Reinventing the Reel: Lau and Ross Ainslie-Jarlath Henderson Trio
29/02/2008
BBC Folk Award winners Lau will join The Ross Ainslie–Jarlath Henderson Trio next month to showcase their unique, adventurous brand of traditional music to audiences across Scotland, as part of the 2008 Tune Up tours.
The eleven date Reinventing the Reel tour will travel to venues across Scotland, from Langholm to Findhorn, as well as dates in Glasgow and Edinburgh. It promises to be one of Tune Up’s most exciting tours to date, presenting the music of two of the most talked-about bands on the folk scene.
Now in its fifth year, Tune Up takes the highest quality music, from traditional to experimental, world music to cabaret, chamber music to pop and rock, to venues across Scotland, and has established itself as a significant international touring programme.
Lau boast a formidable collection of musicians; Orcadian Kris Drever who won Best Newcomer at last year’s BBC Folk Awards, acclaimed fiddle player, composer and member of Blazin’ Fiddles Aidan O’Rourke and Martin Green, whose free-wheeling accordion style has featured on the work of Joan Baez, Martin Carthy, Kathryn Tickell and long-term collaborator Eliza Carthy.
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Their “Best Group” accolade at this year’s BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards (where Green was also nominated as Musician of the Year) was in recognition of the incredible impact Lau has made, in the UK and internationally, since their 2006 Celtic Connections debut.
Their style of music draws on rich, traditional influences, improvisation and virtuosity and their 2007 debut album ‘Lightweights and Gentleman’ received acclaim across the national media. |
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Lau are joined on the tour by The Ross Ainslie-Jarlath Henderson Trio, featuring two of the country’s most accomplished young pipers (Ainslie and Henderson) and guitarist and bodhran (Irish frame drum) player Ali Hutton. The trio, who describe themselves as ‘high energy pipe fiends’, released their debut album (Vertical Records) at Showcase Scotland, during Celtic Connections.
As well as showcasing their own, unique repertoires, the trios will also perform newly-written ensemble pieces, described as ‘Scottish traditional music with a contemporary slant.’
Commenting on the tour Ian Smith, Head of Music at the Scottish Arts Council, said: 'I was at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards and Lau’s live performance, in front of all their industry peers, was frankly astonishing, both in their high energy performance and the beauty of the material performed.
'I was also at the launch of the TuneUp tours for 2007/08 when Ross and Jarlath also performed brilliantly. The trio (with Aly Hutton) were the talk of the town at the recent Trad Awards in their tribute to the late great Gordon Duncan. This will, I know, be one of our hottest tours this year - don’t miss it!!'
Tour dates:
March
26 – Buccleuch Centre, Langholm
27 – Queens Hall, Edinburgh
28 – Tolbooth, Stirling
29 – Resolis Community Arts, Balblair
31 – Redrooms, Perth Theatre
April
1 – Aros Centre, Skye
2- The Ceilidh Place, Ullapool
3 – CCA, Glasgow
4 – Woodend Barn, Banchory
5 – Public Hall, Glen Urquhart
6 – Universal Hall, Findhorn
Notes to editors
- The Scottish Arts Council serves the people of Scotland by fostering arts of excellence through investment, development, research and advocacy. Our corporate aims are: to support artists to fulfil their creative and business potential; to increase participation in the arts; and to place the arts, culture and creativity at the heart of learning. We invest £60million each year, including £15million of National Lottery funding. For more information visit: www.scottisharts.org.uk
- Six new tours live in towns, villages and islands across Scotland will take place in the coming months. For more information on Tune Up visit: www.tuneup.org.uk
- Tune Up is currently seeking proposals for new touring projects in Scotland between September 2008 and August 2009. Detailed proposal guidelines and application forms can be downloaded at: www.tuneup.org.uk/section/apply
- For further information on the artists involved visit:
www.lau-music.co.uk
Contact email(s)
media.office@scottisharts.org.uk
Issued by: Scottish Arts Council
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