CARRY on STREAMIN from EDINBURGH FOLK CLUB Probably the Best Folk Club in the World! Dateline: Wednesday 16 December 2020 Volume 1.14

CARRY ON STREAMIN from EDINBURGH FOLK CLUB Probably the best folk club in the world! Dateline: Wednesday 16 December 2020 Volume 1.14

NA TRADS - AWARDS Go PayPal to donate to 2020 SAW the annual MG ALBA Scots the Paddy Bort Fund. Trad Music Awards broadcast on BBC ALBA on Saturday 12 December in a special And click here to go to programme named Na Trads 2020. EFC’s YouTube channel. The usually live annual event was broadcast See the panel (right) for the in a vibrant programme produced and aired exclusively on BBC ALBA. Hosted by performers on the video Alistair Heather and Mary Ann Kennedy, accompanying this edition of award winners were announced along with COS. specially-recorded music performances from some of traditional music’s top luminaries, including The Iona Fyfe Trio, Project Smok, December, followed by the MG ALBA Deirdre Graham, Jarlath Henderson and Scots Trad Music Awards themselves on Karen Matheson as well as Phil Cunningham Saturday. The awards will be shown and many more. again on BBC ALBA at 9pm on This year’s event was to have taken place in Saturday 18th December 2020 and will Dundee’s Caird Hall but with live music and be available on the BBC iPlayer for 30 event restrictions in place for the foreseeable days. future, Hands Up for Trad worked to •Album of the Year: The Woods (Hamish support artists and provide an alternative Napier) platform, culminating in two special •Original Work Of The Year: Everyday programmes of Na Trads on BBC Alba. Heroes (Skerryvore) Joy Dunlop presented the inductees to •Community Music Project Of The the Hall of Fame on Friday evening, 11 Year: Tunes In The Hoose •Event of the Year: BBC Radio Scotland CONTENTS Young Traditional Musician Award 20th Page 1 Lead story Anniversary Concert at Celtic Page 2-3 Fraser Bruce: The Folk River (3) Connections Page 4 EFC Burns Night with Ireland •Gaelic Singer Of The Year: Fionnag Page 7-8-9 Well, You See, It Was Like Nicchoinnich (Fiona MacKenzie) This: Rod Sinclair memoire •Trad Musician of The Year : Tim Edey Page 11 New Poetry Prize for Joy Hendry •Online Performance of the Year: Page 12 Christmas Quiz (compiled by Duncan Chisholm's #Covid Ceilidh The Bairn) •Citty Finlayson Award for Scots Singer Page 12-13 The Wrigleys Reel No More of the Year: Siobhan Miller Page 13 McGoldrick, McCusker, Doyle: •Trad Video of the Year: Calum Dan’s Christmas Show Transit Van (Peat & Diesel) Page 14 Ireland Gets It Right Again •Trad Music In The Media: The Black Page 14-15 Music Waves, Gigs Online Isle Correspondent (Anna Massie) Page 14-15 Gigs Online •Up and Coming Artist of The Year: Rebecca Hill Page 16 Cyber Print, English and Welsh •Music Tutor of the Year: Josie Duncan Folk Magazines •Hamish Henderson Award For Page 17 Reminders, Festivals, Services To Traditional Music: Lisa Crossword solutions Whyttock (Active) •Janet Paisley Award for Services Tae The Scots Leid: James Robertson •Services To Gaelic: John Smith (BBC Producer)

CARRY ON STREAMIN THE EDINBURGH FOLK TALES FROM THE Our banner is a ‘reworking’ of the of the Carrying Stream festival which EFC’s late chair, CLUB wishes all its loyal members as EARLY SCOTTISH Paddy Bort, created shortly after the death of well as everyone else who knows us all Hamish Henderson in 2002. round the world, the best Christmas you FOLK CLUB SCENE After Paddy died in February 2017, EFC created are hoping for in these difficult times. In FRASER BRUCE the Paddy Bort Fund (PBF) to give financial particular at this time, we thank gratefully /continued from page 1 ... Part 3: The final part of Fraser’s introduction assistance to professional folk performers who, all those who have been able to donate to to the book he is writing about the early through no fault of their own, fall on hard times. our Paddy Bort Fund. You are great people Scottish folk club scene in which he reveals No-one contemplated anything like the who have helped a lot of performers cope what actually happened in those now-distant coronavirus. Now we need to replenish PBF with, in some cases, not having any years rather than what many people, including again and have set a new target to raise a income to replace their usual earnings Fraser, previously believed. further £10 000. from performing. I have previously covered the reason why I There are two strands to Carry On Streamin - decided to write this book and the opening of this publication and our YouTube channel where So, we wish everyone a happy Christmas you will find, every fortnight, videos donated by and when it comes along at hogmanay, a the early Scottish Folk Clubs. There are many some of the best folk acts around. very happy New Year. 2021 surely cannot suggestions as to why folk song suddenly be as bad as 2020 has been! Can it? We became so popular in the 1960s. The fact is PLEASE DONATE TO PBF AS BEST YOU CAN, that it was being fed to us by many sources, USING THE PAYPAL LINKS WE PROVIDE. earnestly hope not and that some semblance of normality will return ASAP. through many ‘streams’. / … continued on page 3

