there be more albums from her then!
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Calum Stewart has a new album out!
Wooden Flute & Fiddle
Calum Stewart & Lauren MacColl
with Éamon Doorley and Andy May
Eoghainn Iain Alasdair
The Gordons
Alzen
Rise Ye Lazy Fellow
Stoidhle Nèill Ghobha
Crow Road Croft
Aileen’s
Tomnahurich
Boys of the ‘25
A Highland Lamentation
Now available for Pre-Order worldwide. (Please be careful to select worldwide delivery if you live outside the UK) All orders will be dispatched on 15th October, one week ahead of the official release date of 22nd October.
Scottish wooden flutist Calum Stewart just released an album with Lauren McColl. It is called Wooden Flute and Fiddle. This is an album that every traditional music listeners will want in his or her collection. This is due to the huge effort that the two and the rest of the session musicians placed on this album. There are slow and fast tunes. Expect variety in instruments and grand artistry that only musicians of their caliber can provide. And even if you are not really into Scottish or Irish trad music, you will still warm up to this one for its melodic and relaxing merit. Love it love it! A track from this album was featured here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01mwz99
In this edition: The Pogues, Jamie Smith’s MABON, Atlantean and Gwenael Kerleo
I am sure you have notice the energy I placed on editing the pictures of the artists I posted here. It was a great practice of visual creativity on my part. At this point in time I am confident to say anything I can and post anything I want. It is fun discovering new acts and re discovering legends. Last time, I released an interview about Scottish percussionist/producer Dave Martin. It was an eye opener for me. It is inspiring to know that Scotland is a country of thriving Celtic fusion music. Music embraces all aspects. I think it is sad if we all think that Celtic music should only be about acoustic instruments and traditional songs. It is an expanding genre while it is also keeping in touch with its past. It is like an interesting person you met on a date. Someone who possesses a keen sense of culture but is also attuned to the current times. I think I’d date that person anytime.
It’s The Pogues and I am Doing Pogo Dance!
It’s been a while since I last visited the wonderful, explosive and punk inspired music of The Pogues. As always when you think of the Pogues always expect something unconventional both in the musical and also how they project their image to the world. You know, when I get depressed the Pogues are always reliable in cheering my mood up. This song is called Fiesta. My big thanks to Irish Music Forever for posting this video.
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Autumn Tour for Jamie Smith’s MABON
Their official facebook page has confirmed this news: “The first batch of Windblown pre-orders are on their way! Huzzah! UK orders should arrive tomorrow and internationals early next week. Any future orders we receive will be dispatched within 48 hrs. Get your copy now at www.jamiesmithsmabon.com/windblown
Cheers folks :)”
Check out this new single from this amazing band based in Wales!
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Atlantean: A Unique Documentary
Take a look at this folks. Other segments of the story can be found in youtube. It is amazing how much wealth of information is stored out there waiting to be discovered.
A segment from Irish filmmaker Bob Quinn’s four-part documentary on the maritime heritage of Western Ireland and it’s links to North Africa. This scene includes examples of Conamara dancing, called “Battering”, and it’s relation to Flamenco.
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Gwenael Kerleo – Brand new skies
The sound of the electro harp is always invigorating. A few days ago, Layne and I were discussing about cool harp designs and he said that the one on top of his list is the electro harp. It was right after I showed him the link to the Corrina Hewat interview I did. In this video we hear another addition to our growing collection of Breton artists. Gwenael Kerleo makes music that has that maritime appeal wrapped in haunting melodies. What I like about her voice is its tender quality that has an almost child like innocence and urban sensuality.
Une chanson extraite de l’album “QUAI N°7” de Gwenael Kerleo (distribution Coop Breizh). Musique : Gwenael Kerleo – Paroles : Louis-Jacques Suignard. Avec Kevin Camus à l’irish tin whistle et au uilleann pipe et Yvon Molard aux tablas.
Les photos ont été prises sur la plage de l’Aber à Crozon (pointe de la Bretagne) en mars 2012.
Also in this edition: Jamie Smith’s MABON and Alison Kinnaird
The many musical sides of Dave Martin
From The Big Fat Electric Ceilidh to his own collaborations with other artists, Dave Martin is trekking the frontiers that combine technology, ingenuity and tradition. And yes he loves his fashionable kilts!
I am fascinated by fat sounds. You know the kind of thing that hits the floor and sends your neurons flying. This is brought about by beats that only electronic music can produce. Here’s an artist that bridges the gap between tradition and technology.
