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Liz
Doherty.
(fiddle) Donegal fiddler
Liz Doherty was brought up in Buncrana, Inishowen, in Ireland's most northerly
peninsula. Having been introduced to the fiddle by local maestro Dinny Mc
Laughlin, she moved to Cork to study with Micheal O Suilleabhain, graduating
from the Music Department of University College Cork in 1991. |
Liz was awarded
a PhD in 1996 from the University of Limerick for her research on Cape Breton
with a dissertation entitled The Paradox of the Periphery - Evolution of
Cape Breton Fiddle Tradition c 1929-1995. Liz has lectured in traditional
music in the Music Department of University College, Cork for the past seven
years, and has been a guest lecturer at many institutions and events
throughout Ireland, the U.K. and Canada, as well as having several
publications to her credit. In 2001 she decided to resign from her full-time
academic position to pursue her fiddle playing. She is currently Traditional
Music lecturer at the University of Ulster
http://www.lizdoherty.ie/
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Desi
Wilkinson (Flute)
We welcome Desi to the Gaitherin for the first time. Desi is one of
the leading exponents of the traditional Irish flute as well a fine singer.
Originally from Belfast, he was inspired to get involved in Irish music
through the playing of Fermanagh fiddler, Tom Gunn.
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Desi has worked and toured with most of the best-known musicians and groups on
the traditional Irish music scene, like Dé Dannan, Donal Lunney, Liam O'Flynn,
Máirtín O' Connor and Andy Irvine. He is probably best known internationally
for his work with the group Cran. He has toured the U.S.A. as guest star with
Dé Dannan and has arranged and performed music for the theatre.
Desi has an M.A. in Ethnomusicology from Queens University, Belfast, where his
thesis was on Sligo-Leitrim flute styles and a doctorate (Ph.D) from the Irish
World Music Centre in Limerick University where he wrote a doctoral thesis on
Breton music. He is also the main researcher for the TV series Banish
Misfortune. Desi recently appeared at the Kennedy Centre Washington as part of
the Island Festival and is currently a lecturer at Newcastle University Music
Department.
http://www.tradmusic.com/artistinfo.asp?artistID=608
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Lori Watson
(fiddle)
Lori Watson's musical
life encompasses a myriad of roles. As fiddle player, singer, researcher
and composer, she divides her time between regular performances, writing
new material, teaching, recording on her family-run music label and, in
particular, studying for a PhD in Contemporary Innovation and Traditional
Music.
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Lori's research,
recording and performing has been a driving force in the current
resurgence of Borders music with projects such as Border Fiddles
and James Hogg: A Life in Music. But although her musical roots lie
firmly in the Borders her understanding and interpretation of Scots and
worldwide traditions is undeniably resonant.
An experienced young performer, Lori was a finalist in the BBC Radio
Scotland Young Traditional Musician in 2002 and 2003, A Celtic
Connections Danny Award winner in 2005 and is a graduate of the
RSAMD. Her latest album 'Three' released on ISLE Music
Scotland features Lori's re-workings of traditional songs and continues
to gain critical acclaim.
........And a proud founding member of the Small Hall Band!
http://www.loriwatson.co.uk
http://www.islemusicscotland.com
http://www.borderfiddles.co.uk
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Mairi
Campbell (Song)
Mairi has just been awarded Scots Singer of
the Year 2008 by the Traditional Music Award. She has been
the Musical Director and Arranger of songs for Sangstream, a
Community folksong choir, and a winner of 'Burnsong', the national
songwriting competition in 2007. |
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She
is also a highly accomplished fiddle player and as been playing
for dancing, mostly ceilidh, for 15 years, with an additional
interest in Cape Breton fiddle style and Stepdancing.
'
Campbell's voice is one of the greatest sounds of Scottish Folk
Music'. Mairi Campbell has a gorgeous voice for Scots song but she can also
tackle more contemporary material. Mairi
& husband Dave Francis are the multi-talented Scottish duo
known as The Cast, whose inventive use of vocal and instrumental
harmonies brings a fresh approach to the most venerable
traditional material. Their latest CD - 'Greengold' is a fine and well-balanced mix of
both traditional and contemporary material.
Vhttp://www.musicscotland.com/acatalog/MusicScotland
_The_Cast___greengold_6025.html
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Junior Davey
(Bodhran) Junior Davey, who hails from near Gurteen in South Sligo is a wonderful
musician and a compelling performer. FIVE TIMES All-Ireland champion and Ireland’s most
successful bodhran player, Junior Davey, has been with us at The Border
Gaitherin for the last two years.
Guesting with Junior on his album, 'A Sound Skin' are seven other musicians all from the
Sligo locality, including flautist Damien Stenson who tutored at the
Gaitherin last year.
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The album has an excellent selection of tunes in the true tradition of south
Sligo and it includes a multi-tracked bodhran piece, which showcases Junior
Davey as a soloist and a true master of the bodhran.
