Chloe Matharu, singer, songwriter, harpist, sailor: Saturday 26th November, 11am.

Chloe Matharu is a singer songwriter and harpist from the West Coast of Scotland. A Navigational Officer in the Merchant Navy, she offers an authentic voice for the female seafarer in the folk scene. Her ethereal and innovative music gives a glimpse into the modern mariner’s life, and is truly unique.

Small Voyages is an eight track album of original songs inspired by Chloe’s time at sea as a deck cadet, sailing around the world on oil tankers. The songs are set to an evocative backdrop of Celtic harp music and field recordings of the natural world. Small Voyages is available from Small Voyages | Chloe Matharu (bandcamp.com) and all streaming platforms.

“Her music is truly haunting” BBC Radio Scotland

 

Ian Walker Band @ The Wighton Saturday 22nd October 11am

Ian Walker Band @ The Wighton Saturday 22nd October 11am

(Doors open 10.30am, tickets £5, available at the door)

Each of the three is a highly regarded singer, and musician, in their own right – together they are great!

Ian Walker is a successful and popular singer and songwriter from Glasgow. He has released twenty albums/song books and his last solo CD in 2011, “Singing the River”, was nominated for the British Country Music Association (BCMA) Awards in London. In 1988, Ian won the Music Retailers Association (MRA) Award for Excellence in London presented by Sir Patrick Moore. Ian’s songs have been covered and recorded by many other artists worldwide and have been sung before Nelson Mandela and Arun Ghandi. Ian has performed in America, Holland, Germany, Ireland and throughout the UK. “One of the most gifted and accomplished performers on the Scottish music scene.” Fife Herald News.

Jimmy Scott is based in Bo’ness and has been singing and playing his own brand of country Gospel music since the 1960s. From an early age, music played an integral part in family life originally with the old Gospel hymns, but later melding with the songs of The Carter Family, Hank Williams, Jim Reeves and Johnny Cash amongst others. In 2005, Jimmy released his own solo album “Bread upon the Water” and supported “The International Ambassador of Country Music” George Hamilton 1V on his UK Tours i” George Hamilton IV on his UK Tours in 2005 and 2006 and at the Americana Festival, Newark, England. “Excellent! Super voice!” John Dichler, Radio Maria, Astra Satellite Studio 5, Austria

Moe Walker is from Holywood, Northern Ireland and has performed as an acclaimed singer on the music scene for many years. With her group Tricycle she appeared on STVs popular Scottish Variety Show “THINGUMMYJIG” along with Alastair McDonald and The Alexander Brothers. In recent years, Moe has recorded and provided harmonies and accompaniment in a variety of line ups and has sung in the USA, Holland, Germany and throughout the UK. “Delightful!” Rhyl Folk Club, North Wales

 

Alan Reid: Saturday 15th October at 11 am

Alan Reid, singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist. founder member of the legendary Battlefield Band and a Master Storyteller in song.

Glasgow born Alan  has been taking Scottish folk music all over the world since 1975. He joined the fledgling Battlefield Band in 1969 while studying at Strathclyde University and subsequently recorded almost 30 albums with this hard-working and enduring band, in that time garnering a reputation for his playing and his singing.  His groundbreaking keyboard work helped cement the band’s reputation as one of the most influential Celtic bands of its generation. With the band Alan toured the world, bringing Scottish traditional music to audiences in five continents and playing in many prestigious music festivals and venues. Along with former Battlefield Band colleagues he was inducted into the Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame in November 2016 in recognition of their contribution to Scots traditional music.

He began composing songs and tunes in the 1980s and from 1990 was the band’s principal songwriter. His songs are noted for their strong storytelling element whilst being firmly grounded in Scots history and tradition. His songbook ”Martyrs, Rogues and Worthies”, was published in 2001 and in 2009 he was nominated in the ‘Composer of the Year’ category at the Scots Traditional Music Awards.