/ continued from page 2 …) As part of this festival there was a Ceilidh shows. MacColl was an excellent playwright. It was not just about Scottish traditional organised. It was hosted by Hamish After these shows MacColl would often put music or the travelling folk. They, of course, Henderson and featured some of the on a ‘folk’ performance. It was here that he had an influence and their contribution is travelling community singers that Hamish and Morris Blythman became friends. These massive. However, there were many other had met on his journey north with Alan eight theatre shows were the start of what reasons which I will cover in detail in my Lomax. This was the first time that these eventually became the Edinburgh Festival book. I have covered some of these in Part travelling people had been introduced to Fringe. Morris went on to be a songwriter Two and continue to do so in the next section. audiences outwith the north-east of Scotland. but, more importantly, opened a club in 1953 Some say that this was the start of the folk in the school where he taught in Glasgow, During the recession of the 1930s, many ‘revival’ in Scotland but I would question Alan Glens. He called it ‘The Blues and people took to the hills where they could that. It certainly sowed a few seeds but it was Ballads Club’. It was a huge success and afford to live. Geordie McIntyre has told me seven years later before a folk club opened, pupils who went on to make a career out of of this. In the evenings there would inevitably 15 years later that the ‘boom’ started and folk music included Robin Hall, Nigel be a sing-song singing ‘folk’ type songs, nearly 20 years later that ‘folk’ clubs really Denver and Ewan McVicar. many of them political. During the 1950s and took off. early 1960s many people would go away Several years later, Blythman's friend camping or staying at Youth Hostels. They Alan Lomax and Ewan MacColl had a lot to Norman Buchan, impressed by what Morris were known as ‘The Weekenders’. do with the creation of an early ‘folk’ interest had achieved, decided to open a similar club in Scotland. Lomax, on the run from where he taught, Rutherglen Academy. It is of There were always sing-songs in the evening McCarthyism, had met up with MacColl who course recognised for the contribution it and Geordie, Jim McLean and Arthur in turn put him in touch with his close friend made to the Scottish folk scene. Johnstone all credit these weekends away for Morris Blythman (aka Thurso Berwick). The So here was another ‘stream’, MacColl, their enjoyment of folk songs. Arthur has a latter had just taken up a teaching post and ‘whole squad’ of friends who became Blythman, Buchan then the creation of many could not travel with Lomax to the North folk performers. ‘Weekenders’ and subsequently involved on East of Scotland, the intended area of the folk scene. research for Lomax. Blythman suggested that Because of my doubt about the title ‘revival’, In 1951 there had been a ‘People’s Festival’ the currently unemployed Hamish Henderson I was looking for an alternative. I thought the organised in Edinburgh to piggy-back the might be interested and most of us know the currently popular ‘Carrying Stream’ was a cultural Edinburgh Festival of the Arts which story from there. great name and much more fitting. covered very little of Scottish Culture in its Ewan MacColl must also be credited for However, I have identified so many ‘Streams’ programme. This had been the brain child of bringing his theatre company, Theatre which all flow in the same direction that, in Communist Party member Martin Milligan Workshop, to Edinburgh in 1947. He and my mind, they have created a ‘river’, hence and he created a committee of 40 politically Joan Littlewood spotted an opportunity when the revised title of my book, ‘The Folk motivated lovers of the arts, including the main Edinburgh Festival was announced River: Tales from the Early Scottish Folk Norman and Janey Buchan. It was called and, along with 7 other groups, took the risk Scene’. ‘The Edinburgh Labour Festival Committee’. of organising independent self-promoted FRASER BRUCE ... comes from Rutherglen where, in the late 1950's, he was an enthusiastic pupil member of Norman Buchan's Ballads Club at Rutherglen Academy. Having left school it was a natural progression for Fraser to become active in the burgeoning Scottish folk music sscene to the point where he released his first album in 1971 and a second in 1975. As if he didn't keep busy enough with performing, Fraser also ran folk clubs and at one point ran six clubs. That led to him becoming an agent because those six clubs fitted easily into touring diaries. In the mid-1970’s Fraser's employer moved him to London (promotion!!) and he had to give up singing. Two years later he was a full-time professional performer. Two years more of touring solo and Fraser decided he'd had enough and he opted for a monthly salary again. But then, after a few months Fraser and brother Ian teamed up and began to enjoy success, singing several nights a week and appearing at festivals all over the place at weekends. This confirmed Fraser's belief that folk music is not a full time occupation! The money is insufficient to sustain any kind of 'normal' lifestyle. He opines the Scottish folk scene was at its peak when the majority of the performers were part- timers. The duo came to an end in 1985 but not before there were three very successful albums as ‘Mrs Bruce's Boys’. In 1986 Fraser set up his own specialist construction company which developed into a very successful operation, so much so that in 2014 he handed over the reins to his two oldest sons and took a step back. Fraser went back to singing but realised his guitar skills were not up to current standards and his ‘act’ was dated. He went solo with bro’ Ian backing him on harmonies and guitar. This worked but the scene had changed. Now, there were fewer clubs and smaller audiences. The atmosphere had gone. A new challenge was required and that came in the form of Auld Hat - New Heids (Ian Bruce, Pete Clark, Gregor Lowrey and of course Fraser). This was a folk show devised by Fraser and specifically aimed at theatres and festivals. The show played theatres throughout Scotland and self-released a CD to sell on tour. Until very recently, Fraser had never written songs, simply feeling that there were already enough great songs current in the folk scene. That said however, he is now writing songs all of which tell a story which has led to Fraser's latest album 'Every Song’s a Story’ just released on Greentrax. And very successful it is proving too!

https://edinburghfolkclub.bandcamp.com/

EDINBURGH FOLK CLUB BURNS NIGHT 2021

Dave Francis writes: ... The annual Burns Night is always one of the convivial highlights of the Edinburgh Folk Club calendar, and yet one more example of what we are all missing at the moment. However, as with so much else, Zoom is our friend. EFC is this time teaming up with the Howth Singers’ Circle from Dublin, and Edinburgh’s, The World’s Room, the monthly traditional singing club, to bring you a Burns Night featuring some excellent performers from both sides of the Irish Sea. Among the singers Howth main man Francy Devine has put together are well known names like Niamh Parsons. The Scottish end will be held up by Shona Donaldson and her husband, fiddler Paul Anderson, and our own Gilly Hewitt, Carol and Alan Prior, and Scott Gardiner. The night will be a mix of live and pre-recorded items, one of which regular, Morag Dunbar (recently will feature an excerpt from last month’s inducted into the Scots Trad Hall Of Hamish Henderson lecture, with Kirsten Fame). McCue singing ‘Corn Rigs’. So make a date for ‘The Warld O’er’, No Burns Night would be complete Howth Singers’ Circle, Edinburgh Folk without the pipes. These will feature on Club and the World’s Room’s online this occasion with Scotland’s Gary West Burns Night on January 23rd at 8pm. teaming up virtually with Ireland’s Noel Details on how to join will feature in the Kelly to pipe in the haggis which will be next Carry on Streamin in the New Year addressed by Balerno Folk Club (Wednesday 13 January). organiser, and EFC and World’s Room

