Coming up this month at Kings Place, London is a special Scottish weekend series of events featuring Roddy Woomble, Dick Gaughan, James Grant, Rura, Ewan McLennan, Sorren Maclean & Samantha Whates.
Scotland boasts a rich treasury of words and stories, and the strong tradition of songwriting is the theme for Caledonian Chronicles. The contemporary songwriters and interpreters of song featured are masters of modern day storytelling as well as powerful conveyors of their traditional legacy. A pan-generational line-up bears witness to that legacy: from the raw and emotional ‘muckle sangs’ (big songs) of Dick Gaughan to the poetic indie icon Roddy Woomble and fresh new voices like Sorren Maclean and Samanatha Whates.
Caledonian Chronicles events:
Roddy Woomble Band + Sorren Maclean
Hall One
Thursday, 9 April 2015 – 7:30pm / Music
Roddy Woomble will be well known to most readers, both as a solo singer and front man for Scottish rock band Idlewild whose latest album Everything Ever Written we recently reviewed. His naturally poetic writing and blend of country and folk have won him the accolade as one of Scotland’s finest songwriters. Joining Roddy is his chief song-writing collaborator and music foil Sorren Maclean whose forthcoming debut album Winter Stay Autumn is due for release this summer.
James Grant + Samantha Whates
Hall One
Friday, 10 April 2015 – 7:30pm / Music
Since originally parting the ways with his band Love and Money in the early 1990s, singer, songwriter and guitarist James Grant has released five acclaimed solo albums, most recently 2010’s ‘Strange Flowers’. Joining him is Samantha Whates, a London-based singer-songwriter, who has featured many times on FRUK over the years. First in 2011 with her debut album Dark Nights Make for Brighter Days and more recently with her new single new single Trees & Gold / Icicle. Her heart, voice and songs retain a strong affinity with her Scottish roots.
https://youtu.be/TXhnGE1ncdY
Rura – ‘Despite The Dark’ Album Launch
Hall Two
Friday, 10 April 2015 – 10:00pm / Music
Rugged yet disciplined, heartfelt whilst rousing and anthemic, refreshingly contemporary but rooted in tradition… Glasgow and Edinburgh-based five-piece Rura are a band inarguably at the forefront of Scottish folk. Their new album ‘Despite the Dark’ is due for release on April 27th marking their progressive approach to their music taking on larger arrangements and heightened production levels.
Dick Gaughan + Ewan McLennan Trio
Hall One
Saturday, 11 April 2015 – 7:30pm / Music
Folk troubadour Dick Gaughan is a real living legend. He was brought up immersed in the musical traditions and culture of the Gaels, both Scots and Irish. A professional musician and singer since 1970, he has been at the cutting edge of Scottish music for almost five decades. ‘How music from the gut really sounds (Guardian). Joining him is a FRUK favourite: balladeer-storyteller-guitarist Ewan McLennan and his trio. His latest release ‘Stories Still Untold‘ was a featured album on FRUK last year on the review of which Simon insisted ‘You will not hear better this year.’
Click here for tickets and further details.