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Come along and join in the fun at St Andrews Church at the bottom of Easter Road, Leith, Edinburgh on Saturday 5th September 10.30- 3.30 PM. I'll be joining other musicians for an hour of trad tunes from 11.00 am. There's lots more going on during the day, showcasing local efforts to turn this into a community facility    https://www.facebook.com/leithstandrewstrust

What a great afternoon at the trad session in Leith Depot on Saturday 8th August.  I was leading with Siobhan, and we had a strong turnout, with a good mix of tunes and sets. It was encouraging to see new players joining in, and when I spoke to a couple of them afterwards, they said they’d really enjoyed it and planned to come back.

I sang one of my songs, In the Morning from my album Line Up Some Country, which I'd last performed at Tayfest. 

 I had the opportunity to play two tunes I’ve recently put together into a set — Battle of the Somme followed by Lord Huntly’s Cave.

The first tune was composed shortly after the battle by Pipe Major William Laurie of the 8th Battalion, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, and the second by James Scott Skinner.

All in all, a really good session, and I’m looking forward to the next one on Saturday 22nd August at 1.00 pm 

 I love playing my fiddle at the fortnightly Saturday afternoon Trad Session at Leith Depot in Edinburgh.
This has proven to be really popular, drawing in both local musicians and those coming from further afield.

On Saturday 25th July we played an eclectic mix of tunes including jigs, reels, waltzes, marches and polkas. There’s no set list, but I’m always glad when two favourites appear: The Lounge Bar, named after the well‑known pub of the same name in Shetland, and Gordon Duncan’s The High Drive. The session has a great buzz and strong support from The Depot and their staff. New players are always welcome.

I will be leading the next session along with Siobhan Gorrie on Saturday 8th August, 1.00–4.00 pm.

Thanks to Ken Murray for the photo.

I really enjoyed Friday’s trad session at the Pianodrome, Bruntsfield Community Hub in Edinburgh, which has been building towards becoming a regular fixture on the city’s traditional‑music calendar.

The session takes place in St Oswald's Church, brought back to life as a venue for community activities, including workshops and theatre productions.

The venue’s acoustics are open and clear, and the tall church ceiling carries the tunes high into the roof. Unlike in pub sessions, I can always hear my fiddle soaring out among the other instruments. I’m looking forward to the sessions restarting in September.
https://www.pianodrome.org/

I've been coming to the Stonehaven Folk Festival since the mid 1980's. It's a great place to meet up with pals and join in the many music sessions around the town

 The relaxed vibe at Carron to Mumbai (this year’s Festival Hub) was fantastic, and the tune sets at No. 44, previously known as The Royal Hotel, were wild and frenetic. I sang my songs and played favourite fiddle tunes like The Barren Rocks of Aden, The Smith’s a Gallant Fireman and The Drunken Piper, surrounded by whistles, guitars, mandolins and accordions.

I was shocked by the recent deaths of festival regulars and pals Archie Buchanan, from my old band Mabel Meldrum’s, and luthier Marshall Dow, who built my mandolin and electric fiddle. It’s hard to believe they won’t be catching up with friends in their usual window seat reserved for musicians at No. 44.

The festival felt busier and more upbeat than last year, a sure sign that traditional music is thriving.

Dundee Westfest — Sunday 7 June, Magdalen Green

Westfest was my first time visiting Dundee in decades. Usually, I’m skimming the city circling its many roundabouts on the bypass, so driving over the Tay Bridge felt like seeing the city with fresh eyes.

Thanks to my sponsor Intro2Music, I was staying at the APEX Hotel — a very comfortable place to spend a few days.

Dave Wilkinson and I played on the 'Sarah Buick' Acoustic Stage. The stage setup was spot on, and we got a brilliant response from the audience, with many seeing us for the first time. We kept most of the setup-tempo, and songs like 'Line Up Some Country' and 'Lay Me Down a Pallet on the Floor' went down really well. 'Barstools and Booze' was our final number, which always gets the crowd singing along.

Hats off to these fantastic young performers who also played the Acoustic Stage that day: Sean Findlay, James Liandu, and Demi McMahon.  Definitely worth checking out.

Gig done and guitar packed away, I wandered over to the main stage and caught Boogalusa's performance. Seeing festival organiser Alan Wilson on the washboard and Kevin Findlay with his fab fiddle licks was a real treat.

A brilliant day with lots of friendly folk, making for a great introduction to Dundee and its music scene.

I always love playing at Haddstock. It’s a great chance to meet up with friends and soak up the festival vibe. Dave Wilkinson and I have played there a few times over the years, and we were delighted to be asked back.

We showcased a new song, 'Take Me Back to Georgia', alongside old favourites 'Dark Valley' and 'Line Up Some Country'. Seeing the crowd sing along to 'Lay Me Down a Pallet on the Floor' and 'Barstools and Booze' was brilliant. 

A big shout‑out to the fab crowd who came to see us — a mix of new and familiar faces, including some who travelled through from Edinburgh. 

Definitely a day to remember.

Tayfest Saturday 23rd May — Acoustic Stage

This was my first solo gig at Tayfest, and driving up to the venue, I could feel the buzz in the air.  

I loved playing on the Acoustic Stage as I was near the audience and could catch sight of their feet tapping along to my songs. I kept my set pretty upbeat, and that seemed to go down well, judging by the response I had from members of the audience. 

One of the highlights for me was seeing my pal Stan Urban putting his voice and piano through their paces with some classic rock ’n’ roll. The audience loved it, as did I.

Another treat for me was meeting Alan Wilson, one of the festival organisers. Alan is also the Chairman of Dundee's WestFest, and I’m looking forward to hearing his band, Boogalusa, at Dundee Westfest. 

My sponsor, Mick McCluskey from intro2music and I spent the rest of the day chatting with other performers, catching up with friends, and sharing selfies with fans. 

All in all, it was a wonderful day to be playing outdoors at a summer festival.