Junior Davey’s family has a deep rooted affiliation with Irish traditional
music coming from an area rich in traditional music known as ‘Coleman
Country’. Junior is also a sought-after Bodhran workshop leader at
Edinburgh Ceilidh Culture and draws fellow bodhran players from all corners of
the UK and beyond.
http://www.ceolas.org/instruments/bodhran/moreperformers.shtml
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Lillias Kinsman-Blake (whistle
/ flute / mixed instruments) Lillias grew up in the Scottish Borders where she began playing
flute and fiddle with other musical families as part of the Small Hall Band.
She has developed her own distinctive style of playing traditional music on
the silver flute and has performed with seasoned musicians such as Cathal
McConnell. |
Lillias is an experienced tutor who has taught alongside
well-known flautists Brian Finnegan, Niall Keegan and Claire Mann and
teaches regularly for the organisation Folkworks. She has also written
commissioned compositions for stage shows.
Lillias has played with many different combinations of fine musicians - mostly
based in the North East of England having formed their musical friendship at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne
Folk music degree course. One of these groups, CrossCurrent, have performed at various major festivals and venues throughout
the U.K. and Europe and are all accomplished teachers of traditional music.
Lillias is currently much in demand as a teacher and is also working with
young musicians in the Folkestra group led by Kathryn Tickell.
http://www.crosscurrent.co.uk
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Susie Kelly (song)
Susie is currently a Traditional Song Development Worker with Scottish
Borders Council as well as an experienced performer in her own right. She has great enthusiasm for delivering sparkling song workshops for 'young at
heart' folk of all ages, and has a wonderful rapport with the hundreds of
pupils who are fortunate enough to enjoy her company in Border schools. |
A founder member of the a capella traditional singing group
Straviag,
Susie has been active as a collector of traditional songs particularly from
Dumfries and Galloway, the area of South West Scotland where she still lives
and works.
Stravaig have appeared at Folk Clubs and Arts Centres throughout the UK and
Ireland, also festivals throughout the world.
http://website.lineone.net/~suekelly/
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Innes Watson
(guitar)
Professional guitarist, fiddler, singer and composer, Innes Watson (Bachelor
of Arts in Scottish Music RSAMD) is currently residing in Glasgow / Scottish
Borders working as a full time musician. Innes has chalked up
performances at many of the best Scottish music Festivals on the Calendar. |
Among them are The Scots Fiddle Festival, Aberdeen International Youth
Festival, The Highland Festival, The Border Gaitherin, Gigha Festival and
Celtic Connections. Playing with some of the best up-and-coming
acts of Scotland such as Lori Watson: Three, Border Fiddles, the Treacherous
Orchestra, the Trotters. He was also a short-term member of the currently
non-touring Fred Morrison Band and Croft No Five! Short-lived legends... Innes
was featured on ‘The Clear Stream’ Scottish Guitar CD in 2005 and in
addition to recording with Lori Watson is currently working on a solo album
which will feature brand new music and concepts in contemporary Scotland.
www.inneswatson.co.uk
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Graham Dolan
(guitar) Graham has been a stalwart session accompanist in and around the Eastern
Borders for many years, notably at the excellent Pilot Inn sessions
in Berwick. A keen interest in Shetland music along with several visits to
the North Isles for tuition have influenced his style of
playing in recent years. Graham will help teach
some simple chord based traditional style accompaniment to guitar players who
already know a few basic chords. |
| He is currently a member of the excellent four piece old time American
string band No Strings Attached! based in Berwick and
is accompanist with the Borders Fiddle Group and a founder member of the
new fiddle band Swains'
Kitchen .
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Dianne
Newman (Irish Step Dance)
Dianne has been involved with competitive Irish Step Dance for many years. She
leads, choreographs, and teaches the group 'Absolutely Legless'. They
are a dynamic Irish Dance troupe, working closely with their musicians to
create an imaginative and exhilarating combination of Irish dance and music.
Remember 'Riverdance' - similar type of dancing! |
They work in many combinations to demonstrate the breadth of this traditional
art form, and have developed a reputation for exciting and innovative
performances. They are frequent performers at International dance
festivals having performed most recently in Sicily, Poland, Turkey and Russia,
as well as enjoying prestigious national events throughout Scotland.
www.absolutelylegless.co.uk
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All of these artistes will be performing at the
Grand Concert on Sunday Night 1st June,
2008 - Be There!
Advance booking highly recommended.
Tickets will be available from The
Border Gaitherin, 15 Inch Park, Kelso, TD5 7EQ. 01573
224920 (evenings and weekends). No tickets given out without prior payment.
email
border.gaitherin@zen.co.uk
Concert,
Ceilidh and 'Absolutely Legless' Tickets will be
available from Clarke's (previously Moffat's) Newsagents in Coldstream
from 1st May, 2008
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