Dave Martin isn’t your typical Celtic band member. You don’t see him playing any traditional instrument on stage (usually). Instead he has an arsenal composed of a 17″ Macbook pro, Akai APC 20 and 2 Traktor Kontrol x1’s and M Audio firewire audio interface and run Traktor Pro 2 or Ableton Live. He works in both worlds-Traditional Scottish and Electronic music. He doesn’t find the conflict between the two. In fact he enjoys the contrast.
He loves working with different many people from different musical backgrounds. Culture fascinates him. He notes the pleasure to have worked with musicians and artists from Sierra Leone, Egypt, France, India, Pakistan, Poland, Germany, Ireland, America, Scotland, England and Wales which has been really great and inspiring.
There is a great joy in the idea of mixing electronic with acoustic music and performing in weird and wonderful places like castles, churches, multi storey carpark, forests as well as nice venues and festivals. He adds that it is a nice mix going between working and performing with electronic music and also performing and working as a percussionist.
His idea of relaxing is spending time with his fiancé Jen. She is one of the world’s leading contemporary sporran makers-http://www.sporran-nation.co.uk/. She provides designs for the kilts he wears on stage. He likes reading history books with few glasses of whiskey, playing the tabla, walking by the sea, cooking and eating with friends. He is also a movie enthusiast! He mentions that he has plans of learning the Hurdy Gurdy (one of my favorite instruments!-CMF). He recently found someone who plays and teaches and he is very excited about it.
Today, he is heavily involved with education as a percussionist and electronic musician. He runs workshops in schools and communities throughout the UK and also teaches bodhran and drumkit privately. Teaching and working with young people are two things he is passionate about.
CMF:The spectrum of your musical influence is really wide. You must have had a terrific background growing up to be this eclectic musically.
Dave Martin: My ears were always open to music and I grew up with my parents regularly having parties with music being played a lot. I can also remember hearing different styles of music that made me feel good, excited, weird, funny – all sorts of emotions when I was growing up. Music from films, the radio, tv programmes, my parents and my parents’ friends. My ears seemed to be very receptive to all different styles. I loved those Hindu devotional programmes. I remember watching on BBC 2 when I was a kid. That’s where I first heard the Tabla! Hearing Gary Numan on the radio and music programmes on TV, punk which I was fascinated by especially the Sex Pistols was exciting. I can remember watching a Beatles documentary which had an impact on me especially with the Sergeant Pepper album. So even at a young age I enjoyed and was very open to all different styles of music.
..and they dance to the beats: Check out his gears!
The Big Fat Electric Ceilidh is an amazing project and I think it beings two sides together: tradition and expansion. What are your plan for the BFEC?
The Big Fat Electric Ceilidh has been amazing to work on and is having such a great impact in Scotland because it is taking this old Highland tradition and is giving it a very modern edge mixing up club culture and ceilidh culture which are both all about music, dancing, having fun, mixing with people. A lot of Scottish Culture and identity can be quite old fashioned in some ways but there is also a lot of really great contemporary work happening in Scotland which is very exciting, ie – the highland dress, music etc and we want BFEC to take the ceilidh scene into the 21st century mixing it all up and giving it a very modern edge bringing all sorts of people together – people who love ceilidhs and people who would never normally go.
We had a show at the Assembly Rooms Edinburgh during the fringe and we were told by the director of the promotion company who organised all the acts, which were pretty major, that BFEC was the highlight of their 2012 Assembly rooms programme because he had never experienced or seen a ceilidh like that before and loved it. He also wants us to come back next year to run it during the whole of the festival. People are loving it because of the modern and electronic edge.
How did you get involved with the Kevin McKidd project? I think that video is fascinating.
I grew up with Kevin in our home town of Elgin and he was putting this project together to raise money for a children’s charity that he is involved with and I got invited because they were needing a percussionist who has lots of experience in Scottish Trad and folk music. Great project to be involved in. I hadn’t seen Kev for a long time and it was great to see that he was still so connected to his roots and was still involved with music, especially Trad and Folk even though he has been a part of the big Hollywood Machine.
Dave plays percussion in the Kevin McKidd project.
I listened to your own tracks via soundcoud and I really like what you do with electronic music. What is your plan with this medium? Up to what extent are you expanding your experimentation being a percussionist and producer?
I love electronic music and love how it makes me feel when I’m working with it. I’m not bothered at all about CD releases because it’s the live thing that excites me and it is amazing to make and play music that creates a particular vibe where people respond to it and have a good time dancing to it. It is all emotional and that’s exciting, it’s about how it makes me feel and is great therapy. I’m always learning and trying new things, some tracks can sound shit but also some can sound good to my ears. I’m still crafting it though and constantly learning.
