The Falkirk Trad Project / Nicolla MacLeod / The Fountaineers / Tom O’Reilly & The Swaggers / Joel Gardner

The Falkirk Trad Project Sat 23rd Jan 2021

Falkirk Traditional Music project is an after school music initiative that provides lessons for children aged P4 to S6. The project has been running for over fifteen years and has grown to now engaging over 200 children weekly. The project has three different trad bands – junior, intermediate and advanced and each band features a host of instruments including fiddle, mandolin, accordion, whistle and bodhran. The bands will play a selection of instrumental material from traditional Scottish tunes to melodies from further afield including Scandinavian, American and European.
Tutors – John Somerville / Laura Beth Salter

Nicolette MacLeod Sat 23rd Jan. 2021

With chest beaten rhythms, hypnotic vocal looping and acoustic instruments Nicolette arranges folk songs both old and new. Interwoven with landscapes and the sea her songs range from fragile sparse laments to beautiful textural journeys. Inviting the listener to join her on an exploration of emotion,
imagination and memory.
Nicolette’s voice hints to her classical training but her delivery is informed by influential female vocalists and songwriters including Joan Baez and Lisa Gerard. Her vocals have been used in film and in a pop setting for albums receiving prime time radio play on BBC2 and BBC6. She is regularly commissioned to
compose for theatre and dance. She is excited to be taking part in ‘Bird On A Wire’ in February with Findley Napier and Boo Hewerdine and is currently working with Tom Besford as a mentor from English Folk Expo, thanks to the music creators mentorship programme run by the Ivors Academy.
Nicolette is creating a solo piece of gig theatre about the Sea. With an accompanying podcast called ‘SeaGazing’ where Nicolette and her co-host talk to individuals working in communities and marine
conservation in Scotland. Her show ‘SeaSong’ will tour in 2022 and is part of the Rural Touring supported
programme.

The Fountaineers Sat 23rd Jan 2021

Rob Hart / Jeri Foreman / Callum MT / Michael Wright
The Fountaineers met playing in various sessions throughout Glasgow’s exceptional acoustic music scene. As Scotland emerged from lockdown, the quartet started to meet with instruments in the green areas of Glasgow, as often as the weather would allow. Members of the public enjoyed the jams and the group was named by an especially appreciative Glaswegian, whilst playing in the Kelvingrove Fountain. Suddenly, with time to rehearse and learn repertoire, the band has been ambitious in challenging each other to hone Bluegrass standards and tackle complex newgrass repertoire.

The band recently released their debut single, Old Ties & Companions, filmed in the iconic Glasgow University cloisters. The track was released on the 11th November, during lockdown, to all major music streaming platforms.

Fans of Danny Kyle will recognize mandolinist Callum MT who played in last years’ open stage with Edinburgh based Neo-folk Quintet Fiddlers on the Ramp. The Fountaineers featured in British Bluegrass Music Association’s Winter 2020 edition of British Bluegrass News

Tom O’Reilly & The Swaggers Sat 23rd Jan 2021

Tom O’Reilly and The Swaggers
Tom O’Reilly / Helen Manley / Andy Boddington / Sam Spake
Tom O’Reilly & the Swaggers play a rich mixture of original folk and country songs. The Swaggers features four members of the notorious Celtic folk/punk band Black Friday on vocals, guitars, bass and fiddle and create a joyous and theatrical, musical experience. They weave memories and lore; striking colourful impressions of the verdant Cornish landscape, its surrounding sea and the haunts of both its living and dead.

Their debut album, One Fine Day, treats the listener to a great variety of moods and colour – from the raw, dark energy of Final Resting Place and Black Lung to the joyous revelling of One Fine Day and soothing lyricism of Good To Be Free. This is an album that deftly weaves musical magic and has drawn inspiration from the rough, ‘straight between the eyes’ energy of the Pogues, anarchic brilliance of Hank III, Joe Strummer and Johnny Cash. Tom O’Reilly’s song-writing delivers the heartfelt with charismatic energy. These are no maudlin meditations but instead the music is a refreshingly authentic celebration mixed with an arresting explosion of raw folk energy, the attitude of punk and the rebel yells of country music.

Joel Gardner Sat23rd Jan 2021

A skilled guitarist and singer drawing influence from instrumentalists such as Andy Mckee and John Gomm. Joel’s songs stem from elaborate, groove orientated guitar work. His music transcends its traditional roots with a modern twist.

With a live show honed by relentless gigging; Joel won the ‘Danny Kyle Award’ at Celtic Connections, Wath Festival’s ‘Young Performer Of The Year Award’ and ‘Manchester’s Got Busker Talent in 2017.’ His successes have seen him support Mull Historical Society and Bernard Butler, Brian Kennedy, All The Luck In The World and US chart topping band ‘The Revivalists’ on their first UK tour.

While unable to go and see the artists live during lockdown they are still able to bring you their music via all their social media so please go and check out how busy they have been writing and performing their music during this difficult time for all artists