Perthshire fiddle player leads off Tune-Up series

Jan 26 2010 by Alison Anderson, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

THE first Tune Up tour of 2010 is an inspired collaboration from young Scottish folk group Breabach and Québécois quartet Le Vent Du Nord, writes Alison Anderson.

Sadly Perth and Kinross is by-passed by this tour, which opens in Glasgow on Thursday as part of the Celtic Connections Festival.

The tour then takes in Dunfermline’s Carnegie Hall, The Queen’s Hall in Edinburgh, plus venues in Aberdeen, Findhorn and Peebles.

Breabach have wowed capacity Perth Theatre Redrooms’ audiences on a couple of occasions with their flare and musicianship created from their unusual line-up of twin bagpipes, fiddle, flute, whistles, guitar, vocals and Scottish stepdance. Their second album, The Desperate Battle of the Birds, is released in March.

On fiddle and vocals is Patsy Reid from Knapp in the foothills of the Sidlaw Hills, whose career as a musicians is on a steep upward trajectory.

As well as playing her part in Breabach’s rise to one of Scotland’s top traditional acts, Patsy last year was a leading light of a major concert at Celtic Connections to herald the start of Scotland’s Homecoming year.

The Homecoming Suite was a new work commissioned by Celtic Connections composed and arranged by eight of Scotland’s leading composers. Joining Patsy on the composers’ roll of honour were Sally Beamish, Tommy Smith, Brian Byrne, Steve Forman, Chris Stout, Greg Lawson and Aidan O’Rourke.

The Suite was premiered by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and traditional musicians/vocalists in Glasgow Royal Concert Hall last January.

Patsy’s composition was based on material she composed for a 2008 Celtic Connections New Voices commission, Bridging the Gap, which she released as a CD of the same name last year, and which she’ll be bringing to Perth Concert Hall on May 5. (Tickets from 01738 621031 or online www.horsecross.co.uk)

The 26-year-old musician grew up playing both traditional Scottish fiddle and classical violin. Competing around Scotland culminated in her double win of the Glenfiddich Fiddle Championship at just 15 and 16 years of age.

Patsy’s most recent Perth performance was last Saturday as a member of the True North Orchestra which played Perth Concert Hall.

As a member of Breabach, Patsy and her fellow band members are joining forces for their inspired Tune Up tour with Québécois quartet Le Vent Du Nord. Centred on the traditional sounds of fiddle, accordion, hurdy-gurdy, guitar and four-part vocals, Le Vent Du Nord’s songs and tunes brim with joie de vivre and musicianship.

l Celtic Connections details from 0141 353 8000 and online www.celticconnections.com; Patsy Reid and Breabach details and dates from the websites: www.breabach.com and www.patsyreid.com