I’m also very passionate about drumming and have spent a long long time learning, playing, studying, travelling with it. I have a love affair with world percussion and the different styles and techniques of playing from other cultures and am a junkie for it all especially Indian and North African and Middle Eastern. That really excites me and is also good therapy!!!! It’s great being involved in the Trad Scottish scene as a percussionist and educator.
I also play as a percussionist with a whole host of musicians particularly Scottish Traditional and for these trad gigs I’ll play mainly Bodhran, cajon, Drumkit, Tabla. For other percussion gigs I’ll play other drums like conga, dholak and bongos.
I work a lot with Visual Artists, especially my buddy Graeme Roger and love the relationship between music and visuals whether it is projected images, dance, movement but especially projections. I also love performing and being involved in site specific installations in interesting and exciting places and mixing up the electronic thing and percussion thing.
I’m always learning whether as a percussionist or in producing. I love both worlds and the way they make me feel and with the people I meet and work with and play with. It’s all about variety and trying new and different things because it pushes you and which can only make me a more competent musician. It’s all about learning, connecting with people, variety, being taken out my comfort zone and being pushed in new directions. I wont grow otherwise and I don’t like doing the same thing all the time, that’s one of the reasons I like working in the Theatre and Arts Industries because it’s always offering new challenges.
Music has brought you to different places. In your own words, what are the things about being involved with music that you find enriching?
Learning, developing, honesty, experimentation, working with people, creating, therapy, passion.
I’ve been absolutely blessed by being given the opportunity through music to go to a lot of different places all over the UK and overseas which has been just amazing and in these places I’ve met and worked with some fantastic people and had truly wonderful experiences. That for me is what it is all about. That is what is so enriching about music – it connects you with people from all over the world and is great therapy!!! Wow!!!!
Can you share your performance ritual? What are the things you do, the things you avoid and also important things that you need to take with you on a big night.
Before a gig I try and chill out and relax and in my head go over the set. I will also chat with everyone that they are happy with everything – monitor mixes, knowing the material and talk about the show and what to watch out for and remember ie cues and that kind of things.
I usually wear my Kilt and and my beautiful Jen Designs Contemporary sporrans that I wear with my kilt.
If given a chance to work with other artists can you give me at least five names?
I would love to work with
Bjork – (Amazing choice. I have 4 Bjork albums myself-CMF)
Jamie Catto (faithless)
Trilok gurtu
Imogen Heap (I have two of her albums and she does amazing things with electronic and acoustic sounds-CMF)
Devin Townsend.
What do you think listeners should do to help their favorite artists? I know we are in a transition right now where everyone is given a power to make a difference. So what can fans do so that the music scene won’t die?
It’s important that people pay for music either through downloads or CD sales and go to see shows to support the artists and venues. Venues need the punters and artists need the venues to perform in. We need decent venues that can attract pretty decent audiences and pay artists an acceptable fee which is generally down to marketing and getting the information out to people.
Supporting local musicians and groups is important which can create a scene and vibe, especially in areas around the country that struggle with the amount of venues and good live music that is available to see.
It is hard work to make a living out of music and artists work hard at crafting their music, albums, shows etc and their work deserves and needs to be bought and heard and their shows seen.
Thank you Dave. This has been an enlightening experience for me knowing about your musical direction and plans. There you have folks. Dave martin of The Big Fat Electric Ceilidh. Be sure to catch them when they are performing near you. Let us support the scene because it is something that enriches us emotionally and spiritually. And yeah, pop and (mainstream)rock music are so overrated. Give something different a try.
A new and Intense electronic Ceilidh Experience hitting the country. Mixing up Club and Ceilidh Culture with live original Big Fat electronic music fused with traditional music. davemartin@bigfatelectric.co.uk
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Samples from Windblown, the new album by Jamie Smith’s MABON
One of the best Celtic albums to come out this year from a Welsh band that brought us fantastic music through the years.
This artist has been getting attention due to her unique works.
Alison Kinnaird MBE has an international reputation as an artist in glass. Working in the ancient and demanding technique of wheel engraving, she creates contemporary artworks which are now in museums, art galleries and private collections throughout the world, including a recent major commission – the Donor Window – for the Scottish National Portrait Gallery.
This short film looks at this project and Alison’s career to this point. Part 1 of the film traces Alison’s development as an artist. Part 2 of the film then goes on to look at the Portrait Gallery project in some depth and gives some insight into the skills and work that were involved in its creation.
Plus: Somerset Folk Harp Festival, Athas’tour pic and schedules, Celtic vampire novel by Karen Victoria Smith and Delta Rae …so emotional and beautiful!
Scottish harpist Rachel Hair notes down her tips on how to get into this fascinating musical instrument: The Celtic harp!
