One of my earliest experiences of performance harp was by ‘Harpo’ Marx in the film “A Day At The Races” and again in a film that the title escapes me. The only reason I mention this is at the way he exploited genres such as classical, folk and jazz to make the music accessible to the widest possible audience.Maybe the …

When a trio is made up of three musicians you know to be capable of leading their own bands you do sometimes wonder at the wisdom of bringing them all together, then you hear an album like this and wonder if they weren’t touched by Athena. Rachel Hair, naturally, Jenn Butterworth and Euan Burton should be congratulated on the way …

We finally got around to listening to “No More Wings”, the new album from Scottish harpist Rachel Hair. An eagerly awaited album in which we had placed high hopes ever since we listened to her last project, “The Lucky Smile”. It has fulfilled all our expectations, confirming that Rachel and her trio project are no longer a promising sensation but …

Does the title of the album refer to breaking a Red Bull habit? Maybe, maybe not, the truth is the trio’s music is delivered with plenty of pep. Rachel’s trio includes herself on harp, Jenn Butterworth on guitar and vocals and Euan Burton on double bass. They keep it simple, lively and fun, add in guest musicians on a few …

Proving to be increasingly versatile and innovative, Rachel Hair returns with her third recording, this time placing the harp in the midst of a dynamic trio, featuring the double bass of Euan Burton, alongside the guitar and vocals of Jenn Butterworth. Even in this company, it is the shimmering character of the harp and the unequivocal passion of Rachel’s playing …

For her third album release, Glasgow-based harpist and composer Rachel Hair joins forces with her trio for the first time on record. NO MORE WINGS features a selection of sophisticated instrumental arrangements blending Scotland’s rich heritage of vibrant instrumental music with one or two songs beautifully sung here by singer/guitarist Jenn Butterworth including Cyril Tawney’s Grey Funnel Line, Jesse Winchester’s My Songbird as well …

Scottish group, Rachel Hair Trio, is a brilliant folk ensemble with a full-range of vocal melodies and instrumental delights. The music is inspired not only from Scotland, but Galicia, Brittany, Sweden, Wales, the USA, and other places with string and folk traditions. The eleven musical morsels are steeped with evocative harp, rhodes, accordion, sax, percussion, and jig-friendly guitar stylings with …

The harpist Rachel Hair, weary of the angelic associations of her instrument, determine with her third album to reveal another side of its nature. Hence the title No More Wings, and this set of wicked tunes. They range widely – there are Breton ridees,  a Quebecois waltz and ‘Alastair m’annsachd’, a gorgeous slow air from the Captain Simon Fraser Collection, …

This is the third album from a young Scottish harpist working hard to popularise the harp. Here she is accompanied by regular trio members Jenn Butterworth (guitar & vocals) and Euan Burton (double bass), plus special guest musicians Fraser Fifield (soprano saxophone), Angus Lyon (rhodes/accordion) and Signy Jakobsdottir (percussion). Rachel’s fingering technique makes her plangent harp sound like a rippling …

Rachel Hair is never one to rest on her laurels and with this third album, she reinvents herself with characteristic aplomb. Joining her on this outing are guitarist and singer Jenn Butterworth and Euan Burton on double bass. On her previous album, the sonds were in Gaelic. Now they are in English and Butterworth’s delivery coupled with her driving guitar …