Northings | Barry Gordon | Activity

Barry Gordon wrote a new post, Rachel Hair Trio, on the site Northings

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 10:56:10 +0000

Edinburgh Folk Club, The Pleasance, Edinburgh, 28 September 2011 ON A warm and unseasonably balmy late-September evening in the Scottish capital, the autumnal sounds of the Rachel Hair Trio provided a stark contrast to the weather conditions outside The Pleasance. Indeed, Hair’s music is more likely to conjure up images of falling leaves than p…[Read more]

Barry Gordon wrote a new post, The Shee, on the site Northings

Thu, 21 Apr 2011 10:47:43 +0000

Edinburgh Folk Club, The Pleasance Cabaret Bar, Edinburgh, 20 April 2011 IT’S Ladies Night at The Edinburgh Folk Club. All-girl folk sextet, The Shee, have just about finished their set and what better way to sign off than with a new arrangement of Annie Lennox and Aretha Franklin’s ‘Sisters Are Doin’ It For Themselves’? Far from being […]

Barry Gordon wrote a new post, Olivia Ross: Rewards In Being A Shee, on the site Northings

Sat, 03 Jul 2010 08:45:07 +0000

BARRY GORDON catches up with the hyperactive Olivia Ross, singer and fiddler in The Shee THE WORD “time” crops up a lot when speaking to Balintore singer and fiddler, Olivia Ross. A busy music teacher at Kingussie High School and one-sixth of globe-trotting all-girl folk band, The Shee, when Ross isn’t driving up and down the […]

Barry Gordon became a registered member

Fri, 30 Apr 2010 19:40:58 +0000

Barry Gordon wrote a new post, Fiddlers' Bid, on the site Northings

Tue, 06 Apr 2010 14:02:12 +0000

Heart of Hawick, Hawick, 2 April 2010, and touring EVEN THOUGH they’re an instrumental band at heart, the members of Fiddlers’ Bid aren’t exactly shy when it comes to speaking in front of a microphone. Take Bid’s chief yarn-spinner, Maurice Henderson, here for example, man who could easily carve out a second career for himself as […]

Barry Gordon wrote a new post, Darren Manson: Cinema in Thurso, on the site Northings

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 19:30:38 +0000

BARRY GORDON catches up with Darren Manson to look at the chequered history and present prospects for cinema in Thurso. A RICH, elegant art-deco building that takes pride of place in Thurso’s town centre, Thurso Picture House was an integral part of local entertainment from the time it was built in 1922 until Saturday 24 September […]

Barry Gordon wrote a new post, Donald Mackenzie: Breakdance in Caithness, on the site Northings

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 15:17:47 +0000

BARRY GORDON recalls the glory days of the early 1980s for Donald Mackenzie and his fellow Caithness breakdancers, and catches up on where the scene is going now. WHEN IT comes to locating breakdance champions, one of the last places you might think to look is Caithness. Back in the 80s, the American dance craze swept […]

Barry Gordon wrote a new post, Celtic Connections 2010 - The Mhairi Hall Trio, on the site Northings

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 13:47:14 +0000

Strathclyde Suite, Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, 29 January 2010 IF THERE’S one trio to keep your eye on this year it’s Mhairi Hall’s. The Aveimore-born pianist has, for what seems like eons, been content carving out a career as an accompanist for others, tinkling the ivories for the likes of Lauren McColl and Shona Mooney amongst […]

Barry Gordon wrote a new post, Celtic Connections 2010 - New Voices: Mike Vass, on the site Northings

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 14:37:26 +0000

Strathclyde Suite, Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, 24 January 2010 THERE’S much to like about Celtic Connections. For most music-lovers, it means staving off the January Blues until at least February. The popular Glasgow winter festival has its critics, too – ever-increasing ticket prices, a poor excuse for a festival club, and some bands whose…[Read more]

Barry Gordon wrote a new post, Celtic Connections 2010 - The Future of Our Past Goes Large, on the site Northings

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 15:01:07 +0000

Strathclyde Suite, Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, 23 January 2010 WHILE the adage “If you’re good enough, you’re old enough” is more commonly associated with football, the same could be said about folk music – such is the amount of young, talented folk musicians on the scene today. For every Innes Watson (Treacherous Orchestra) and Rachel Newton […]

Barry Gordon wrote a new post, Ryan Cook & Darren MacLeod, on the site Northings

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:13:14 +0000

Northern Rock BARRY GORDON catches up with two promoters bringing touring rock and pop bands to Caithness. IF THERE is one place in the highlands that’s been deprived of high-profile rock bands over the years, it’s Caithness. The county’s two main towns – Thurso and Wick – are the biggest Highland towns outside of Inverness in terms of […]

