Category: Scots song

Dr Sally Garden: first Musician in Residence at the Wighton Heritage Centre shares a rare Wighton score

music, Scots song, Scottish music, song, traditional music

Mezzo-soprano and musicologist Dr Sally Garden hails from an Angus farming family, and is the youngest of four professional musician siblings.  She has a special interest in Scots and Scandinavian song and is founder of the Grieg Society of Scotland. Her recital and research work, which has seen her tour the castles, kirks and concert halls of Scotland, has also taken her to Norway, Denmark and Germany.

Sally is a member of the Walter Scott Minstrelsy Project (Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz), a former Honorary Research Fellow at the Centre for Scandinavian Studies (University of Aberdeen), and earlier in her career was appointed Historical Musician in Residence at the Wighton Heritage Centre, Dundee, where she directed a 3-year programme of events to unfold one of Scotland’s finest music archives. In 2009, she pioneered the first ever live music event at the National Library of Scotland, with an invited lecture-recital on Scottish-Scandinavian musical links, entitled Hu, Hei, Duncan Gray! Sally is also editor of the complete songs of Aberdonian composer Ronald Center

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Cappuccino Concert with Bill Adair, singer/songwriter, Sat 21st march

Scots song, singer songwriter, song

Saturday 21st March, 11am to 12 noon.   Admission £5 (Coffee and newspapers served from 10.30am – suggested donation £1)

Bill Adair, singer songwriter

As well as being a fine guitar player and singer Bill Adair is a prize winning poet and songwriter whose award winning songs have won plaudits from all round the world. Equally at home singing a traditional Scottish ballad, playing blues from the Mississippi Delta or performing one of his own songs his performances are complemented by a natural story-telling style that is both thought-provoking and entertaining. From his home in Stirling, Bill is much in demand at festivals and folk clubs all over the UK and throughout Europe and New Zealand.  With his warm tuneful voice and considerable knowledge, he is a renowned interpreter of the poems and songs of Robert Burns.

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Recital with singer Lesley Anne McLuckie Wed 4th March

concert, Scots song, Scottish, song, traditional music

Lesley Ann McLuckie, singer

Singer Lesley Ann McLuckie is one of the hidden gems of the Scottish music scene.  Though she has always loved traditional song, work and family commitments curtailed her involvement until a meeting with Maureen Jelks, through a carers singing group, led to friendship and involvement in the Angus Trad Roots sessions.
She regards the Fisherman’s session in Broughty Ferry as her second home and it was there she received the ultimate accolade for a traditional singer – an invitation to sing in ‘The Worlds Room” in Edinburgh! 

Wednesday 4th March, 1.15pm – 1.45pm     Admission free, donations welcomed.

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Cappuccino Concert with Choras, harmony singing trio: 15th February

cappuccino concert, Celtic, concert, harmony, Scots song, song

Saturday 15th February, 11am to 12 noon.   Admission £5 (Coffee and newspapers served from 10.30am – suggested donation £1)

Cappuccino Concert with Choras, harmony singing trio


Choras are Aileen Carr, Janice Reavell and Barbara Dymock.    Each is a much loved and respected traditional singer in her own right and together they excel.  A concert with this acappella trio with their superb harmonies, eclectic selection of songs  and sense of fun is not to be missed!   

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Lunchtime Recital with The Wighton Singers 4th December

harmony, lunchtime concert, Scots song, song, traditional

Wednesday 4th December, 1.15pm, admission free, donations welcomed

Lunchtime Recital with The Wighton Singers!

Last event of the Friends of Wighton year is traditionally a concert with our own Wighton Singers and this year is no exception.

Under the musical direction of Amy Lord, the Wighton Singers have had a busy year with concerts at sheltered housing complexes, guilds, day centres and Inchture Folk Club.  Amy’s harmonious arrangements are beautiful and there will be the usual rich mix of Scottish and seasonal songs!

