Penicuik Folk Club

SONGS OF SANDY DENNY - Linde Nijland and Bert Ridderbos - 5th November, 2019 http://www.alanmurray.org.uk/penicuikfolk /
Linde has been performing for many years, first as part of well known harmony singing duo Ygdrassil till 2007, lately as a successful folk singer and songwriter. In recent years she has been working closely with multi-instrumentalist Bert Ridderbos (guitars, banjo, cittern, accordion). Linde has made 10 albums and 2 DVDs and tours all over Europe with her cr...ystal clear voice and captivating performance. She has received high acclaim for her renditions of songs by the late Sandy Denny, her all time favourite singer. Joe Boyd (former producer of Nick Drake, Fairport Convention, Pink Floyd) said about her album: ‘Linde Nijland has given Sandy Denny’s music the respect it deserves, and made a lovely and fresh record that shows off her beautiful voice as well as her good taste’. In July 2009 he invited her to be part of an All Star Fairport Convention reunion concert in the Barbican Hall in London (with i.e. Richard Thompson). In 2014 Linde sang guest vocals during Fairport Convention’s Dutch tour. Linde was also part of the BBC Radio 2 documentary about Sandy Denny by Bob Harris in 2008.
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Sad news - (Big) Ian Scott, one-time stalwart of PFC, died this week after a long illness. He was a big lad with a big voice. Ian's funeral is at Mortonhall on the 30th October at 12.30.
RIP Big Yin.
PLEASE SHARE THIS WIDELY, TO LET AS MANY OF IAN’S OLD PALS KNOW AS POSSIBLE.

VERY excited about this gig ...
Claire Hastings – 10th September, 2019, 8pm
Claire Hastings is a Scottish folksinger, songwriter and ukulele player based in Glasgow. In 2015 she earned the prestigious title of BBC Radio Scotland’s Young Traditional Musician of the Year, and has since delighted audiences at home and abroad with her ‘natural, effortless Scots voice.’ (FRUK)
... An honours graduate of the Scottish Music degree at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Claire specialized in Scots Song with expert tuition from Gordeanna McCulloch (The Clutha) and Rod Paterson (Jock Tamson’s Bairns). Since graduating, Claire has toured successfully in the UK, Europe and New Zealand as a solo artist and with The Claire Hastings Band, and has performed at international festivals including Festival Interceltique de Lorient and Celtic Connections. Standout performances also include BBC Proms in the Park with the Scottish Symphony Orchestra, singing alongside Lulu, Jamie Cullum and Deacon Blue at Glasgow’s City Halls and collaborating with soul singer Joss Stone for a video.
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Quicksilver, April 30th, 2019
Hilary has one of the most staggering voices in British acoustic music. Most folk fans will know it well from her work with top trio Artisan. If you haven’t yet heard her live, then the CDs will be, firstly, a quite-possibly-life-changing treat and, secondly, a demonstration of her breath-taking range of tone and mood. After four years on BBC1’s “That’s Life!” Grant Baynham became a household name. He is a formidable songwriter and has an energy and enthusiasm which create a high-powered performance of material from virtually every genre you can imagine. He’s also one of the funniest people I have ever met. Is it possible to be formidable and hilarious at the same time? With Grant anything is possible.

Next gig - John Conolly – 2nd April, 2019
Acclaimed Singer/Songwriter with guitar and melodeon accompaniment. Writer of ” Fiddlers’ Green”, “The Trawling Trade”,” Punch and Judy Man”and many more.
... John has been a presence on the British folk scene since the folk revival in the early ’60s, and indeed was among the founders of the Grimsby Folk Song club, which opened its doors in 1964. Many of his early songs, written in conjunction with his old friend and songwriting partner Bill Meek, tell heartwarming stories of the lives and labours of the East Coast fishing community, and these songs in particular have earned John a welcome at Folk and Maritime Festivals worldwide. More recently, John has broadened the subject-matter of his writing – he has written tender love songs, hard-hitting political protests,and outrageously funny ditties which he describes as his “Saucy Postcard Collection”. A typical John Conolly performance will include a finely-judged mixture of these genres for, above all, John likes to entertain, and to send an audience home happy! Many of John’s songs have been covered by well known national and international acts like Roy Bailey, the Dubliners, Liam Clancy, Malinky, The McCalmans, Stormalong John and George Hamilton IV, to name but a
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LAst gig of 2018 ... BrÒg – December 11th, 2018 8pm, Shottstown Miners' Club, Penicuik
Out Christmas puddings are a brand-new band, BrÒg, featuring legendary piper Gary West on pipes, whistles, vocals and guitar; virtuoso fiddler Greg Borland on fiddle and bass, and the sensational Sandy Brechin on accordion. Jigs, reels, airs and Scottish songs. Gary West is one of the country’s top pipers, presenter of BBC Radio Scotland’s ‘Pipeline’ and Professor of Scottish Ethnology at Edinburgh University, currently with Glasgow City Police Pipe Band and the famous Atholl Highlanders, ex Ceolbeg, Caledon and Clan Alba. Greg Borland plays with Other Roads, Burach, ex Caledon and the Kathryn Tickell Band. Sandy Brechin plays with The Jimi Shandrix Experience, The Sandy Brechin Band, Burach, ex-Seelyhoo and a host of other bands.