WELL, YOU SEE, IT WAS LIKE THIS ... ROD SINCLAIR, from Fife via Ribe in Denmark remembers, “bits of the folk scene in east Scotland in the mid 1960s” ... St. Andrews Folk Song Club: Sunday Night at the Star … One day in 1962, Bob Ritchie and Davie Stewart told me about the St. Andrews Folk Song Club, held then in the Star Hotel. I knew I would never get permisson from my parents to go, they were furiously anti-drink. I crawled out my bedroom window, slid down the drainpipe and down town to the Star. The evening was introduced by Maurice Frankel, the bearded anchorman and member, with Pete Shepheard and John Walton, of the resident singing group the Kullions. They sang in harmony and played guitars. When Maurice moved away, and John died in a road accident, Jimmy Hutchison, a South Uist man up from London, and Pete Shepheard, ran the club. The guest that first night could have been the Lowland Folk Four from Dundee, or Archie Fisher, or Alex Campbell, or Hamish Imlach, or Owen Hand, or ....

L>R: Owen Hand, Hamish Imlach, Alex C ampbell Those Sunday evenings followed a standard pattern: the Kullions would open, then introduce the guest who would sing and play for about half an hour. The St. Andrews Folk Club was where you could Cupar crew: Rab Noakes, Davie Craig, aye, Alex Campbell”). From England we meet Fifers John Watt and his Artie Trezise and others. could see Martin Carthy and Dave Dunfermline crew, including duo Jack Swarbrick, Robin and Barry Dransfield, Regular guests were Auld Davie Stewart, Beck and Barbara Dickson. From Dundee Ewan McColl and Peggy Seeger, Tom Jimmy MacBeath, The Stewarts of Blair, came singers like Alison Stuart and Robin Paley, Cyril Tawney, and on and on. McKidd (among the first to bring 5-string Willie Scott, Norman Kennedy, Norman / … continued over on page 8 banjo playing to St. Andrews). And the Buchan, (I still have a worn copy of his 101 Scottish Songs, signed for me “Yours

/continued from page 7 ... I remember the time we had Jeannie Robertson and Davy Graham - on the same night. The beauty of it was that you could talk to these expert singers and instrumentalists, and learn songs and instrument techniques just by asking because the folk club format was open and informal. Then there would be a break, so everyone could buy drink and raffle tickets. Then the floor singers, anyone who felt the need to have a go. Bob, Davey and I practiced at Bob's house on Watson Avenue, learned three new songs every week, called ourselves The Ranters, and became regular floor singers. A year and a half later, we were helping to run the club. We sang, in unison, anything we could get our hands on: Clancy Brothers’ songs, Spinners' songs, American songs, traditional Scots songs ... We borrowed LPs and dog-eared their covers by transporting them in gigbags. And importantly: we got in for nothing. We sometimes forget how popular folk music was then. In November 1964, people filled the Victory Memorial Hall in St. Mary's Place for a concert put on by St. Andrews folk club. On the bill: Robin Williamson and Clive Palmer, opening for Alex Campbell. Clive Palmer had niche interests in music. He played many weird instruments and complicated pieces on 5- string banjo. Robin McKidd - the Dundee musician who was among the first to play 5-string banjo at the St. Andrews folk club - picked up on them. Mr McKidd almost came a cropper when he opened a show in Scottish Domestic Bliss 2020 Lockdown by Allan & Rosemary McMillan. Grace Brixton with ‘Niggertown’. Note Publications. Full of fun, poems & pictures (proceeds towards Paddy Bort Fund). Available from Amazon, or copies can be purchased direct from the authors Alex Campell told of his busking days in (signed optional) £10 + £2 p&p. Paris. "Oh yes, I spoke French to them. ‘Je dis merde à les Anglais’." Lionised by the the folksingers' entrance to heaven, round Hagstrom, a Swedish Gibson copy. The rest folks running the Tønder and Skagen the corner from the main gate. A lead of us aspired to a Harmony Sovereign. Jack festivals at opposite ends of Jutland, Alex coffin, an expensive flight and a Glasgow Smart, lecturer in Arabic at St. Andrews stayed in Denmark until his death in Cooperative Funeral Hall service later, we University, had been to USA and acquired a January 1987. Often characterised as lowered Alex down at the Glasgow broken Martin which he brought home and ‘larger than life’, Alex had two funerals. Necropolis. fixed up. Pete Shepheard played a Levin. One in Møgel (Muckle) Tønder, where / … continued over on page 9 Niels Hausgaard spoke to a packed kirk of The guitar of choice - Hamish Imlach had one, John Walton had one - was the

