Stonehaven Folk Club

The voice belongs to Gill Bowman from Edinburgh, regarded as one of Scotland's foremost singer songwriters and a fine interpreter of traditional music, in particular the songs of Robert Burns.In the last few years Gill has recorded three solo albums, contributed songs to three more and has toured in New Zealand, Europe, Ireland and all over the British Isles from Shetland to Jersey where her intimate and compelling style held audiences spellbound. Her singing is backed by an assured and distinctive guitar style, her arrangements imaginative and polished. Gill Bowman is a confident and highly entertaining performer with a strong commitment both to her native music and to her own diverse and perceptive songs. She communicates that commitment with a nicely judged blend of wicked humour and sincerity.

NINEBARROW are a multi-award-winning folk duo, who are impressing audiences across the country with their innovative and captivating take on the folk tradition. Described by Mike Harding as sounding ‘damn fine’ and by Kate Rusby as ‘absolutely amazing’, Jon Whitley and Jay LaBouchardiere combine breath taking vocal harmonies and melodies, delivering original songs that are inspired and rooted in the landscape and history of the British Isles. As well as crafting unique and engaging original material, Ninebarrow also take a wide-range of traditional folk songs and rework them in their own, distinctive way. Not only exceptional singers and musicians, Ninebarrow are also equally passionate about the stories behind their songs - combining their music with history, folklore and storytelling.

Following the critical acclamation that the duo have received, they’ve been in high demand and have been receiving bookings at a plethora of folk clubs, music venues and festivals across the country. As well as headlining in their own right, Ninebarrow have also provided support for some of the folk greats, including Kate Rusby, Seth Lakeman, Show of Hands and Fisherman’s Friends. Engaging, charismatic and humorous - Ninebarrow are winning new fans wherever they go. See them live, and you’ll quickly understand why.

http://www.ninebarrow.co.uk/

My Sweet Patootie is contemporary roots and ragtime at its best; bringing tight vocal harmonies, monstrous guitar, sizzling fiddle and percussion together in one perfect package. Founded in 2007 by Canadian Folk Music Award winners Sandra Swannell and Terry Young, the trio has a growing international reputation. From original swing to funky fiddle-tune arrangements to exquisite ballads, they deliver a must-see show that Driftwood Magazine describes as “two parts exemplary musicianship, one part vaudeville comedy”. 

http://www.mysweetpatootie.com/

David Francey is a Scottish-born Canadian carpenter-turned-songwriter, who has become known as “one of Canada’s most revered folk poets and singers”.  Born in Ayrshire, Scotland to parents who were factory workers, he moved to Canada when he was twelve.  He says he can trace his love of the land, the history, and the people of his adopted country to weekend family drives exploring southern Ontario. Music played a large part in these family outings. They sang traditional Scottish tunes as they drove through the Canadian countryside.

For decades, he worked across Canada in rail yards, construction sites, and in the Yukon bush, all the while writing poetry, setting it to melodies in his head and singing it to himself as he worked.

A truly authentic folk singer, Francey is a documentarian of the working person who never imagined earning a living from his music. But when he was in his 40s, his wife, artist Beth Girdler, encouraged him to share his songs and sing in public. The reaction was instant. His first album Torn Screen Door came out in 1999 and was a hit in Canada. Since then, he has released eleven albums, won three Juno Awards and has had his songs covered by such artists as The Del McCoury Band, The Rankin Family, James Keelaghan and Tracy Grammer.

In concert David is a singer and a storyteller. His wry humour and astute observations combined with his openhearted singing style have earned him a loyal following.

http://www.davidfrancey.com/

Fil Campbell and Tom McFarland have been part of the Irish, British and European folk scene since the early 90s. With the combination of vocals, guitar and percussion they have gained a loyal following for their fun approach to both new and old songs. Back There, their latest CD was released in July 2015. It is a collection of contemporary songs, featuring both Tom and Fil on vocals, and has been receiving lovely reviews. Onstage Fil and Tom play and sing a mix of original, traditional and contemporary Irish songs. Their set is full of fun and banter and Fil’s passion is to get everyone singing so there are always lots of choruses, so be prepared! With 7 solo CDs to date, and several project recordings over the past few years, Fil’s repertoire is varied and eclectic. She is particularly known for a large body of work for RTE TV entitled Songbirds that profiled the women singers of the past, which she researched and presented herself and for her work with local radio, community choirs and adult singers. Originally from Belleek in Co. Fermanagh, Fil has been gigging regularly since she was a teenager and together with Tom who hails from Belfast, they have performed all over Europe, Ireland, the USA, Australia and UK, at festivals and folk clubs, on radio and TV. Tom has played drums and percussion for singers as diverse as David Knopfler (ex Dire Straits), Finbar Furey and Ben Sands and has his own recording studio and film editing suite specialising in acoustic and spoken word recordings.

http://www.filcampbell.com/

TICKETED EVENT - Contact 01569 764202

Vin’s career has spanned over 40 years of constant world wide touring which must make him some kind of elder statesman of folk. His songs were inspired by the folk tradition at the beginning of his career, they still are but have transformed into gritty social comment and life observations. He is renowned for his hilarious intros but for him his song lyrics are the crux of his performance.

