Tuesday, August 22, 2017

Eddie Seaman and Luc McNally first met in Glasgow in the autumn of 2013 in a packed session at the Ben Nevis Bar. A friendship was born and the two of them played their first gig at an opening slot for Brian Peters, held at the Star Folk Club on Waterloo Street.

Piper and whistle player Eddie comes from Edinburgh and started playing the chanter at school at the age of 10. For his final year at school he studied at the National Centre for Excellence in Traditional music based in Plockton, and then went on to spend 4 years studying at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

 Singer and guitarist Luc, originally from County Durham, had been introduced to folk music through his work with Folkestra, a youth project run by Kathryn Tickell. Through Folkestra, he learned a great number of traditional songs from that area. He toured frequently with them and performed at the 2012 Olympics in London.

Both members of the group Barluath, Eddie and Luc talked about the idea of releasing a duo EP of some of the tunes and songs that they had been playing in the Ben Nevis Bar. The result, “Headlights”, was released in late 2014 and was met with a great response. Their first full album, “Tirade”, was released in November 2016.

“With that musical yet unfussy style, Headlights proves to be a spot of moonlighting well worth slinking off on.” – Nick Hart (Bright Young Folk)

The duo will appear at Plockton Village Hall on Tuesday 22^nd August at 7:30 p.m., with support from some current students of the Music School. Entry is £8 full price and £5 concessions, on the door.

Monday, August 21, 2017

We are delighted to welcome back some former students to Plockton for a show which features not one, but two of the most exciting duos to emerge from the Scottish music scene in recent times.

Sally and Catriona form a striking and dynamic fiddle and piano duo, playing repertoire from the Scottish traditions alongside new compositions. Their music is primarily influenced by Scottish music whilst also incorporating elements of traditions from further afield.

Sally and Catriona have played together for many years having coincidentally followed similar musical paths. Both musicians began playing at a young age, learning classical as well as folk and traditional music. They then developed their playing at the RSAMD Junior Academy, followed by some time studying at the National Centre for Excellence in Traditional Music in Plockton.

Sally then went on to study Scottish Traditional Music at RCS, graduating with a 1^st Class Honours Degree. Catriona is currently studying Folk and Traditional Music at Newcastle University. Both spent a year abroad in Sweden through the Erasmus programmes at their respective universities, which gives their music a unique edge.

Peach/Skeoch is the imaginatively named, brand spanking new Scottish accordion/harp duo of Tannara members: Joseph Peach and Becca Skeoch. Creative the name may not be, but the same definitely can’t be said for the music. The project is an outlet for all sorts of crazy. Like mischievous siblings, the duo push each other, egging each other on making themselves, their instruments and their music form new ways of working together and create original sounds.  

No-one has been able to pinpoint the cause of the eccentric streak which runs through their music, but regardless of where the crazy came from, it’s a feature of Peach/Skeoch. Taking melodies from Scotland, England and Scandinavia, by some of their favourite writers for accordion and harp, and approaching them from their unique viewpoint, Peach/Skeoch are an audience’s delight. Live, the duo are joined on percussion and drumkit by Calum McIntyre.

The duos join forces in Plockton Village Hall on Monday 21^st August at 7:30 p.m., with support from some current students of the Music School. Entry is £8 full price and £5 concessions, on the door.