Nevis Centre, Fort William, 9 May 2008

Session A9

TAKE the cream of traditional musicians, thrilling arrangements and lashings of verve and sparkle and you’ll get something of the flavour of Session A9. The Highland supergroup, brainchild of Capercaille fiddler Charlie McKerron, kicked off their tour at Fort William’s Nevis Centre on Friday.

Fiddles are king in Session A9, with McKerron joined by Peatbog Fairies’ bow master Adam Sutherland, Gordon Gunn from Wick and Shetland fiddler Kevin Henderson. The line up is completed by percussion from Ian Copeland, Tim Edey on melodeon and guitar, pianist Brian McAlpine and Marc Clement on guitar.

The opening date found the musicians in fine form, showcasing material from new album Bottlenecks and Armbreakers as well as established favourites from debut CD What Road?.

The scene was set with a belting rendition of What Road? opener, ‘The Rizla’, a Charlie McKerron composition which sounded magnificent live, with swooping melody, bright, funky piano and cheeky percussion.

Tunes ranged through innovative arrangements of traditional jigs and reels and contemporary compositions from band members. Tim Edey’s ‘Celtic Thunder’ (written for a Swedish sweetheart who apparently left him shortly after its release!) was a highlight, as was his inspiring melodeon style.

Compositions by the late piper Gordon Duncan also featured, including evocative air ‘The Sleeping Tune’. Flashing bows, flourish aplenty and some cool key changes combined to make the set featuring ‘Paella Grande’, Adam Sutherland’s ascending masterpiece ‘No More Cages’, and the cracking Ross Ainslie tune ‘The Dirty Bee’ a personal favourite.

And the encore, ‘Mackay’s Wedding’, featuring Eilidh MacInnes and her dance troupe from Oban, was a fitting finale, the spell cast by the dazzling array of talent on stage made all the more potent by the sheer talent and energy of the dancers.

Blending Highland dance moves with athleticism, grace and even a touch of Cossack-style dancing worked to spectacular effect, as did the unlikely combination of traditional Highland steps to the music of the Scissor Sisters, performed by the four dancers earlier in the night!

Talented young four-piece band Breabach proved a highly worthy support act for Session A9 [for this gig only, although Ewan Robertson is a special guest on several other dates this week – Ed.]. Energetic and compelling, the band features guitarist-singer Ewan Robertson, fiddler Patsy Reid, and pipes and whistles from Calum MacCrimmon and Donal Brown, who also gave a memorable display of deadpan step dancing during the show.

Breabach, too, were keen on Gordon Duncan tunes, and performed their whole set with panache and spirit. Vocals were top class, with Patsy Reid in fine voice during her solo ‘Lochaber No More’, Ewan Robertson’s rendition of Matt McGinn’s ‘The Rolling Hills of the Borders’ provided a good example of the talent which won him Scottish Young Traditional Musician of the year award in January.

Patsy Reid’s pizzicato fiddling was superb and Calum MacCrimmon and ‘young’ Donal Brown – target of all the teasing in the band – played a range of whistles and pipes with joyful style and mastery as well as harmonising skilfully during songs.

It was a night of effervescent music, grins, and cheery banter aplenty – the only shame was that on a busy Fort William Friday night more people didn’t come along. Ach well, more fool them.

© Catriona Ross, 2008

Links

• Session A9