Mike & Dolly O’Rourke: Saturday 18th November, 11 am – 12 noon

Admission £5

Our guests are local favourites and social media stars, Mike & Dolly O’Rourke

Dolly and Mike started their song challenge back in 2020 when they decided to post a song a day on Facebook. The idea was to use all their different instruments and cover as many different genres as possible – Scottish, Irish and English trad and folk songs, Americana, Country, Blues, old and new pop songs – and songs in different  languages, including Gaelic French, Cornish, German and Spanish. Kid’s favourites and songs from the shows were also in the mix, sometimes taking them out of their comfort zone!

To date they have posted 550 songs, sometimes joined by their grown-up children when they become the O’Rourke Family Bubble Band.  They have had over three quarters of a million views and have made friends all over the world!

 

 

Dougie Mackenzie & Brian Miller Saturday 4th November 11am -12noon

Dougie MacKenzie has been a weel-kent face and voice on the Scottish folk scene for many years but the release of his solo album “Along the Way” in 2019 brought his warm mellow voice to a wider audience. His choice of material is mainly Scottish, and he has a particular talent for the Muckle Sangs, but Irish, English and one or two recent compositions might also appear

A well respected figure in the Scottish traditional music world, Brian Miller has been playing music since he was a young boy and his instrument of choice was the guitar. In the early 70s, while at Glasgow University, he joined the ‘Laggan’, played professionally with ‘Swan Arcade’ and even before that used to play regularly with the great Fife Road Show which featured many other fine singers and musicians.

After that he returned to Edinburgh and played with fiddler Charlie Sloane. He has also been known to appear with those legends of good taste and anarchy, ‘The Vindscreen Vipers’. He became a member of the dance band ‘The Occasionals’, and has always been in great demand as a session musician.

 

Saturday 28th October, 11am: Iain Fraser, fiddle & Donald Knox, guitar concert & workshops

Renowned fiddler Iain Fraser & guitar ace Donald Knox, will not only be featuring music from the acclaimed albums Kōterana  and Gneiss but will be tutoring workshops in the afternoon.

As well as writing and performing, Iain has been teaching music for over 30 years. He was principal fiddle teacher in the Scottish Music Department of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland for 10 years, before being appointed Head of Instrumental Music for the Scottish Borders Education Authority. He has also been actively involved and supportive of the Feisean movement for three decades, primarily with Fèis Rois & who commissioned his Gneiss in 2022.

Donald has played, taught, made, and repaired guitars for many years from his Scottish Borders base. He’s known for his ability to sensitively accompany tunes as well as write a few of his own. His knowledge of tunes and where they’re from is huge. He regularly plays and arranges music for Riddell Fiddles, a well-known borders based community fiddle group, also with piper Matt Seattle and with Iain.

1.30pm   Fiddle workshop with Iain Fraser:  Guitar workshop with Donald Knox  fee £5

 

Wednesday 4th October, 1.15 -1.45pm – 40th Birthday Harpsichord Recital

Mark Spalding, harpsichord & Haworth Hodgkinson, percussion.

Another chance to hear our beautiful harpsichord and its versatility.

Mark is well known to Wighton audiences from previous appearances. Haworth is a composer and improvising musician, as well as a poet, playwright, and performer of the spoken word.

Admission free, donations welcome.

Our Autumn season of song and music classes are in full swing – new and returning singers and players are always welcome!

Saturday at 12.15pm, Whistle Class Tutor Helen Forbes, one of Scotland’s finest whistle players.        The class is suitable for all levels, fee £5

 Saturday at 1.30pm,  Fiddle Class Tutor Heather Miranda, an experienced strings teacher and performer. The class is suitable for all levels, fee £5

Tuesday at 2pm, The Wighton Singers Tutor Amy Lord,  experienced tutor and harmony wizard.     A friendly group who just love to sing, fee £5

Online

Saturday 11am

Mixed instrument classes, tutored by MoragAnne Elder, 11am (Payment £5 online or by cheque}

Zoom link   https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85293330814

 

Saturday 23rd September 11am Here and There, admission £5

“Here and There”  are Scottish/Irish folk duo, Pauline Vallance & Jacynth Hamill. Pauline who hails from Ayrshire in Scotland is a multi-talented musician – singer, harpist, flautist and songwriter. She has several CDs to her credit including “Golden Slumbers” a beautiful selection of soothing lullabys and her most recent, “The World’s a Gift”, a collection of her own songs – about life and those important to us. This has been nominated for Scottish Album of the Year. Jacynth, originally from Coleraine, lives in Belfast and loves to tour around sharing her clear, calming voice with audiences small and large. She often adds a little dancing to proceedings! Together they can be heard on “Red Winged Blackbird” – the final CD of “Caim”, the group they previously were in. On it there’s a flavour of what they do – traditional Irish and Scottish songs, covers and their own compositions. Their gigs reflect this mix, whether concerts, folk clubs, care homes or conferences. Solo and harmony singing, lively or soothing instrumental, story and dance – for some great craic come and enjoy “Here and There”.

Saturday 16th September, 11am – The McInroy Sisters

Originally from Dundee, Mary Mac is an experienced singer songwriter who is comfortable with jazz as well as folk singing. She has recorded several albums of original songs, River Song, The Gift and Life ain’t Like Hollywood. She has earned praise for her insightful lyrics and sophisticated vocals. Comparisons have been made to Joni Mitchell and Joan Baez but Mary is an original talent making a mark on the UK music scene. She will be performing some Scottish and Gaelic songs as well as some original compositions. Accompanied by her sister Ailsa on bass and vocals and Kevin Murray on guitar.

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