Jenna Reid appearing at The Tunnels - Wed 22nd February

Jenna Reid - Shetland Fiddler(Dòchas, Filska, Deaf Shepherd)

Accompanied by Kevin MacKenzie on acoustic guitar

Winner of "Best Up & Coming Artist" at Scotland's Traditional Music Awards 2005

Hailing from Shetland, Jenna grew up immersed in the Islands rich fiddle tradition and she is one of the Islands leading young exponents of it. After recently recording her debut solo album , she is out promoting it and stopping by for a Vocoustic Session.

"explosive fiddle playing" (The Herald)

Jenna is one of the founding members of Shetland fiddle group Filska, a group who have released the albums 'Harvest Home' and 'Time and Tide'. It was their second release that saw Filska begin to make a name for themselves not only in Scotland but throughout Europe and beyond. Their success saw them play to audiences in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Italy, Ireland, France, Canada and the US. Filska are currently working on their third album set for release very soon.

"...Filska look cool. No one exemplifies this more than Shetland fiddler Jenna Reid, who marries an easy-on-the-eye appearance with instrumental mastery and real feeling ... quite simply electric." Rob Adams, The Herald

"Filska were the highlight of the evening ... Their focus on fiddle supplied by Jenna Reid, Gemma Wilson and Bethany Reid, - with Andrew Tulloch's driving guitar gave their sound a streamlined core, delivered with intense energy and precision." Kenny Mathieson, The Scotsman

Jenna recently completed the line up of the traditional all girl group, Dòchas. After releasing their debut album in 2002, this 5 piece band from the Highlands and Islands have gone from strength to strength, appearing in Ireland, Scotland, Europe and the US as part of traditional music festivals. Moreover, Dòchas were nominated as 'best newcomers' in the Scottish Traditional Music Awards.

"Dòchas is one of the great feel-good sounds of contemporary traditional music. The girls have combined undoubted talent and great attitude to create one of the most promising bands of recent years. Highland Music is blossoming now as never before - and Dòchas has to be one of its sweetest blooms. " Mary Ann Kennedy, BBC Scotland

Now based in Glasgow, Jenna enjoys work as both a performer and teacher, having tutored alongside legendary fiddler, Liz Carroll. In addition to this, Jenna has also toured and played with Scottish acts, Deaf shepherd, Fiddlers Bid, John Raes Celtic Feet and Kevin MacKenzie's Vital Signs.

Support from Fiona Keenan and Sharon Hassan


Wednesday 22nd February £5 from 8pm

THE TUNNELS
Carnegies Brae/East Green,
Aberdeen, AB10 1BF.
01224 211 121

Buy Jenna Reid CDs here

Does Radio Scotland play enough Traditional music?

Well do you think Radio Scotland plays enough traditional music?

We would be very interested to hear your thoughts on this matter. If you would like to post your thoughts to us use the link below:

http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/MusicInScotland/

Or directly to Radio Scotland, all the better - use the link below:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/radioscotland/contact/index.shtml

Below is a reply received from Radio Scotland regarding their traditional music policy. We asked Radio Scotland why they do not have daytime program playing Scottish traditional music similar tothe programs found daily on Radio nan Gaidheal. Was traditional music only for the Gaels?

Reply:

Hello Jim,

Thank you for your comments regarding traditional music on RadioScotland.

Head of BBC Radio Scotland, Jeff Zycinski, has replied as follows;

"Radio Scotland aims to provide a wide variety of speech and music programmes for its audience and to complement the other BBC services.

At the core of our music policy is a strong commitment to traditionalmusic, offered in programmes such as Travelling Folk, CelticConnections, Pipeline, Take The Floor, The Reel Blend. We also covermajor traditional music events such as the traditional music awards and have sponsored the young traditional musician of the year award for over four years.

At the same time, we support other music genres such as jazz, classical and contemporary music, and we're always keen to supportlive music, either through studio sessions our outside broadcasts. There are, however, only so many hours of airtime in the day and we have competing demands from other listeners for more speechprogramming, such as news, sport, comedy, drama, debates and documentaries.

"Best wishes and thank you taking the time to contact BBC Scotland.

Regards
George Fawcett
BBC Information Office
Scotland

Celtic Connections

Scotland's premier winter Celtic music festival runs from 11th Janauary through 29th January. Celtic Connections showcases some on the World's premier Celtic artists. For a full list of artists attending and to book your tickets see the Celtic Connections website at:

http://www.celticconnections.com/

Duck!

Sgoil Chiuil Na Gaidhealtachd - Duck! (SCGCD005)

New Release from the National Centre of Excellence in Traditional Music at Plockton. The fifth CD from this wonderful institution offers traditional music in a contemporary framework. The pupils decide, devise & arrange; the directors facilitate, and well, direct! Fifteen almighty sets of ballads, tune sets, dance sets, songs in English and in Gaelic.. and a samba set in Scottish styling!

1. Dominic
2. Chuirinn Suas
3. The Last Pint
4. The Silken Snood
5. Rebecca’s
6. Smeòrach Chlann Dòmbnaill
7. Samba Set
8. The Dreadful End of Marianna for sorcery
9. Solstice
10. ‘S Gann Gun Dirich Mi Chaoidh
11. Fiddle Set
12. Thug Mi Gaol
13. The Ballad of Timothy Evans
14. Hull’s
15. Both Sides The Tweed

Buy CD here

Da Fustra - Over The Waves To Shetland (HRMCD012)

New Release from Shetland band Da Fustra.

Fast-paced, full-bodied and totally intoxicating, Da Fustra blast back with another album of excellent dance sets in the Shetland tradition. Superb arrangements and oodles of bounce; waltzes, two-steps, three-steps, reels and jigs, plus a slow air or two for a breather. Plenty of wonderful local tunes, and standards in Shetland styling. Definitely a partying album, for Hogmanay, birthday or any other day.

Military Two-Step, St Bernard's Waltz, Shetland Eightsome Reel, Palais Glide, Gay Gordons Two-Step, Victory Waltz, Eva Three-Step, The Waves of Tory, Tango, Slow Air, Call of the Pipes, Black Mountain Reel, Britannia Two-Step, Blue Danube Waltz, Orkney Eva Three-Step, Postie's Jig, Gay Gordons, Jig & Reel, Old Time Waltz & Boston Two-Step.

Buy DaFustra CDs here

New Years Honours List

Two of Scotland's most popular singers have been honoured for services to their Art. Karen Matheson (lead singer of Capercaillie) receives an OBE and Eddi Reader is awarded an MBE.

Matheson was delighted, if a little gobsmacked, to receive the award and insisted that fellow band member Donald Shaw was more deserving as the mastermind behind the band.

Eddi Reader's early career included harmonising with Annie Lennox but it was with Fairground attaction that achieved fame. Eddi now has an extremely successful solo career and has recenly championed the works of Robert Burns at Celtic Connections and Ayrshire's Burns An' A' That festival.

A fantasic achievement for the two singers and Scottish music in general.

Burns Night Music and Poems

The whole of Scotland and many Scottish societies abroad will commemorate the birthday of Robert Burns on 25th January. Robert (Rabbie) Burns is Scotland's most famous poet, balladeer and champion of the common people. Whether it's a full-blown Burns Supper or a quiet night of reading poetry, Burns Night is a night for all Scots.

Robert Burns songs and poetry and songs are recorded in a series of CDs which you can find by clicking here.