Barry Gordon wrote a new post, The Fields of Barley, on the site Northings

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 12:21:45 +0000

The Mill Theatre, Thurso, 5 September, 2009 WHEN Irvine Welsh’s Trainspotting was first adapted to the stage, it was said the author’s dialogue, used to describe junkies from the schemes of Edinburgh, would never translate as far as Glasgow, let alone anywhere else outside Scotland. Something similar might be said about George Gunn’s latest work,…[Read more]

Barry Gordon wrote a new post, Mike and Ali Vass, on the site Northings

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 20:55:11 +0000

Edinburgh Folk Club, Pleasance Cabaret Bar, Edinburgh, 11 February 2009 IF THERE is a fountain of youth to be found in Scotland, chances are it’s buried somewhere deep beneath the Pleasance Cabaret Bar. Mike and Ali Vass may be three years older than the twenty-two years Edinburgh Folk Club compere Paddy Bort believed they were; nevertheless, […]

Barry Gordon wrote a new post, Celtic Connections 2009: New Voices, Mairearad Green - Passing Places, on the site Northings

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 21:47:01 +0000

Strathclyde Suite, Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, 1 February 2009 PASSING PLACES, eh? A familiar feature on the single-track roads of the highlands, if there’s one thing Passing Places signs are unlikely to inspire, it’s music. Especially Achiltibuie-born Mairearad Green’s music. The talented accordionist has seen more than her fair share of…[Read more]

Barry Gordon wrote a new post, Celtic Connections 2009: New Voices - Griogair Labhruidh, on the site Northings

Mon, 26 Jan 2009 21:17:11 +0000

Strathclyde Suite, Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, 24 January 2009 TAKING PLACE when most people are still in bed or reading the Sunday papers, the second of this year’s Celtic Connections New Voices commissions drew a healthy – if far from full – attendance to the 1pm performance of Griogair Labhruidh’s Fear-ealaidh. A fiercely proud Gael brought up […]

Barry Gordon wrote a new post, Celtic Connections 2009: Homebound and Margaret Stewart, on the site Northings

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 22:47:24 +0000

Strathclyde Suite, Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, 18 January 2009 YOU CAN always rely on Margaret Stewart for good singing, light entertainment, and… a few double entendres. The Lewis native was in fine fettle at the Strathclyde Suite, and she wasted little time singing songs about wayward minstrels, impotence (oh, yes, indeed), and, quite r…[Read more]

Barry Gordon wrote a new post, Celtic Connections 2009: Conflict And Resolution, on the site Northings

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 22:23:43 +0000

City Halls, Glasgow, 17 January 2009 CHARLES RENNIE MACKINTOSH, eh? Who would have thought the Glasgow icon of architecture and design would become the focal point in the latest attempt to bind the classical and folk music world together. Unusual as it seems however, the unique structure of Conflict And Resolution (aptly described by composer…[Read more]

Barry Gordon wrote a new post, Celtic Connections 2009: Seaquins, on the site Northings

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 22:07:04 +0000

Old Fruitmarket, Glasgow, 17 January 2009 IT STARTED off as a one-off linking up folk music’s leading female musicians. Now it looks as if Seaquins – the latest supergroup – might take on a whole life of its own following their resounding Scottish debut at the Old Fruitmarket last Saturday evening. Never heard of them? OK, […]

Barry Gordon wrote a new post, Blas Na Feise (A Taste Of Blas) , on the site Northings

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 21:40:58 +0000

Empire Theatre, Eden Court, Inverness, 6 September 2008 TIME. There’s never enough of the stuff. And no more so than at this Taste of Blas concert, taking place for the first time at the recently redeveloped Eden Court in Inverness. Translated from Gaelic, “Blas” means “taste” or “flavour” and that’s exactly what we got; a brief, […]

Barry Gordon wrote a new post, The Duplets, on the site Northings

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 11:11:13 +0000

Branching Out in Style BARRY GORDON welcomes the imminent launch of the debut album from clarsach duo Gillian Fleetwood and Fraya Thomsen DUOS. The Scottish folk music scene is packed to the gunnels with them – and it’s easy to see why. Two-piece bands are easy to handle; manageable and economic to run. Yet how often is it […]

Barry Gordon wrote a new post, Angus Lyon And Ruaridh Campbell, on the site Northings

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 11:25:54 +0000

The Pleasance, Edinburgh, 18 June 2008 WHILE THE name Lyon and Campbell may sound like a Scottish brand of soup or syrup, there is a lot worth preserving about this fast-rising accordion and fiddle duo. As they took to the stage at the Edinburgh Folk Club, Angus Lyon and Ruiradh Campbell wore the look of two […]

Barry Gordon wrote a new post, Rachel And Lillias, on the site Northings

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 12:20:28 +0000

Glen Urquhart Public Hall, Drumnadrochit, 8 June 2008 IT’S 4pm on a hot sunny Sunday afternoon in Drumnadrochit. Wandering tourists are basking in the spectacular scenery while most locals are lounging in their back gardens or taking a long, leisurely walk. Not too far away, at Dores, the Rockness festival is in full flow. The faint […]