In 2010 he left the ‘Batties,’ to concentrate on his duo with guitarist/singer Rob van Sante. He composed all the music for the duo’s third album, ”The Adventures of John Paul Jones’, which told the story of the Scots born mariner who was a hero for the American colonists during the American Revolutionary War. A presentation of the album (with drama written by Alan) was performed at the 2012 Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival and at the 2013 Edinburgh Festival. The duo also developed a multi-media show telling Jones’ story which was showcased at Mystic Seaport Sea Festival in Connecticut in 2015.

2014 saw his music featured in the National Theatre of Scotland’s award winning production of “The Glasgow Girls” musical about asylum seekers, while his singing and speaking talents were featured in “The Life and Times of Scrooge”, the solo album of Finnish rock star Tuomas Holopainen of metal band Nightwish.  That same year Alan and Rob’s fourth CD “Rough Diamonds” was released and was followed by “The Dear Green Place”  in 2017. The duo continued to perform in Europe, North America and Australia up till 2019 when they played a last tour together of the U.S. West coast. Alan now performs as a soloist while Rob records and sings with his wife Janie.”

In recent years Alan has taught Scots Song at the prestigious annual “Swannanoa Gathering” in North Carolina, USA. He was also a guest artist in the Linn Records mammoth 12 CD recording of the songs of Robert Burns, Scotland’s beloved National Poet, whose poems, songs and music have endured over the centuries.

As well as the recordings with Battlefield Band and with Rob Van Sante, Alan has released two solo albums, “The Sunlit Eye” and “Recollection”.

Friends of Wighton are proud to present our great Autumn to Christmas series of performances

Saturday 15th October at 11 am:  For the first of our three October concerts, we are delighted to welcome Alan Reid, singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist. founder member of the legendary Battlefield Band and a Master Storyteller in song

And also

Saturday, 22nd October at 11am, our guests are the Ian Walker Band!  Award winning songwriter and singer Ian Walker  with Moe Walker and Jimmy Scott will give us great songs, tasty arrangements and wonderful harmonies.

Saturday 29th October at 11am we have a very special and rare treat – a harpsichord recital by Mark Spalding!    The Wighton Harpsichord is a French double-manual instrument after the C18 maker Nicholas Blanchet, built by Mark Stevenson, Cambridge 1983.  Mark Spalding is a first class player who has been tending the instrument with loving care. This will be An Event!

And in November

Thursday 17th at 2.15pm.  Ensemble Hesperi Special afternoon concert

Saturday 19th at 11am       Lynne Martin, storyteller and singer

Saturday 26th  at 11am      Chloe Matharu,  harpist, singer, songwriter

And, for the first time in 3 years, The Wighton Singers Christmas Concert is back!

Tuesday 6th December at 2.15pm. Admission by donation, Christmas treats provided.

 

Barbara Dymock & Christopher Marra @ The Wighton 17/09/22

Barbara and Christopher are a pair with many and varied musical collaborations behind them and a vast experience of performing.

Barbara learned songs as a child from her Fife grandparents, but made her first foray into performing aged 19 with the newly-formed Ceolbeg and acappella trio Fair Game.

After a long silent break to raise a family and pursue a medical career, she returned to sing with Rathlin, Fon a Bhord, Sinsheen and The Barbara Dymock Band. She has 2 solo albums: Hilbert’s Hotel and Leaf an’ Thorn. She collaborated with Christine Kydd on the Sinsheen album LIFT and appeared on Malinky’s 2019 album Handsel.

Chris has been a musician since his teens, working in many distinct fields from bighair rock to sophisticated pop with Danny Wilson via London’s Theatreland. The majority of his time was spent recording and performing with his brother Michael Marra, producing albums for Michael and the legendary Saint Andrew.

In 2016 Chris produced and played on Barbara’s well-received album: “Leaf an’ Thorn”.

Just 3Folk @ the Wighton 27th August

On Saturday 27th August at 11am we have.

