Norway, Shetland & Sardinia…
As we watch June whooshing by, I just want to take a moment to let you know about a few things coming up.
Next for me is a visit to the Førde Festival in Norway. I’ll be performing with String Sisters on Saturday 5th July. Always a joy to play with these guys – Annbjørg Lien, Catriona Macdonald, Liz Carrol, Mairéad Ni Mhaonaigh, Liz Knowles and Liz Doherty; six of the finest traditional and folk fiddlers you’ll find anywhere.
Following a wee spot of recording and writing in the first half of July, I’m looking forward to hooking up with Sardinian saxophonist Enzo Favata and his group for the first of two dates this summer. First up with Enzo is a concert at the Edinburgh Jazz Festival on July 18th where we’ll be performing with Colin Steele (trumpet) Danilo Gallo (bass) and U.T. Gandhi (drums).
Then it’s straight in to rehearsals for the Big Big Big Sing! This will be an incredible event held on Glasgow Green on July 27th. I’ve been charged (I mean appointed) as musical director of the 7-piece band that will holding down the grooves for an extraordinary afternoon of songs. Ever imagined what it would sound like to be in a choir of 10,000 singers? Well this is your chance. Check out the Big Big Sing website and come along! No experience necessary… and it’s free!
As August strides into view, I’ll be readying myself for some more exciting stuff. Not least my daughter is starting school. Wow. The shortest (and on another level, longest) five years of my life are giving way to the next phase… exciting times indeed.
Back to work though, and on August 10th I’ll be performing with Catriona Macdonald in Shetland – looks like a great night performing as part of the Fiddle Frenzy festival at Mareel in Lerwick.
I’ll be travelling to Sardina for a concert on August 14th with the Stone Islands again. Another collaboration with Enzo Favata, this time I’ll be taking fellow Scot Fraser Fifeld to join Italian musicians Filippo Vignato, Riccardo Pittau, Danilo Gallo, U.T. Gandhi and of course Enzo himself.
Plenty more fun things beyond all this, but that’s enough for now don’t you think?
See you somewhere I hope.