It was through my discovery of harp music that got me started in perusing the web for more resources. I think it was my interview with Scott Hoye and his invite to join the Celtic Harp facebook page made this interview with Rachel Hair possible. The Rachel Hair trio brings something fresh to harp music. There’s unmistakable groove, atmosphere and optimism the first time you listen to any of their tracks. Interviewing Rachel deepened my respect and admiration for her music and her band. She is one of the great contributors to the forum lately while being out joining the Manx music festival. She kept everyone updated with pictures and links. I even got my Maeve Gilchrist through her recommendation. Everyone in the Celtic Harp community is very supportive of each other. Eric, Scott, Rachel, Corrina, Amy and the rest keep the community alive with their ideas and presence.
Rachel is very enthusiastic to share her thoughts with everyone. Especially those who are planning to study the instrument but might have doubts that hold them back. I like her in-depth way of answering questions. I am sure you will enjoy this and add it to your bookmarks for reference.
How do you describe the Scottish folk scene these days ? What’s the trend in terms of playing, the instruments and also the general band image that the listeners are warming up to?
The Scottish folk scene has gone from strength to strength and over the past 10 years has had a real upsurge of talent and creativity. I think its one of the most creative folk scenes in the world. You have musicians who know their tradition well and can perform it fantastically but are also creating and adding to the tradition. More than ever musicians and bands are writing new music and presenting it in an ever creative and evolving fashion… its not just about playing tune after tune anymore. Bands are getting really into big arrangements and taking the listeners on a journey to what is becoming the new tradition in Scotland.
Theres a lot of cross genre music making too. I live in Glasgow, Scotland’s largest city, and a hub of creativity amongst musicians of all styles. Folk, jazz, indie, rock and classical musicians are not only mixing with each other socially but are musically creating new sounds together. The results of this are now being on seen on stage and festivals such as Celtic Connections are a great supportive platform of this allowing it to be brought to the public’s attention.
With friends.
Your tunes are always rhythmic and is also filled with arrangements that glow of atmosphere…how do you value atmosphere in songs? Others are more into technique and speed. Do you think it is essential in every Scottish and Irish recording to have a sense of atmosphere or ambience?
I like to create records and shows which take listeners on a journey, giving them opportunities to tap their feet along, dance but then also give them opportunities to reflect and feel the emotion of the music we create. One of the tunes we most enjoy performing as a trio is the haunting melody “Cancro Cru”. We really get emotionally involved in the tune and this is often felt by the audience and commented to us after.
I don’t think its necessarily essential that every recording gives a sense of this atmosphere but I do think its important that musicians and bands try to give an impression of what the atmosphere their live show creates, through their recordings.
You have been active these days especially during festivals. What are the things you learned being musician, in terms of traveling with ease? Tips you can give us? I remember what Scott Hoye said about harpists..it’s not like playing the fiddle where you can toss it and go. Harpists carry this huge instrument.
Preparation is the key! I often fly with my harp. Living on a large island (Britain!) means that any gig I do outside the country means a flight. I always phone up the airline in advance and let them know I’m taking a Celtic harp and ask them to make a mark on booking. I’m always very casual on the phone and make it clear that its not that bigger than a suitcase, weighs less than 20kg (normally less than my suitcase!) and that I fly all the time without difficulty.
It used to be that I could take it for free, but now you just have to accept that you have to pay for it. Most of the large airlines just see it as an extra piece of hold baggage and this can usually be paid for in advance which makes life easy.
Its always important to be sure that the car that will pick you up will have room for you, your suitcase and your harp. To be honest mine is actually quite small in its flight case so this is normally no problem.
I also have a protective fibre class flight case for my harp which is very easy to move around and protects it well. I tend to tape up the clasps on it too for safety too. I also put pieces of polystyrene pipe round my levers inside its cover, to protect them further.
What are your suggestions for both artists and enthusiasts about this type of music and making it grow? We have the technology and tools but what do you think are the things that each of us can do to improve and expand the scene.
I like to use social media to connect with people… through Facebook, twitter and youtube. Its a great way of keeping in touch with your fans and new people are discovering my music through these ways every day. It also gives me the chance to promote other music, that isn’t always mine. Bands and groups that I like that I think deserve to be heard. I like to post videos etc. of them to help their music grow and get to new people. Its definitely a worthwhile thing to get into….facebook, twitter and youtube and free to use so you’ve nothing to loose!
What tell young people who find harps fascinating and want to study it?
Rocking out the Scottish reels — with Maeve Gilchrist.