Just 3Folk, comprising of Anne Hamilton, Liz Crawford and Maggie Douglas share a common love of folk music and have been singing together since 2015.

J3F have a varied repertoire of traditional and contemporary folk music, arranging the songs in three part harmony, and performing them accompanied by guitar, banjo, mandolin, harmonica, percussion and occasionally ukulele.

Just 3Folk are delighted to have recently produced their second CD entitled “Back on Track” and are thrilled to have been in the position to donate £1000 to Maggie’s Dundee.

For our concert on 27th August, J3F will be joined by Dave Hamilton on 12 string guitar and vocals, and Morag Sutherland on violin.

Admission £5. at the door.

August 2022 at the Wighton

Friends of Wighton have some very special new session treats in store for you!! Everything from the brightest and best of the young to the cream of an older generation.

Saturday 6th August at 2.15pm we have the  Fèis Rois Ceilidh Trail making a welcome return!

Half a dozen of the most promising young traditional musicians in Scotland will delight you with sparkling tunes and maybe a song or two! What a lovely way to spend an afternoon!

Admission is free, donations welcome for the work of Fèis Rois

Saturday 20th August: NaeCoffee Concert , at 11 am (doors open 10.30) The Doolichters

Dundee’s very own Septuagenarian Supergroup, The Doolichters are big Wighton favourites.  They will once again delight us with their songs, their humour, and their excellent musicianship!

Admission £5, newspapers available.

Saturday 27th August: NaeCoffee Concert, at 11am (doors open 10.30) Just 3Folk

Just 3Folk – Liz Crawford, Maggie Douglas and Anne Hamilton –  will be here to delight us again with their lovely vocal harmonies, their great choice of songs, and their interesting accompaniments.

Admission £5, newspapers available.

We are looking at ways to provide coffee safely again, but please do feel free to bring your own coffee-to-go (or your tea/Irn-Bru etc)

What’s On – Programme August to December 2022

Nae Coffee Concerts – £5, pay at the door, and feel free to bring your own non-alcoholic drinks

2023

25th Feb          11am                       Scott Gardiner, singer

March 11th.     11am.                      Wighton Harpsichord’s 40th Birthday Concert

March 18th       11am                       Carole & Alan Prior, singers

April 1st           11am                       Choras, 3 part harmony song

April 22nd         11am                       Isla Ratcliff Band

May 20th           11am                      Kate Badcock, flute, sax & Roddy Johnston, fiddle, guitar pipes, vocals, cajon

June 17th          11am                      Bob Knight, singer

Aug 26th            11am.                     Joss Cameron, singer

Sept 23rd           11am.                     Here & There (Pauline Vallance and Jacynth Hamilton}

Nov 4th              11am                      Brian Miller & Dougie McKenzie

 

Lunchtime Concerts

2023

Wed 1st Feb,     2.15 – 2.45            Rosa Michaelson, fiddle, and Colin Allison, guitar

Wed 1st March   1.15 – 1.45pm       Ted Poletyllo, singer

Other events:

Harpsichord 40th Birthday Festival!  Throughout the year we will have, curated by Mark Spalding, occasional concerts by renowned players to celebrate the 40th birthday of the famous Wighton Harpsichord, which was commissioned by Annette Heilbronn and built by Mark Stephenson.

Wednesday 21st June:  Make Music Day at the Wighton with The Doolichters, Morag Dunbar, the Wighton Singers and other guests.

and

Saturday 11th February, 3 – 5pm :  St Paul’s Cathedral – Sheena Wellington with Bruce Davies and Friends. Tickets £12/Friends of St Paul’s £10 (includes tea)

 

Instrumental & Singing Tuition

 

Mixed Instrument Class Online with Morag Anne Elder: Saturdays 11am

Whistle Class @ the Wighton Centre with Helen Forbes: Saturdays 12noon- 1pm

Wighton Singers with Amy Lord: Tuesdays @ 2.15pm. (No need to be able to read music).

 

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