/continued from page 8 ... Bob Ritchie had a wannabe jumbo and I bought a dreadful nylon-strung guitar for £6, took lessons from John Walton, and was proud when Davy Graham played on my guitar. I asked him what he thought of it, and he said, "I don't know how you can play on that." All St. Andrews Folk club nights were recorded by Andy Watson, a technician at the university, on his big Revox. I later got copies of those precious tapes, but they were stolen, with my tape recorder, when my flat in Edinburgh was burgled. The St. Andrews Folk Club recording was later done by Geoff Harden, who went on to run the Belfast Folk Festival. During the Edinburgh Festival, we would decamp to the capital, sing on the High Street in the afternoon, run a folk club night upstairs at the Woolpack or wherever we could find premises, doss on someone's floor and try to get back to St. Andrews in The Beggar's Mantle Ceilidh Band: L>R: Brian Miller, Robin McKidd, John Watt, Davey Stewart, Jock Ritchie, Jock Mullen time for school. Hitching on from Limerick towards Ennis straggle, relit the lamp and disappeared. Nights to remember: sitting on the floor in in the rain, we were picked up by a vet in a Davey and I got back in time to attend the the Stewarts' home in Blairgowrie, we big muddy car. We joined him for a couple first Blairgowrie festival. of calls at farms on the way, and were heard Alec playing the goose and telling the At the Blairgowrie Festival, the town delighted to find that not only was he the story of the magician juggling with flaming square rocks with boisterous, late-night fun. owner of a pub in town, but we were torches on the ship impressing the girl on A shop window gets pushed in. Police invited to sing, eat and drink with him and the beach who sailed off with him and arrive the following morning at the his friends and family. The crack was returned years later, juggling. And Belle campsite. Witnesses have given a furious, but then we all had to leave the and Sheila sang ‘The Berryfields o Blair’ description of the suspect: he has a dark snug and get out into the street because the and ‘The Echo Mocks the Corncrake’. beard and an Arran pullover. Garda were coming to check that closing Pete Shepheard and Jimmy Hutchison hours were observed. After a short, discreet The fledgling Traditional Music and Song collected songs on their trips to the Clare wait round the corner, we all trooped back Association set up the Blair Festival, and its Fleadh Cheoil, ‘The Hackler of Grouse into the kitchen to continue the session. success catalysed the organisation. Davey Hall’ among them, and I transcribed the Stewart was later a board member, while I We left the Clare Fleadh in Ennis with new- songs on their return. In August 1965, ran fundraising events in Edinburgh. Davey Stewart and I took the night ferry found friends who would drive us back to from Glasgow to Dublin. We headed west, Dublin for the ferry to Scotland. After a few After a Five Hand Reel concert in Ribe, but the rain and the nun-filled Austin A35's stops on the way - 'Lawnmowers Sharpened Bobby Eaglesham told me I was his did not encourage hitch-hiking, so we came and Guinness' was one sign that beckoned - inspiration to become a professional back into town and bought train tickets to about half way to Dublin we spent the night musician. "If he can do it, so can I." Limerick. The station was newly painted, at the house of an aunt to one of the lads. I (Ed: many well known and famous names in the trains were new and electric. As we sat slept on the floor behind the settee in the Rod’s memoire. And much more to come in Part 2 in our compartment waiting for the train to living room under a plastic crucifix with a in COS1.15. St Andrews FC it was which turned leave, the trackside door opened and a red lamp. I loosened the bulb to extinguish down Paul Simon for a gig in 1964 because the club reckoned £5 was too big a fee. On the same uniformed railway employee clambered in, it, as its red eye was keeping me awake. A tour the lad wrote “Homeward Bound” on a rainy took a little tool from his smart leather bag wraith-like figure silently appeared, the Widnes railway station. Or so it is claimed and and trimmed the mantle in the gas lamp. auntie in a long white nightie, grey hair a- there’s a plaque there to prove it! He was obviously well pissed off!)

NEW POETRY PRIZE The Scottish Poetry Library is initiating a new biennial literary prize, the ‘Outstanding Contribution to Poetry in Scotland’ award. The first winner is Joy Hendry, long-time editor of influential magazine Chapman, a poet in her own right and not unknown in Sandy Bell’s.

Joy Hendry

BURGLARY ALERT EDGWARE GUITARS is a musical instrument shop in London who posted this on Facebook in late Andy Irvine new double CD now available from http://andyirvine.com/, (own label): Cat AK-9 September: “It is with a very heavy The award will be given this year and next; Bearings I, the first publication from The heart we report that sadly we were thereafter, the prize will become biennial. The Poets’ Republic Press, with Katy Ewing. broken into last night. The thieves selection panel was the Library’s four On the subject of her award, Hendry says: ‘It got away with 16 guitars. Please can ‘Ambassadors’: Thomas Clark, Hugh can be a lonely, and it often seems thankless we ask everyone to share this post McMillan, Aoife Lyall and Ceitidh Campbell. and unthanked job, being an editor, and The Outstanding Contribution award was set far and wide to keep a look out for working with other poets – though that’s up to recognise the part played by those the guitars. If you have any unfair to almost all the poets I’ve worked with whose advocacy for Scottish poetry isn’t information, please contact John since I started this, aged a mere 18 or so, an restricted to the writing of poetry itself, and on 07950 476237 (no questions upstart in this strange world. could include in the future publishers, asked!!). Many thanks everyone.” translators, and educators. ‘These last 6 years or so, I’ve been sidelining Go to their Facebook page here to Chapman and its various works for many Joy Hendry is a Scottish writer and literary see the images mentioned. The reasons, but one of them is my absolute need critic who is best known for her work as shop address is 25 Station Road, to do more digging into my own poetic coal editor of the Scottish literary magazine Edgware, London HA8 7JE. face. In some respects, I’ve not been very Chapman. The magazine was founded in 1970 successful in this, having on the go, right now, and has been edited by Hendry since 1976. SPREAD THE WORD major projects with four poets – maybe Under her wing it has published fiction, This appeared in our last five working with other poets is something I’m poetry and essays by both established and editions and it still looks like the addicted to, and just can’t stop doing. bad guys haven’t been nicked yet emerging Scottish writers. She co-authored nor any of the stolen guitars found! / … continued over on page 12

CHRISTMAS QUIZ compiled by The Bairn WRIGLEY SISTERS and THE REEL: NO MORE! 1 How many birds feature in 'The 15 Which fast food brand has become a Twelve Days of Christmas'? traditional Christmas meal in Japan? This statement can be found on The Wrigley Sisters 2 Which Wimbledon born illustrator (see Fig 2 for clue) website. created the character in Fig. 3?