Our old pal, Torcull Kenendy, is playing live with his band, Lazy Horse, at the Newlands Centre Romanno Bridge on Friday 26 Oct. 7-11. Should be a gas ...

We're on our holidays for gigs, but singing sessions continue unabated and great fun!
This Fringe gig is close to our hearts though ... http://www.alanmurray.org.uk/…/brian-mi ller-and-ian-young-…/
... http://www.alanmurray.org.uk/…/home…/ singers-nightssessions/
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Carey Lunan and Friends – 12th June, 8.30, Shottstown Miner Club, Penicuk
Carey Lunan, John Hardman and Marty Fay are three parts of Firefly Fortyfive. In addition to writing and performing their own material they play, and are inspired by an eclectic mix of traditional and contemporary folk, with an irreverent dash of 70s American west-coast harmony-infused country rock. Yeah baby! With Carey on vocal, flute and mandola, Marty on vocals and guitar and John on guitar and perc...usson, their set often includes interpretations of songs by Joni Mitchell, Sandy Denny, Tim Tuckley, Gillian Welch and CSNY amonst others.
They will be joined in the second half by friends and singer-songwriters, Karen Dietz and Richard Klein.
Karen is a versatile and inspiring teacher, writer, performer, and leader of singing workshops and weekends. She leads three community choirs and brings a wealth of experience and different musical cultures, including American, Mexican, and Scottish, to her work. Literature and poetry often provides the inspiration to Richard’s work, including a collection of songs based on the poetry of Federico Garcia Lorca. More recently, he and Karen have collaborated on a collection of songs based on local histories around Dunbar where they both live.
They are a fine combination, both in the way their voices compliment one another and in their exquisite guitar and banjo arrangements.
Last concert before the summer - singers' nights continue unabated.
See you there?
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This looks like a nice event ... Penicuik Silver band are having a summer concert at Penicuik North Kirk on Friday 8 June , doors open at 7pm concert starts at 7.30pm. Tickets can be bought at the door , £6.00 full price £4.00 concessions. We have had a good year , new players , new music , third place in the Scottish National brass band championships in our section our best result in 15 years , and most recently in April winning the Fife brass band contest with our young drummer getting best instrumentalist ! So come along and support your local musicians, we've been entertaining Penicuik since 1835!

Our next gig is Tom McConville - 10th April, 8pm, Shottstown Miners Club, Penicuik.
Tom is a great musician with a lovely flowing style, beautiful tone and faultless technique and is regarded by many as one of the finest fiddle players in the British Isles. http://www.alanmurray.org.uk/penicuikfolk / http://www.tommcconville.co.uk/

NEXT GIG - CHRISTINE KYDD, 8.30, 13th MARCH - SHOTTSTOWN MINERS' CLUB, PENICUIK. Christine Kydd was born and raised in the city of Glasgow, where she played in folk bands from the age of 11. Best known for her recordings with Janet Russell, as a soloist and with Chantan, Sinsheen, and on appearances on the cream of compilation and single project albums, she is not only a passionate advocate for traditional song, but a lover of all good songs, a songwriter and an accomplished performer.

Will add a note about our next gig soon - meantime, here's a nice event happening in Penicuik

Weather in Penicuik OK - so getting to and from tonight's gig won't be a problem.

Next gig 13th February - Pernille and Stephen Quigg ... lovely songs, lovely people and a few laughs. Shottstown Miners Club, Penicuik, 8pm.
http://www.stephenquigg.com/ http://www.alanmurray.org.uk/penicuikfolk /

Snow all gone, so hoping to see and hear old and new pals tomorrow night ... some Burns songs, but no “rule” insisting on them!

Hello all,
The snow is already quite bad in wintry Penicuik and we've decided, reluctantly, to cancel the folk club's singaround/session tonight, as the forecast is for more snow and low temperatures. This is a shame, as it's the time of year when we all trot out our favourite Burns songs - but the roads are going to be treacherous.
Stay warm and stay well
... All the best - and Happy New Year.
Alan
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Hello all and a belated Happy New Year. It’s pretty wintry in Penicuik, but the roads are passable. I’ll post and email an update later this afternoon for the interest of those who might be travelling to Penicuik for tonight’s Singaround.