Amy Lord
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Cappuccino Concert with Haggerdash 23rd November

concert, fiddle, multi instrumentalist, music, Scots song, Scottish, Scottish music, song

Saturday 23rd November, 11am tickets £5, (doors open 10.30, tea/coffee available for small donation)

Haggerdash – folk trio 

Haggerdash are one of Scotland’s favourite Folk groups playing a wide range of songs and tunes. And much in demand for festivals and folk clubs and the European circuit.

Alan Jones plays concertina, bouzouki, guitar, 5-String banjo as well as taking lead vocals on many well known and self penned songs. He has previously played with Three’s a Crowd, The Govan Spoonful and Hot Toddy

Jack Bethel,  a former member of the hugely popular band Setanta, and widely regarded as the best hammered dulcimer player in Scotland, also plays fiddle, whistle, and concertina. 

Billy Stewart is a much respected singer and songwriter who is also adept on bouzouki, guitar, 5-string banjo, harmonica and bodhran. He is also a founder member of Haggerdash

The main aim of Haggerdash is to ensure that anyone attending their performances or listening to their CDs has a really good time!

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Lunchtime Recital with Kaitlin Ross: voice, and Catriona Hawksworth: piano Wednesday, 6th November

Gaelic song, piano, Scots song, song, traditional, traditional music

Kaitlin and Catriona form a Scottish traditional song and piano duo. They blend Kaitlin’s singing of traditional Gaelic and Scots songs with Catriona’s contemporary piano style, creating a unique sound. The duo began playing together in secondary school, meeting at the National Centre of Excellence in Traditional Music in Plockton. They have since both gained degrees from the University of Highlands and Islands, and Newcastle University. Between them they have performed across Europe in a number of bands and projects including Eabhal, HEISK, Sally Simpson and Catriona Hawksworth; and Rafiki Jazz.

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Cappuccino Concert Saturday 25th May with Graham Carter, singer/guitarist

cappuccino concert, concert, dundee, guitar, Scots song, traditional

Graham Carter is a Traditional Singer/Guitarist who is equally at home performing songs of England, Scotland or Ireland. 

He originally hails from Poole in Dorset but for the last twelve years has been based in Scotland where he has become well known on the Folk Scene. Indeed as well as being a popular folk club guest, he is the main organiser for both Strathaven Folk Club and Strathaven Folk Festival. 

Growing up in a musical household he was often exposed to folk songs at family gatherings around the piano. He began playing guitar and learning folk songs in earnest in his late teens. Graham has gained a reputation as a powerful and compelling performer and considers his many influences to include the likes of Peggy Seeger, Martin Carthy, Joan Baez, Luke Kelly, Ewen MacColl and, of course, Bob Dylan. 

“A voice reminiscent of some of the great old English Folk Singers” – Ian Walker

“He has that lovely relaxed style of singing that reminds me of happy evenings in West Country pubs.”   Sheena Wellington

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Lunchtime Recital Wednesday 1st May with Karen Hannah & Lindsay Duncan

fiddle, guitar, Scots song, Scottish music

Our own inimitable Karen Hannah on fiddle and Lindsay Duncan on vocals and guitar.

A fine player with an engaging personality, Karen is known as “tunemonster” for her unrivalled knowledge of Scottish melodies. The wonderfully named Nifty Shades of Grey, Sporran Again and Ceilidh Minogue are among the many bands she has worked with! She has taught fiddle at the Wighton Centre for many years and her performing career has seen her representing Scotland as far afield as New Zealand and South Korea.

Another musical globetrotter is Lindsay Duncan, one of the best known musicians in Tayside. Deeply into music since his schooldays, he is a compelling singer and plays the most beautiful acoustic guitar – check out his version of The Irish Girl on YouTube. His band pedigree incudes The Mad Parrot Ceilidh Band and The Broon Troot Orchestra and he is an excellent and experienced guitar teacher.


Karen and Lindsay have worked together as a duo and in various line- ups for more than a decade. They promise us songs, tunes and a surprise or two!

1.15pm – Admission free, donations welcome!

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