“Vin cuts through the bull, grasping those he meets firmly by the hand and shaking them up with a dose of laughter and tears. It’s a true gift to be able to make us laugh and squirm at the same time, but Vin does both. He should be prescribed on the National Health.”  (English Folk Dance & Song Society)

“Every budding singer-songwriter please take note: attending a Vin Garbutt concert is now mandatory before your first public performance. Garbutt is the undisputed master of communicating with an audience.” (Penguin Eggs magazine, Canada)

BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards Nominee for "Best Folk Singer" and "Best Live Act" Awards 2001

Winner of BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards "Best Live Act" Award 2001

Honorary Degree of Master of Arts awarded to Vin by Teesside University in 2001 for his music and his services to the arts and culture of the area of the North East of England.

BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards Nominee for "Best Live Act" Award 2007

www.vingarbutt.com/

"This duo is rather astonishing — she's from Alaska and he's from England, and between them they play hammered dulcimer, fiddle, guitar, recorder and whistle, excellent percussion, sing, and have a wonderful stage presence.
"Their repertoire is vast, and includes things like sing-alongs in Russian. Credits include numerous UK and US tours and seven albums (including collaborations with Anne McCaffrey)..."  Whidbey Island Folk Festival, Washington, USA
"Unquestionably the most talented duo we have ever had at this club... I've never seen so much variety in a single set."  The Song Loft, Milton Keynes

www.opland-freeman.com/

Having honed their craft during many years as semi-professional musicians, Winter Wilson went full time in 2012 and haven’t looked back since. They have a fine repertoire of self-penned songs, telling stories of everyday life which often reflect the bigger picture of this life we lead.

Kip Winter (vocals, accordion, guitar, flute) is one of the finest singers on the circuit, expressing power and emotion in equal measure “from melting to belting”.

Dave Wilson (vocals, guitar and banjo) is amongst the top tier of British song writers, with his songs covered by some of folk’s “greats”.

But it’s in live performance that Winter Wilson really excel, bringing a sense of intimacy to every stage, welcoming audiences into their world, mixing songs with stories of life on the road. “This isn’t a performance – it’s a domestic!”

Tight harmonies, killer songs and a lot of fun – that’s Winter Wilson.

http://winterwilson.com/

Widely tipped for future stardom, the young Glasgow singer, songwriter and guitarist Paul McKenna cites Paul Brady, Dick Gaughan and Led Zeppelin as equal influences on his potent original compositions. The band continues to increase their reputation as one of the finest young song-based outfits on today’s Scottish folk scene and have released 4 albums to date. Paul was named Scots Singer of the Year in 2012 at the Scots Trad Music Awards. Having toured extensively in 2016 with the band Paul will now concentrate on his solo work with bookings confirmed at home and across North America in 2017. 

Eddie comes from Edinburgh and started playing the chanter at school at the age of 10. Over his time at School he played in the school pipe band as well as playing in the Lothian and Borders Police Pipe band and playing with the Feis movement in Scotland. For his final year at school he studied at the National Centre for Excellence in Traditional music based in Plockton. He was taught the pipes by Iain MacFadyen and started learning the Whistle from Hamish Napier.

Eddie spent 4 years studying at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. During his time there he was taught pipes by Finlay MacDonald, Stuart Samson and Allan MacDonald and was taught Whistle and Bouzouki by Marc Duff.

Eddie also works in several other musical outfits. This includes working with guitarist/singer Luc McNally singer/songwriter Darcy DaSilva on her first solo album. Other work includes working in several theatre productions. Some of those have included working with actor/director David Paisley on his show “The Lassies O” and Nic Green in her production of Fatherland.

http://eddieseaman.com/

Elsa Jean McTaggart was brought up on a rustic croft on the mountainside overlooking Tay Valley, Aberfeldy, Perthshire. With no electricity or even running water in the house for many years. instruments, books, animals and siblings were the main sources of entertainment.  ‘"Apart from my Father, who played music for his own entertainment whenever he got the chance, my mother and my wonderfully talented aunt (folk artist - Janet Russell) and all my incredibly musical and artistic brothers and sisters; I can’t think of anything that inspired me to sing, create and play music. It was always just what I did, a burning in my soul, driving me crazy."

She bought a cheap violin at the age of 17, but was never part of a music scene until the age of 20.  She was invited to an open folk session and an Irish music night whilst studying a science degree in Aberystwyth, Wales. She is self-taught and began to overcome her phobia-like fear of performing to an audience, and to learn music with a passion, writing her own music and songs whilst learning guitar and fiddle.  She moved to the North of Ireland at the age of 21 to work on a Stud Farm and sat in on any sessions she could find.  At 22 she received her first pay and aimed only to work as a musician from there on in. Traditional music was the only open door at that time and she was very fortunate to play music with a variety of talented musicians from all genres.  Elsa completed a Masters in Irish Traditional Music in Limerick University in 2004.

http://www.elsa-jean-mctaggart.com/