Woodlands/ Mairi McGilvery / Paul & Karen / Odette Mitchell / The Humff Family Reunion / Michael McGovern

Woodlands – Kristna Leesik and Justyna Krzyzanowska – Tues 19th Jan 2021

Duo Woodlands consists of violinist Kristna Leesik and harpist Justyna Krzyzanowska. With focus on traditon and innovaton they create a space where Scottish and Irish music meet and turn into dreamlike and cap2va2ng arrangements. With their background in Swedish folk music and classical music respec2vely, and influences of jazz and pop their composi2ons remain one of a kind. Their repertoire and width within the Celtic tradition, and other genres, forms an intense variation between beautiful songs and sweeping melodies, to expressive performances of jigs and reels. The harp, with its broad sound and rhythmic drive, and the fiddle, with sweeping tones full of variations, complete and enrich each other to form an excitng and nuanced musical experience.

Kristna Leesik and Justyna Krzyzanowska met during their studies at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm and continued their musical journey some years later at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, where they both deepened their knowledge of the Scottish Folk Music Tradition. Kristna has just finished her two year teaching degree her three year Bachelor Education in Swedish Folk Music at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm and Justyna finished her Master’s Degree in Scottish Traditional Music at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland last year a classical music Bachelor’s Degree at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm. Now they’re both working as freelance musicians and teachers.

 Mairi McGillvery  Tues 19th Jan 2021

Mairi McGillivrayis a Gaelic singer from the island of Islay off the west coast of Scotland. Mairi comes from a strong gaelic background and uses her heritage along with her dynamic range of musical influences to put her own style on songs from her tradition, performing in gaelic and other traditional styles.

Mairi has performed at various venues across the UK and graduated from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in 2020 with a First Class Honours in Traditional Music. Mairi’s Debut EP, “In My Mind”, was released on the 15th of January 2021. The EP is formed of 4 tracks of different style including one self penned song “Sea of Men” along with traditional gaelic and scots pieces. She was joined on the EP by some of Scotlands best young musicians, Seán Gray (guitar), Isla Callister (fiddle), Charlie Stewart (double bass), Graham Rorie (mandolin) and Paul McKenna (backing vocals)

Paul Walker & Karen Pfeiffer Tues 19th Jan

What makes this international duo so irresistible? Possibly Karen’s German accent tinged with an oatcake-induced Staffordshire dialect? Or Paul’s besotted gaze whenever she takes the microphone? Or simply the warm feeling everyone gets at their shows.

With their unique onstage-chemistry and widely praised harmonies, the Anglo-German duo Paul Walker & Karen Pfeiffer combine beautifully written songs with traditional and contemporary folk favourites. Paul’s vocal and individual guitar style blended with Karen’s voice, clear yet powerful, leaves audiences mesmerised. The duo have recently been touring their show in New Zealand, Australia, Germany and the UK.

“I’ve never seen our audience so spellbound!” exclaimed the Bedworth Folk Club promoter enthusiastically. “Great show!” praised Graham Norton following a concert in Ireland.

A memorable performance of great music, fun and the odd German ‘joke’. Not to be missed!

Odette Mitchell Tues 19th Jan 2021

Odette Michell is an award-winning British folk singer-songwriter, guitarist and bouzouki player with a stunning take on the acoustic tradition and a voice capable of demonstrating the finer points of both folk and traditional song with genuine craftsmanship. Things have been moving at something of a pace for Odette ever since she released her 2018 debut EP ‘By Way Of Night’. The release garnered high praise and gained Odette her first national and international radio plays on both BBC and Folk Radio stations. In May 2019 Odette released her first full-length album ‘The Wildest Rose’ – which, with producer Stu Hanna of Megson at the helm, was received to critical acclaim with the album becoming featured album BBC Radio and Folk Radio stations alike across 2019.

The result is a compelling, highly impressive debut that both soars and impresses. fRoots Magazine described it as “one of the stand-out debuts of 2019” and R2 Magazine touted Odette as one of their ‘Top Picks For 2020’. In May 2020 Odette was nominated for the ‘Rising Star’ award at the 2020 Folking Awards and in January 2020 Odette won Female Artist Of The Year at the 2019 FATEA Awards, following in the footsteps of previous winners Kitty Macfarlane and Cara Dillon, respectively. A dynamic live performer, Odette has performed alongside Show of Hands and Seth Lakeman, and has opened for folk legends Martin Carthy, Reg Meuross, Phil Beer and BBC R2 Folk Award nominees Ninebarrow amongst many others.

Michael McGovern Tues 19th Jan. 2021

Tues 19th Jan 2021

Roo and Neil are a duo based in Glasgow, Scotland. Both have grown up surrounded by Scottish traditional music, and this is a strong part of their musical identity. They combine their shared experience across Classical, Folk and Jazz to create original music for violin and accordion. Their compositions are inspired by landscape and people, and by how music can evoke a sense of place and community. Both musicians are in their final year of the classical Performance degree at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Throughout their studies they have developed their musical style and technique, drawing from the wealth and diversity of experience around them. In 2020 during the Covid-19 lockdown, they were selected as winners of a category in “In Tune with Nature”, a competition run by Feis Rois and Scottish Natural Heritage. They remotely composed, recorded and filmed a new piece which celebrated the wildlife and landscape of the magical Taynish National Nature Reserve.

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
All enquiries to Liz Clark dkos.info@yahoo.com