Blazin’ Fiddles

From remote village halls to the Royal Albert “Village” Hall, Blazin’ Fiddles has delighted audiences with their fiddle music and tales. From solo to ensemble sets, they all come together in a fiery blend that raises the roof. Who would have thought that what began as a project for the Highland Festival, 10 years ago, would continue as one of Scotland’s top traditional bands? In the past decade no other band has quite captured the excitement, passion and the sensitivity of Scottish music, and has delighted audiences quite so much with highlands and islands tunes and tales.

During a performance, the audience has a rare opportunity to hear pieces featuring the regional styles of each fiddler followed by all hands jumping in for a wonderful explosion of music. Fiddles and bows blaze away with guitar and piano for one of the most exciting and memorable fiddle ensembles ever to take the stage.

Blazin’ Fiddles are Allan Henderson – fiddle, Iain Macfarlane – fiddle, Jenna Reid – fiddle, Bruce MacGregor – fiddle, Anna Massie – guitar, fiddle, Andy Thorburn – piano.

Sun 21^st Aug, 8pm, £14/£12 concessions

The Spooky Men’s Chorale

(Supported by the Forres Big Choir for this performance only – see www.forresbigchoir.info)

The Spooky Men’s Chorale is a vast, rumbling, steam powered and black clad behemoth, seemingly accidentally capable of rendering audiences moist eyed with mute appreciation or haplessly gurgling with merriment. Based on the twin pillars of grand foolishness and the quest for the perfect subwoofer-rattling boofchord, the spookies seek to commentate on the absurdity and grandeur of the modern male armed only with their voices, a sly collection of hats and facial hair, and a twinkle in the eye. They have performed to general delirium at most Australian festivals and pillaged the UK to even more devastating effect in 2006/7/9. And despite their fooling, the Spooky Men are very fine singers indeed.

Their collection Urban Sea Shanties, was awarded ‘Best Album’ by the Australian Film and Sound Archive in 2009.

Mon 22nd Aug, 7.30pm. £12/£10  concs/£8 U-16’s

Tickets for both shows are available at the Phoenix Community Stores, Findhorn 01309 690110 and online at www.thebooth.co.uk

Source: Universal Hall