Barry Gordon wrote a new post, Celtic Connections 2008: Patsy Reid, on the site Northings

Tue, 05 Feb 2008 20:47:13 +0000

Strathclyde Suite, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 3 February 2008 SHOWCASING the third and final New Voices presentation at this year’s Celtic Connections, Patsy Reid’s Bridging The Gap commission reflected an ambitious young woman equally comfortable in the classical realm as she is in the traditional folk domain. Her 50-minute piece comprised…[Read more]

Barry Gordon wrote a new post, Celtic Connections 2008: Chris Stout Quintet, on the site Northings

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 19:14:11 +0000

Strathclyde Suite, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 27 January 2008 IF THERE’S one thing you can guarantee from a Chris Stout gig, it’s energy. Longer lasting than a Duracell Bunny, the Shetland fiddler’s hyperactive displays are as renowned as his astonishing, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it technical prowess. As he said himself early on in his hour-long…[Read more]

Barry Gordon wrote a new post, Celtic Connections 2008:Catriona Mckay, on the site Northings

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 12:05:51 +0000

Strathclyde Suite, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 27 January 2008 THERE’S NO arguing Catriona McKay’s status as one of Scotland’s top harp players. Having won last year’s Best Instrumentalist award at the Scots Trad Awards in Fort William, what separates the young harper from the rest of her peers is her continuing ability to be at the […]

Barry Gordon wrote a new post, Celtic Connections 2008: Vasen/ Jenna Reid, on the site Northings

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 11:53:13 +0000

Strathclyde Suite, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 26 January 2008 SWEDEN. Famous for its Vikings and limited amount of sunlight during the shivering winter months, our Scandinavian cousins have given us a lot more than just Abba, blond hair and Henrik Larsson. Like trad music innovators, Vasen, for instance. The Swedish trio might bestow a name that […]

Barry Gordon wrote a new post, Celtic Connections 2008: Gavin Marwick, on the site Northings

Tue, 22 Jan 2008 20:00:07 +0000

Strathclyde Suite, Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, 20 January 2008 GAVIN MARWICK is a modest bloke. An honest, hard-working fiddle player from Edinburgh, since the late ’80s Marwick has played in more bands – and performed in more countries – than Norway has trees. Back then, he was part of The Iron Horse, a pivotal band in […]

Barry Gordon wrote a new post, Celtic Connections 2008: Harp Heaven, on the site Northings

Tue, 22 Jan 2008 19:56:21 +0000

Strathclyde Suite, Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, 20 January 2008 INSPIRATION, as any musician will tell you, can come from any variety of sources. Life, dreams, places that have no names – enlightenment has no bounds. How odd is it then, that one of the most unique performances ever put together at Celtic Connections (an all-harp concert […]

Barry Gordon wrote a new post, Scots Trad Music Awards 2007, on the site Northings

Tue, 04 Dec 2007 21:06:42 +0000

Nevis Centre, Fort William, 1 December 2007 IT’S 7.13pm on a Saturday night. While most people are sitting down to their dinner at home, approximately 1500 people – dressed like they’re going to the Oscars – are still filtering into the Main Hall of the Nevis Centre, as Scottish folk orchestra The Unusual Suspects take to […]

Barry Gordon wrote a new post, The John Lennon Northern Lights Festival, on the site Northings

Tue, 02 Oct 2007 20:43:42 +0000

Durness, 29 September 2007 TO PARAPHRASE a famous Beatles’ lyric: it’s a long and winding road to Durness. Driving up the north-west coastline, the mountainous terrain is not unlike a backdrop from the Lord of the Rings movies. The sense of isolation welcome, if a little overwhelming. When I eventually arrive into town, a blanket of […]

Barry Gordon wrote a new post, goNORTH / RockNess 2007, on the site Northings

Wed, 13 Jun 2007 13:07:04 +0000

Inverness / Dores, 7-9 June 2007 WHAT’S THAT coming over the hill? Is it a monster? No, it’s not Nessie, folks, it’s just another couple of summer festivals competing for your love – and your pennies. While the promoters of Rockness down in Dores on the banks of Loch Ness counted their pounds, shillings and pence, […]

Barry Gordon wrote a new post, Sound Of Rum Music Festival, on the site Northings

Fri, 18 May 2007 19:23:48 +0000

Isle of Rum, 11-13 May 2007 THE ISLE OF RUM, eh? Generally frequented by its important colony of Red Deer and Golden and White-tailed Sea Eagles, this island of the Inner Hebrides is so remote and desolate, you could probably walk round it in a day with nothing more than the chirp of a small bird […]