So finally, 6 months after our last show in Paeroa, New Zealand, Ron and I finally got to play a LIVE gig, in front of an (online) audience! We were so chuffed that Furness Tradition asked us to a show for them. It’s a festival I’ve played at before in Cumbria, but I knew they also put gigs on throughout …
If you took part in the HARP DAY 2020 mini “Carolan Sounds” workshop, as hosted by the amazing Harp Ireland, you can download the full arrangement for “Captain O’Kane” by Turlough O’Carolan by clicking HERE You can watch the workshop again HERE.
I’m so pleased to be able to share this video with you. I was privileged to have been allowed to work with this beautiful lament, Caoidh Sandy, written by the late Fraser Shaw in memory of his friend Sandy. I re-imaagined it as part of the Fraser Shaw Trust’s re-mix project. 10 musicians were given Fraser’s tunes and asked to …
I’ve been bowled over with the lovely messages about how much people enjoyed my HARP at HOME online workshop series that I filmed before the summer. I’ve had nearly 5000 views of the workshops and well, that just makes me smile SO I’ve decided to film a 2nd series! The new series will be over 8-weeks and the workshops will …
It was total pleasure to return and play for the final show of the BBC Scotland Reflections at the Quay, this time with my other half Adam Rhodes who joined me on bouzouki. If you missed it this morning, you can watch it via the iPlayer here at the 20.15 minute mark: https://www.bbc.co.uk/…/m0…/reflections-at-the-quay-05072020 I’m really sorry – but you can …
So life is very different to this time last year, but hey, I’m embracing it and it turns out I’m keeping very busy! Here’s a wee update on some things that have been happening: USA festivals The Ohio Scottish Arts School, Common Ground on the Hill and Somerset Folk Harp Festival ARE ALL GOING ONLINE – YAY!!! I’m so happy …
Wow, so the world has really changed since myself and Ron got back from New Zealand at the start of the month. We’re currently unable to gig or rehearse together, but this is for the best as we’re doing our part to protect the NHS, and our friends, family and loved ones, here in Scotland. It’s sadly meant BIG …
I’m super excited to announce the launch of HARP AT HOME – my NEW 8-week series of online harp workshops where I’ll teach you some of my favourite tunes. – Videos will “go live” every Monday at 7pm (UK time), starting Monday the 27th of April and will remain online so you can view at your leisure. – All videos …
We are overjoyed to announce that we, Rachel and Ron, will soon be in New Zealand on tour. The 5 week tour sees us journey all over the country, starting in Dunedin in South Island, on Wednesday 29th January and finishing up in North Island in Paeroa, on Wednesday the 26th February before Rachel stays on to teach at Anna …
Ah 33 and a half hours at Festival Interceltique de Lorient… words cannot describe how much I love this festival, and with it being my 5th time there (I’ve been as a punter as well as a performer!) I was SO excited to finally take Ron there. We only had 33 and half hours there, but boy oh boy did …
⏩⏩⏩ NEW VIDEO – 😮something TOTALLY different!!!! I’ve just returned from an inspiring week teaching at Common Ground on the Hill in Maryland where I had the pleasure of meeting Ryan “Future” Webb from Urban Artistery. This guy is something else – a phenomenal Freestyle Dancer (Poppin, Struttin, Jookin – honestly it’s mind blowing to watch him dance!!) who travels …
“an exquisite mix of style and musicality that is well paced and balanced virtuosity with reflection” , “Brilliantly simpatico duo… exhilarating adrenalin… ecstatic emotion”, “one of the UK’s finest performers and educators of the lever harp” Ahhhh, we’re super chuffed with these new reviews for our new album SPARKS, from Fatea, fROOTS and the Musician Magazine! Head over to the …
We couldn’t be happier with this review of SPARKS from folk radio “an alluring, accessible and thoroughly enjoyable album which holds the listener’s attention throughout and fully reflects the passion that this duo have for their heritage & tradition. A real treat.” We’re so glad they enjoyed the album! To read the review in full head to : www.folkradio.co.uk
Ron and I are chuffed to bits to announce that our new album SPARKS is now on sale, via this website and in all the usual shops. It’s also available to listen to on Apple Music and Spotify but we’d really like to encourage you to buy a hard copy OR in the very least download it legally via iTunes… …
We’ve just arrived home after an inspiring weekend over on the beautiful inner Hebridean Island of Coll. We were playing a concert for the Coll Music Group (thanks to Enterprise Music Scotland for making it possible) and we really did have a blast meeting the locals there and exploring the island. It’s a tiny place with just over 160 …
As part of the Edinburgh International Harp Festival I directed the Manx harp ensemble Claasagh to lead over 100 harp players in the playing of my mini-suite of tunes from the Isle of Man (Manx tunes) entitled “Mannin Aboo”. The pieces were arranged to be easily accessible by all levels of players, with a focus on the enjoyment of playing …
Ron and I are looking forward to playing the world famous Edinburgh Festival Fringe THIS FRIDAY (10th August) at Venue 138, the Acoustic Music Centre on Royal Terrace. We’ve a feeling there might just be a few more gigs on that day in Edinburgh so we’d be very grateful if you could help spread the word about it and well …
Here you go folks, as promised on my Facebook page, a tune to celebrate the fact I’ve had to pay lots of £’s to get Mostly Scottish Harp vol. 2 and Claasagh vol. 1 reprinted, so here it is! I’ve actually cheated a bit and given you one from my first book, Mostly Scottish Harp vol. 1 just because, well, …