The Reel, Kirkwall, Orkney Figure 2 Figure 3 For many years The Reel, established by 16 As the world’s tallest ever, what stood 3 What impressive cosmic event can be internationally renowned instrumental folk at 64.6 m in Washington USA, 1950? seen during December over the UK? duo The Wrigley Sisters, has been a major 17 Which festive poem features 4 In Polish culture, which fish is eaten cultural centre in their home town of 'sugarplums', 'cherry', and 'jelly'? on Christmas eve and its scales kept Kirkwall. It has been a teaching and 18 What name did Monty Python choose for luck? performance venue for Orkney traditional for their messiah (who is a 'very 5 What chilly event occurs on New music, enjoyed by thousands of Orkney naughty boy')? Years Day in South Queensferry? folk and visitors alike. It has a worldwide 19 Refreshed erudite Londoner. Who is 6 What anatomical feature do you reputation for excellence. traditionally 'snap' which brings luck this mixed up fellow? When The Reel was forced to close in and desires? 20 ‘Old Long Since'. Famous Hogmany mid-March, due to coronavirus, all income 7 Which berry is associated with turkey? song. streams stopped. Very quickly, debt began 8 What is a 'tannenbaum'? Solutions to the crossword in COS 1.13 can to mount, and redundancies unfortunately 9 Name this (Fig 1) Christmas spice? be found on page 17. became unavoidable. The building is leased from Orkney Island Council (OIC) /continued from page 11 ... at a high commercial rent and that did not ‘But what’s the ‘poetry’ all about? I can early stop, meaning the rent arrears grew remember a kind of ‘this is it’ feeling, aged 7 considerably every month. or so, about it, and it’s not so much the poetry itself, as what it represents – that something As it became clear that there was going to be no early end to the pandemic and with behind all poetry. And, indeed, the poetry itself is only symbolic of all that makes live performances set to be off-limits for the foreseeable future, negotiations begun human life good and worthwhile. A search for truth, whatever that is – and the older I get with OIC regarding the money owed to Figure 1 them for back rent. the lesser is the need to define it, or anything 10 Name the reindeer with a else. It’s something that brings an We requested a rent holiday back-dated to meteorological name. indefinable, an ineffable sense of recognition last March. That was rejected. 11 What does the Icelandic word from all, in spite of all and any superficial We requested a freeze on the rent from the ‘Joladagur’ mean in English? differences. Across all divides, people see current date. That was rejected. 12 What was traditionally put inside a and feel a ‘This is It’ recognition of Christmas pudding for good luck? something, well, something ‘good’ will do. We launched a public campaign to ask for 13 Solve this anagram for a quick peck! support in petitioning OIC to adopt The ‘The news of this award means I can move 'Totems Lie' Reel into its Arts Portfolio. That was forward as myself. an individual, very much 14 What is the alternative (more common rejected. a part of my community, encouraged and but strictly incorrect) name for a inspired. I am very, very grateful for this.’ 'mimosa', often drunk around Christmas? / … continued over on page 13

/continued from page 12 ... (Ed: at the time of writing £14,837 has been raised of the £20,000 target on GoFundMe) McGOLDRICK,

COS received this statement from the McCUSKER & DOYLE: Press Officer at OIC on December 8 2020 “CHRISTMAS AT HOME” “Orkney Islands Council has agreed to a request from the Reel, for an early ending of the business’ lease of their council- owned property in Kirkwall. This is in recognition of the impact the L>R The Wrigley Sisters, Jenny and Hazel Covid-19 pandemic has had on the Reel, which has been unable to open since OIC officials recommended that we apply lockdown restrictions were introduced in for a lease termination, with a possibility of a March, with severe financial consequences back-dated termination. That was rejected. L>R Michael McGoldrick, John McCusker, John Doyle for the business. We requested a lease termination but MICHAEL McGOLDRICK, JOHN As a result, and in discussion with the asked to stay in the building on a rolling McCUSKER and JOHN DOYLE have Council, a request for an early termination one-month lease with a peppercorn rent, recorded a very special Christmas show of the commercial lease was made and has until we could find another building and linked with individual venues to now been agreed. and/or restructure the business. That too stream it into homes the length and has now been rejected. We recognise the important role the Reel breadth of the UK. has played in the cultural life of Orkney So, with huge regret and sorrow, we have Known for their work with Bob Dylan, over many years. to announce the permanent closure of The Mark Knopfler and BBC Transatlantic Reel at Broad Street from mid-November, We have been able to provide a range of Sessions, the multi award winning trio as we just cannot continue to accrue high Covid-19 financial assistance through have recorded a 45-minute set full of rent arrears with no income. It is our Government and Council business support classic Christmas melodies mixed with sincere hope that a new Reel may emerge schemes in recent months across the county. traditional and contemporary songs and sometime, but unfortunately it will tunes. certainly not in the very near future. Sadly, we have been advised that the Reel can no longer continue to operate in its Everyone who buys a ticket for the show We are hugely grateful to all those who have present form and we have agreed an early will can submit a question to be answered written letters of support and lobbied their ending of the lease in the interests of at the end of the show. councillors and who have signed our ‘Save providing help at a difficult time for the The Reel’ petition and made donations to Income from ticket sales will be split business. our appeal. Thank you to all of you. between the artists and the individual In the interests of fairness to other venues/festivals, so you can be confident The Wrigley Sisters have now incurred a that your purchase will not only support significant amount of debt after years of commercial businesses in Orkney, we were unable to make a special exception to McGoldrick, McCusker and Doyle at running a wonderful, successful and Christmas, but also your local venues, hugely popular venue. Could you possible support the other requests put forward to us by the Reel. promoters and festivals. help them with that? We would be so grateful for any donations, small or The Council remains committed to treating Go here to and find the date that you want (preferably) large! all businesses fairly and equitably at all to buy a ticket for. Once you have purchased your ticket you will receive an If you could help, please go to times and will continue to provide guidance email with information about how to ‘GoFundMe’. and advice should further proposals for the Reel business be put forward in future. watch the show in the comfort of your If you would prefer to donate by cheque own home. All concerts will begin at please make it payable to ‘Jennifer The Council acknowledges the importance 7.30pm or 8pm, depending on the venue, Wrigley’ and mail it to Jennifer at of traditional music in the Orkney on the date you purchase your ticket for. Fursbreck Bungalow, Harray, Orkney community and the wider folk music scene. Each ticket will allow one more screening KW17 2JT. For alternative payment We are one of only a handful of Councils within a 7 day period. Tickets are only methods, eg. BACS, Jennifer can be who still do not charge pupils for music valid for one device at a time and cannot emailed at [email protected]. tuition in schools.” be shared.

