Rogue Folk Brings Back Some Great Celtic Faves
By STEVE EDGE
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THE OUTSIDE TRACK, with Bowen Island's Norah Rendell (right). The group plays cutting edge modern traditional music. |
Scots singer and guitarist Dick Gaughan makes a welcome return to these shores with a solo concert at St. James Hall on July 14.
A founding member of the Boys of the Lough in the late 1960s, Dick Gaughan has released a string of fine solo albums over the past four decades and continues to go from strength to strength.
His latest CD, Live at the Trades Club, showcases his amazing guitar wizardry on a few medleys of jigs and reels, and his voice continues to roar out its message of hope and defiance.
His 1982 album, Handful Of Earth, was voted Album of the Decade by readers of Folk Roots magazine.
He has pioneered Scottish folk rock with 5ive Hand Reel, and led the remarkable octet Clan Alba until its sad demise at the hands of an ill-fated record label. If there is a more passionate advocate of human dignity and social conscience I'd like to meet him!
Meanwhile, come down to St. James Hall to hear a true master of traditional Celtic music and one of the most powerful and influential performers of our time.
On July 20 Bellowhead, an 11-piece combo from deepest, darkest England, will rock the rafters at St. James Hall with their unique blend of folk, jazz, classical, rock, disco and world music influences combined with English music hall and cabaret.
The mighty Bellowhead are quite possibly, the best thing to have happened to English music for a very long time. They are Kurt Weill, Arcade Fire, Lotte Lenya and Tom Waits, all rolled into one. 'With the exception of The Who, Bellowhead are surely the best live act in the country' - The Independent
But wait, there's more great Celtic music coming to The Rogue! On July 28, The Outside Track will perform at St. James Hall. "A precociously talented group of musicians where the singing and playing is of the highest standards and the overall mood one of joyous exuberance." (Maverick Magazine, UK).
Featuring a multinational line-up from Scotland, Ireland and Canada, The Outside Track plays cutting edge modern traditional music reminiscent of early Solas with a Canadian singer and a hint of the Poozies with the occasional bluesy edge.
The Outside Track boasts an award-winning line-up of Ailie Robertson on clarsach (BBC Radio Scotland Young Trad finalist 2007), Vancouver's own Norah Rendell on vocals and flute (Canadian Trad Singer of the Year nominee 2008), Fiona Black on accordion (FAME academy bursary recipient 2007), Alan Jordan on guitar and Sarah-Jane Summers on fiddle.
Then on August 13 there's another evening of Celtic calisthenics when Oysterband returns to St. James Hall.
Combine revved-up folk dance rhythms, well-phrased lyrics with pointed social commentary and insanely catchy melodies and you've got Oysterband - one of the greatest English folk ensembles of all time.
John Jones (vocals, melodeon), Ian Telfer (fiddle), Chopper (cello, bass), Alan Prosser (guitar, vocals) and drummer Dil Davies make some of the most melodious, thought-provoking, and booty-shaking folk music ever concocted.
For tickets and information, visit www.roguefolk.com.
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