Get yourself to one of the harp festivals and try it out for yourself! I’m on the organising committee for the Edinburgh International Harp Festival and it coming along to a festival like it really is a great way to discover harp music. You can join a beginners course and have a go, visit the harp exhibition which has all the top makers in Europe showing of their harps and you can go to some of the concerts. Harp festivals really are a great way of experiencing everything “harp”. You also get the chance to meet harp players young and old, of all levers from beginner-to professional. We’re all a very friendly bunch.
Who are people who influenced your growth as an artist through the years?
When I was at university in Glasgow, studying music, my harp teacher was Corrina Hewat. She was an incredibly encouraging teacher who really pushed me to discover my own style of playing. We don’t really play in the same way and I think that’s a testament to her as a teacher.
A lot of my friends are professional musicians, Jenn and Euan who play in my trio, Jamie Smith who plays in the group Jamie Smiths Mabon and Gaelic singer Joy Dunlop. We’re all very very head strong and passionate at what we do and we’re very good at encouraging each other to keep going and achieve our dreams and success in music.
What’s your biggest goal in life.
Well to be happy, and to be fulfilled both in my personal life and in my musical life. simple!
Everyone got a harpful for 4 days! People who are very enthusiastic about harp music(including yours truly) will keep this festival on the calendar. Some of the big names in the community attended: Chris Caswell presented Guerilla Music Theory. There’s also Breton dancing( this is really fun!) led by harpist Clotilde Trouillaud. For people who wanted to pick up a handy instrument enjoyed the tin whistle workshop. Maeve Gilchrist whom we presented in this site was also there teaching techniques.
Other notable musicians:
Peacocks Feathers: entertained with Irish & Scottish tunes & songs during the lunchtime concert in the Atrium.
Debbie Brewin-Wilson lead the 3-day Basically Beginning workshop.
Nicolas Carter on the first of his 3-day class on Paraguayan harp. He’ll also help out Tracy Gorman in the Paraguayan Dance class at 3:30pm.
There’s Billy Jackson in his workshop on Scottish Harp of the 17th century yesterday. Right now he’s teaching Composing in a Traditional Style. By the way I have one of his albums!
Thanks to Scott Hoye who is up to date. He’s the source of this news.
Synopsis: At thirteen, Micaela O’Brien was found wandering a pasture in Ireland, the sole survivor of a mid-air explosion. Now, as a successful investment banker, she will discover that Wall Street has fangs and claws. When international power brokers, creatures hiding in plain sight, threaten her and those she loves, will this heiress to a Druid legacy deny her power and let loved ones die again?A thrill ride of money, monsters and murder across the globe.
According to the author
: 2 DAYS left to get Dark Dealings for Kindle on sale for $1.49. 1/2 royalties 2 Kick #Cancer Overboard.BUY,read,review amazon.com/Dark-Dealings-… Read the novel described as Trueblood meets bluebloods with a 4.4/5 rating on Amazon. Price goes up August 1
Tataratat! The Gothic Celtic in me loves it! Twilight fans sorry but I think Karen Victoria Smith does more than Stephanie Meyer. Nothing is better than Vampires and Celts in one book.
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Our featured band Delta Rae
Take a look at this official video by Bluegrass fusion band from North Carolina Delta Rae. I love the concept. It is both funny and creepy. The voice of Brittany Holljes has a powerful quality in a pop sense but with New Age delicacy. There are also male lead vocals occasionally. The music has a knockout rocking quality but with the atmosphere of Sarah McLachlan. It is a band that will appeal to fans of music categorized as folk/rock or country with chillout moments. My favorite track from the band is Holding On To Good because it is really explosive and glorious and the sound just floods through you. So beautiful! But wait till you hear Surrounded, a moving and mesmerizing track that builds up into a glorious release- a crashing wave of sound, angelic harmonies and earth ravaging meteor or emotions.
Members:
Ian Holljes (vocals/guitar) Eric Holljes (vocals/keyboard/guitar) Brittany Holljes (vocals/percussion) Elizabeth Hopkins (vocals/percussion) Mike McKee (drums) Grant Emerson (bass)
I got this fresh track a few minutes ago. It is nice to post fresh tunes here and also artists that will pique your interest . Maeve Gilchrist is a Scottish harpist who is now based in the States. 20th Chandler Street is a track that provides a magical listening experience with its unique style and wonderful melody. Thanks to Rachel Hair for the shout out!
Day off in Jackson MI and Duncan, Aidan and I decided to record some of our new tunes.
This is 20 Chandler St, a tune I wrote to celebrate my roommate Matt Smith’s 40th Birthday! The address of many a great memory!
Duncan Wickel: Fiddle Aidan O’ Donnell: Bass Maeve Gilchrist: Harp
Celtic Music Fan 