IRELAND GETS IT RIGHT AGAIN! New: basic income scheme to assist Arts workers (Ed: We reported in COS1.13 on the Irish Government’s Arts and Culture Recovery Taskforce work on creating an action-plan for the sector on how best to adapt and make a sustainable recovery from the unprecedented damage caused by the pandemic. This article is a follow on from that and appeared recently in Sound Post (Vol 18, No 4), the journal of the Musicians Union of Ireland – click here) The Government has accepted a proposal Meanwhile, a number of musicians have continued: “For the first time, the which could allow for the introduction of a complained about the manner in which Government provides support for live basic income scheme for musicians and funding has been allocated under the entertainment in the amount of €50 other artists and performers. The proposal Music Industry Stimulus Package which million. This will include measures for the was made by the Arts and Culture was recently introduced to assist commercial entertainment sector for the Recovery Taskforce which made a series songwriters and performers whose first time, and will support the live of recommendations to assist musicians livelihoods have been devastated as a entertainment venues across the country, and artists badly affected by the Pandemic result of the Covid19 pandemic and the building on the Stimulus Scheme lockdowns this year. closure of live music venues. announced in July. It will also see support activities at community level leading to According to information released about Last month, the minister responsible for greater work opportunities for crew and the allocation of funds, a total of 56 artists Arts and Culture, Catherine Martin, venue workers nationwide.” announced a three-year pilot of a universal received funding for an album release basic income in the arts, culture, audio stimulus to help promote their new (Ed: Thanks to Francy Devine for bringing this article to our attention). visual and live performance and events records. However, just 184, or 13 per cent, sector. This, according to the Taskforce, of all applicants were successful in MUSIC WAVES could lead to the introduction of a basic receiving money to record new material MUSIC ROUTES Jim Welsh broadcasts income payment of €325.38 for artists and out of 1,431 who applied. on-line on Edinburgh's Radio Summerhall. cultural workers which may be The Government also announced a new supplemented by other income from work. BLUES ON THE BAY – NEW – pure €50 million allocation to support live acoustic blues with Ian Sands every Ms Martin said that the Government had entertainment in Budget 2021. This Thursday at 8pm. also accepted a series of other proposals included an increase of €50 million in the by the Taskforce including a scheme to re- Arts Council grant from its original 2020 imagine public spaces, with funds for local level of €80 million to €130 million for authorities to adapt, equip or improve 2021. outdoor places for culture and events. It Catherine Martin said that “this additional also recommended the transposing into investment empowers the Arts Council to Irish law the EU Directive on Copyright in help artists, arts workers and arts the Digital Single Market and the Audio organisations come through this crisis and Visual Media Service Directive to ensure play their part in the national recovery. It fair pay for makers of creative content. will ensure that events of the highest The Taskforce was chaired by former RTE quality across all forms can reach the executive, Clare Duignan, and included public in new and blended ways. This advocates from across the sector including support will protect jobs and will see SIPTU Organiser, Karan O Loughlin, who thousands of artists enabled to create new represents members in Irish Equity and the work.” Musicians Union of Ireland, and was nominated by the Irish Congress of Trade In relation to an additional €50 million TRAVELLING FOLK Sunday (7pm) Unions. support for live entertainment she Bruce MacGrego r presents BBC Radio

Scotland's flagship two-hour folk studio. Read more about the show on their CLAIRE HASTINGS As always, is live programme. Facebook page every Sunday morning at 10am on Claire's B LACK DIAMOND 107.8 FM STREAM RADIO STATIONS Music Club Facebook page, aimed at under Midlothian, Sunday 8pm-9pm (and AROUND THE WORLD WITH 5s.” available 24*7). Brian Miller presents RADIO GARDEN – eg Edinburgh (242 PAUL WALKER & KAREN PFEIFFER "one of the finest folk music programmes Radio), Glasgow (Celtic Music Radio), invite you to their live streams Afternoon on radio". London (BBC Radio 5 Live) … and Tea with Paul & Karen every Friday at C LICK HERE for a long list of folk thousands more. Radio Garden is a non- 4pm (UK time) on their Facebook and music shows on BBC Radio. profit Dutch radio and digital research YouTube pages. 45 minutes of music, project developed from 2013 to 2016, by banter and light-hearted chat. F OLK ALLEY (USA) is a 24*7 internet the Netherlands Institute for Sound and THE GOOSE IS OUT is (usually) a radio service produced by the FreshGrass Vision, the Transnational Radio popular Friday weekly gig in South London. Foundation which went online in Knowledge Platform and five other However, of course, as is happening all over September 2003, streaming a unique blend European universities. It is funded by the UK they now run monthly Zoom of traditional folk, roots, Americana, HERA. contemporary singer/songwriters, indie- singarounds on the nights they would folk, Celtic, bluegrass, and other world THE ONLINE FAB FOLK CLUB is a normally have been having their "real" sounds. pre-recorded on-air singaround folk club singarounds. Organiser Sue Whitehead says, presented by Tony Haynes in York. “These online sessions, which are on second BLUES AND ROOTS RADIO based in Anyone is invited in. Video not needed, Sundays monthly, have been going well Mississauga, ON, Canada. Liz Franklin obviously, because this is radio, so just (despite a few technical hitches!). Obviously (@lizlipwig) presents 'Folk Garden' every record yourself performing, say, three of there isn't any geographical barrier to joining Tuesday 6pm - 8pm. All the best in folk, your favourite songs or tunes and email in we’ve had singers from as far afield as roots and acoustic music. them or use WeTransfer. Obviously they Japan, Scotland and, er, Birmingham - so it ACROSS THE POND is hosted by ex- would have to be close to radio quality, would be great if you could give them a plug pat lad from Edinburgh, Ed Miller, on but don’t get too hung up about that. Try in COS.” (Ed: job done!) to avoid background noises such as fridge Sunradio every Sunday 3-4pm UK time - “We send out the Zoom link with full motors, but a bit of bird song would be straight from Austin, Texas, USA! information the day before the singaround. fine. P URE BEAT RADIO from Aberdeen, People are asked to let us know by the C OPPERPLATE , promoting Irish music, Scotland is an internet radio station that Friday before if they would like us to send present a monthly podcast ... Copperplate broadcasts all over the world 24*7. them the link (singers and listeners all Podcast … 60 minutes of Irish traditional Playing a Better Music Mix! You can tune welcome!). in on your Smartphone, Smartspeaker, music now accessible 24/7 from their Deezer and online. roster. “People can message us here, the contact form on our website .” BOTH SIDE S THE TWEED FOLK GIGS ON-LINE SHOW is a monthly podcast presented by MAIRI CAMPBELL is doing weekly Gareth Patterson bringing you the very (Sundays) on-line ‘sessions’ under the best in folk & acoustic music. heading, Campbell’s Ceilidh. Just click on Submissions welcomed from artists who the link above to sign up in advance and would like Gareth to play their music. A offer yourself for a song or a tune spot. CD would be appreciated but please You’ll find lots of other stuff there as well. remember it must be FOLK. JENNA REID writes: “Wanna join my SOUNDART FOLK SHOW hosted by youth club? It’s FREE! Every Friday at Steve B. The station is situated in the 6pm for 20 minutes and aimed at P1-P7. Any DUNCAN CHISHOLM and HAMISH Dartington manor estate near Totnes in instrument with music and chords on-screen. NAPIER will be performing from An Tobar Devon and is also available on Mixcloud For information email Jenna here on the Isle of Mull on Thursday 17 (listen again option). The show airs folk in #tradmusic #youth #fun December at 8:00pm. View on Facebook, its many guises live monthly to a world- Vimeo or YouTube. wide audience. There are live sessions LLANTRISANT F C in S. Wales is running a virtual Folk Club every Wednesday at (Ed: there are so many on-line gigs just now that this is every few weeks with some very special the merest sample of what we’ve noticed. If you want guests playing and chatting live in the 8:20pm; music starts 8:30pm. Tune in her e . your gig listed please send us the information).

http://ec1973.com/home :: https://www.facebook.com/Edinburgh-Folk-Club-155304611154742/ :: @edfolkclub Please note that Edinburgh Folk Club cannot accept responsibility for the content of third party websites displayed in this newsletter and offers all content in good faith. CARRY ON STREAMIN from EDINBURGH FOLK CLUB Probably the best folk club in the world! Dateline: Wednesday 16 December 2020 Volume 1.14 cyberPRINT scene. It also carries book, record and TAPLAS Wales + The Borders & Beyond cassette reviews. (Ed: Folker’s publisher is FOLKWALES ONLINE MAGAZINE LIVING TRADITION (UK, monthly, Michael Kamp who was a Sandy Bell’s Man back in the print, on-line). See advert in this issue of 1970’s). FOLK MONTHLY West Midlands: COS. Living Tradition is a major UK and Worcs, Warks, Staffs, Shropshire, international folk music magazine ENGLISH and WELSH Herefordshire. published in Scotland with a 20 year local folk magazines FOLKFAX - Diary of events, news and history of carrying news, reviews and UNICORN Bedfordshire, gossip. (NB: Online only). articles, with a focus on the traditional Buckinghamshire, Cambridgshire and WILTSHIRE FOLK ARTS Wiltshire. folk scene in the UK and Ireland. Hertfordshire. FOLKLIFE WEST Worcs, Glos and The THE LIST (Edinburgh HQ but national; SHIRE FOLK Berkshire, West (Quarterly Magazine and Folk print, on-line,) This widely read and Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. Directory). nationally distributed magzine is one to FOLKNEWS KERNOW Cornwall. seek out for gig and cultural information FOLK ROUNDABOUT Yorkshire, in general. WHAT'S AFOOT Devon. North & East, Teesside, Cleveland, Northumberland. R2 MAGAZINE SAD Folk Somerset and Dorset. See here for information on subscribing MARDLES East Anglia, Norfolk TYKES NEWS (incorporating Stirrings) (UK, bi-monthly) was 'Rock n Reel' back Yorkshire, South And West. in the 1990s, hit a rocky patch, but FOLK MONTHLY E. Midlands, returned several years ago as a great Derbyshire, Leics, Lincs and Notts. REMINDERS … commentator, supporter and reviewer of SOLENT WAVES (Folk Association of SANDY BELL’S BAR RESCUE FUND the UK music scene in general (see advert South Hampshire) Hampshire, Sussex and At the time of writing £4,053 had been page 5). Dorset. raised towards the target of £15,000. To BOX AND FIDDLE (UK, monthly) is the PUDDINGSTONE (Hertfordshire Folk contribute please visit the Save Sandy publication of the National Association of Association) Hertfordshire. Bell's Go Fund Me page. Accordion & Fiddle Clubs with an AROUND KENT FOLK Kent (and some CELTIC CONNECTIONS runs from estimated home and overseas readership of of Sussex); e mail . Thursday 14 January to Tuesday 2 6,000+. Febuary 2021 with a 19-day scaled-down LANCASHIRE WAKES Lancashire. MAVERICK (UK, monthly) leading format 'digital first' festival, which may independent country music magazine. FOLK NORTH WEST (North West still allow audiences to attend some shows Federation of Folk Clubs) Lancashire, if restrictions on live events are eased in RAMBLES (USA, on-line) a wide range Cumbria, Greater Manchester, the Glasgow city. of reviews of books and albums. Merseyside, North Wales and Cheshire. BLAS FESTIVAL started on Friday 20 NO DEPRESSION (USA. Quarterly) is LEICESTER FOLK DIARY and runs to Monday 30 November. This an advert-free, long-form journal about Leicestershire year’s festival has a great online roots music published by the FreshGrass programme of concerts, FOLKTALK Lincolnshire. Foundation. Each issue features original cèilidhs, workshops, lectures and more in-depth articles and artist profiles, FOLK LONDON London & Home celebrating the culture of the Highlands. original illustrations, and stunning Counties. photography. The original music magazine GLASGOW FIDDLE WORKSHOP MAD FOLK Merseyside. began in 1995 and ran through 2008 but (GFW) restarted with ZOOM classes back restarted in 2015 and is running yet. Their NORTHAMPTONSHIRE FOLK in September 2020. ‘fall’ 2020 print edition has now sold out. ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATION For details click the link above (face-to- Northamptonshire. FOLKER (Germany, bi-monthly, print, face classes postponed for time being), on-line) one of continental Europe's major SHREDS AND PATCHES Shropshire. Monday Slow Session 18:45-19:25 Wednesday Warm-up Session folk mags – in fact, probably the leading SUSSEX PIE AND EVENTS SHEET mag. Folker covers mostly European (Sussex Folk Association) Sussex 18:45-19:25 #trad #music traditional/folk music and world music and is a valuable source on German and SUSSEX FOLK GUIDE (NB: Online) The FRIENDS OF THOMAS MUIR organisation website lists a lot of activity other European artists and the festival FOLK SOUTH EAST Surrey showing what the Friends are up to on a

http://ec1973.com/home :: https://www.facebook.com/Edinburgh-Folk-Club-155304611154742/ :: @edfolkclub Please note that Edinburgh Folk Club cannot accept responsibility for the content of third party websites displayed in this newsletter and offers all content in good faith. CARRY ON STREAMIN from EDINBURGH FOLK CLUB Probably the best folk club in the world! Dateline: Wednesday 16 December 2020 Volume 1.14 continuing basis behind the scenes. To find struggling to keep going just now. They’ve 7. Finally - at least for the time being - out more use their contact details here. been posting events on YouTube including we're discussing with folk over in Dublin a CEILIDH DANCING in Edinburgh of four half-hour “Garden Ceilidh Events”. Burns Night cooperation. This is not course has been put on hold during the These were organised by members of intended to be a fund-raiser per se but it current crisis but will, no doubt at all, restart Penicuik FC and 18 acts were videoed in a will certainly be a great affair with people when deemed safe to do so. Meanwhile have beautiful garden setting to create 90-minutes all around the world watching the a look at of song, music and spoken word which all festivities on Zoom. EDINBURGH CEILIDH CLUB. showcased an impressive array of local talent. If you are able to help the theatre re- FESTIVAL ROUND-UP PENICUIK ARTS promotes and open by donating go to their crowd funding There are so many festivals around these encourages the study, practice and page here or to their own website here. islands, not to mention abroad, that a knowledge of the Arts in Penicuik and better use of the limited space in the surrounding district. Contact them by email EDINBURGH FOLK CLUB’s new newsletter is to list websites offering lists or phone: 01968 678804. crowdfunding site is here. Have a look and slip us a few quid or three. Every little helps of festival. THE SCOTTISH Storytelling Centre in us get to our target of £5,000 so we can B ritish Arts Festivals Association Edinburgh's High Street may be closed just continue to help out our folk musicians who European Forum of Worldwide Music now but it is keeping busy with all kinds of are in need of our assistance. So far, to date, Festivals - Member Festivals streams and on-line stuff. Click here to find we have raised £879 here. GREAT!!! Folk and Roots - UK Festivals out what's what. And it is currently hosting a virtgual Story Telling Festival. 1. Edinburgh Folk Club CD Vol 1 now on sale by download only from Bandcamp. The TMSA (Traditional Music and Song 2. We're discussing Edinburgh Folk Club Association) has a calendar list of upcoming CD Vol 2 which will be available by Click here PayPa l to donate events it's involved in on its website. download only from Bandcamp (most to the Paddy Bort Fund. THE TRADITIONAL MUSIC FORUM probably). No release date yet. (aka TMF) is a key participant in the 3. Alastair MacDonald, one of Scotland's And click here to go to great folk performers who has been on the Scottish Parliament Cross Party Group on EFC’s YouTube channel. Culture, the Music Education Partnership scene since the 1960s, has produced single- Group, Culture Counts and Heads of handedly a CD of the songs of Dominic Instrumental Teaching Scotland (HITS) to Behan with the title, "Paddy's Choice" SOLUTIONS to the name but a few. Through the website, (geddit?) and donated it to us. All newsletter and social media channels, TMF proceeds from its sales on Bandcamp crossword in COS continually showcases the diverse activities come to the Paddy Bort Fund. 1.13 ... of their wide membership and shares news, 4. An illustrated book of folk songs with events, and information. And notably, EFC's an accompanying CD is in preparation by Across Down man, Dave Francis is the TMF Director and our great folk singing friend, Jed Grimes, 1 BOGLE 2 GERMANY Lori Watson, is chair. who also happens to be a graphic artist. 5 MIDGE 3 EARWIG This will be sold to the general public but 7 APOSTLE 4 OSSIAN K AREN TWEED , accordion wizard, it will also have a place in the educational 8 MEMAW 5 MELODIES composer and artist, has been settled in 9 ORCAS 6 DANCING 1 market place as well. Orkney now for 2 /2 years. During lockdown 5. Already the fund is benefiting thanks to 10 GRANOLA 11 KIP she has been teaching accordion via Zoom Edinburgh FC members Allan and 11 KAY 13 GNU both one-to-one as well as Friday Zoom Rosemary McMillan from the sale of their 12 GIG 14 SCRAMBLE accordion workshops – email Karen for book of daily verses written during the 14 SEXTETS 16 PLANXTY details. lockdown in the first wave of the virus. 15 POP 17 LACHLAN Karen has published her first sketchbook Entitled, Scottish Domestic Bliss 2020 17 LAU 19 DAVIES called: “ Karen Tweed - A S ketchbook Lockdown it is published by Grace Note 18 RIDDLER 20 RECOUP W ith L ove from Orkney ”. Publications (See advert earlier). 21 DENIM 22 COHEN Karen also runs a weekly Live Slow Tunes 6. We have to thank all the performers who have donated, and continue to 23 LOVE YOU Session (which is free) via her Facebook 24 STYLE page on Mondays at 6.30pm - all welcome. donate, the video tracks which go into the fortnightly Carry On Streamin video 25 PENNY EASTGATE THEATRE, Peebles, is 'concert' compilation.