Tune Up Podcast

For the 2007 to 2008 season we featured 12 tours: Brebach, Optical Identity, Shooglenifty and Tanya Tagaq Gillis, Roddy Hart and Leeroy Stagger, Fraser Fifield Band with Nedyalko Nedyalkov Quartet, Eska Mtungwazi Band, Reinventing The Reel, Aye, An Affirmation of Martyn Bennett, Club Tromolo, Burnsong and Differences in Demolitions.

"Differences in Demolitions" presents a powerful story of conflict, greed and desire in a world surrounded by destruction and demolition. Hassan, a building worker, cherishes a secret love for Sevda. His family Han (an inn) is cursed. A mythical woman embroiders love, life and fate into a scarf which becomes torn. Sevda begins her journey which unravels, like the scarf, to reveal a tale of love, longing and revenge.

Burnsong is a national project dedicated to promoting, encouraging and nurturing songwriting in Scotland. Established writers from a variety of genres are invited to live and write together for 5 days in the beautiful Dumfries and Galloway Countryside. The brave writers this time included: Karine Polwart, Emma Pollock, Sushil K Dade (Future Pilot AKA), MC Soom T, Kenny Anderson (King Creosote), Chris Difford, and Michael Johnston (all the way from Canada).

Club Tromolo takes its brand of wonky cabaret, music and dancing on the road around Scotland. The List dubbed it 'The most original club night in years'. Witness amazing acts such as eccentric trombone-playing toff Sir Clifton Sainsbury who amazes with his cabaret within a cabaret and recitals of horror theme tunes on trombone; Miss Leggy Pee who charms her audience with easy listening classics and fashion circa 1933 and star pupil of Cirque du twattes scarey Belgium mime artiste Le Coq Sorbonne. The cabaret is hosted by Frank Percy OBE who got lost in Glasgow on a day trip from Macclesfield and decided to start the night off with his contacts in the ferret juggling world. Foul mouthed usherette Dierdre will be on hand and you can get your fortune told by the Govan Seer (a psychic from Govan); mingle with Malcolm the thespian gorilla and Jazzbadger (a badger who plays jazz). Semi-forgotten folk combo, Fairpak Convention (Kozmik Colin & Hamper Van Wicklow) will be on hand to sing their 1971 no 41 pipe-

Mr McFall's Chamber is a flexible ensemble of mostly classical players for whom the lure of other musical styles has proved irresistible. They are well known for their eclectic mix of musical genres, programming classical and contemporary composers alongside rock, tango, klezmer and jazz. This effortless blurring of music's pigeonholes makes for an ideal partnership with gifted composer and multi-instrumentalist Fraser Fifield, who successfully combines traditional music with Scottish folk and jazz. Joining the musicians are percussionists Tom Bancroft and James Mackintosh. Together they perform a programme celebrating the legacy of the late lamented Martyn Bennett, who was one of Scotland's most feted young musicians for his bold musical synthesis of traditional tunes, dance music and classical sensibility. The programme highlights Bennett's profound understanding of the Scottish folk tradition, featuring well known Bennett works e.g Cuillin Music alongside Piece for String Quartet, Percussion and Scottis

Reinventing the Reel brings together an explosive mix of talent from Scotland's current wealth of world class traditional musicians. As well the unique repertoire of these two thrilling trios they will join as one magnificent ensemble to perform some brand new music with a contemporary slant on Scottish traditional music. Lau are Kris Drever (guitar and vocals), Aidan O'Rourke (fiddle) and Martin Green (accordion). They have quickly established themselves as a major force in modern traditional music. Their debut album "Lightweights and Gentlemen" was released in March 2007 to great critical acclaim and they have already secured major festival bookings across Europe and North America in 2007 and 2008. The Ross Ainslie/ Jarlath Henderson Trio are Ross Ainslie (Scottish Small Pipes), Jarlath Henderson (Uilleann Pipes) and Ali Hutton (Guitar and Bodhran) The trio are "high energy pipe fiends from Scotland and Ireland". Their debut album is out on Vertical Records later this year.

Eska Mtungwazi brought her acclaimed band to Scotland for a series of performances around the country. Merging the boundaries between soul, jazz, folk and world music, Eska's unique vocal style and impeccable musicianship has guaranteed her fans around the globe after collaborations with artists as diverse as Nitin Sawhney, Tony Allen, Ty, Cinematic Orchestra and Courtney Pine. Her band consists of some of the most in demand players in the UK: Julian Ferraretto (Violin), Anselmo Netto (Mandolin and Percussion), Robin Malarkey (Bass), David Okumo (Electric Guitar) and Tom Skinner (Drums). Previous performances include the North Sea Jazz Festival, London's Jazz Cafè, Barbados Jazz Festival and the Montreaux Jazz Festival.

Fraser Fifield Band is one of the most distinctive sounding groups working in Scotland today and comprises: Fraser Fifield on low whistle, soprano sax and bagpipes, Graeme Stephen on guitar, David Robertson on percussion and Guy Nicholson also on percussion. The band grew out of the successful earlier line-up, The Fraser Fifield Trio which had been performing since March 2003 headlining concerts at important music festivals such as Celtic Connections, The Highland Festival, Rootin Aboot at the Lemon Tree, Edinburgh Fringe, Edinburgh Jazz Festival, Islay Jazz Festival and Big Big World Festival and further afield at Baku Jazz Festival. Nedyalko Nedyalkov Quartet comprises four of the most talented and respected musicians in Bulgaria today, frequently described as 'Master Musicians'. The band features Nedyalko Nedylakov on kaval, Georgi Petrov on gadulka, Angel Dimitrov on tamboura and Stoimenka Nedyalkova on vocals. All are great improvisers, at home in a number of musical styles, whilst having the strongest

In a relatively short time, Roddy Hart has established himself as an important and influential emerging talent on the Scottish musical scene. At only 26, and with his eyes fixed firmly on re-igniting the merits of classic songwriting, his already prolific work has generated a substantial fan base. Following in the wake of artists like Dylan, Springsteen, Browne, Young and Finn, his guitar, harmonica and piano-driven songs impact on all who hear them and have subsequently earned him much respect from fans and critics alike. A run of sold-out shows and great reviews have him earmarked as one of Scotland's best kept secrets and destined for great things.

Shooglenifty and Tanya were first thrown together at during a workshop in Yellowknife Music Festival, Yukon territory, Northern Canada. Since then they have collaborated onstage and on record, at The Salmon Arm Blues and Roots Festival, and during Celtic Connections 2007, where Tanya and the band stunned a capacity audience at the Old Fruitmarket. As well as recording two television shows, one for the BBC and the other for Mac TV, Tanya also features on Shooglenifty's latest CD Troots. Shooglenifty and Tanya Tagaq Gillis toured between the 14th and 24th of November, playing dates in Findhorn, Orkney, Cromarty, Glenuig, Aberdeen, Mull, Edinburgh, Langholm, Drumnadrochit and Dundee.

Optical Identity is a daring work that combines chamber music repertoire with new music and visuals, creating music to be looked at... not just listened to. "flashes of inspired synchronicity that fired the senses into overdrive, even euphoria." The Scotsman The show features some of the best contemporary music from across the globe; Kevin Volans' White Man Sleeps with its South African influence; Franghiz Ali Zadeh's Mugam Sayagi focusing on a secret 16th century Islamic language, Rolf Wallin's Phonotope I exploring the Chinese elements and Manual Override, a commission from Joby Talbot, best known for his work with The Divine Comedy, and as collaborator with Wayne McGregor in the award-winning Chroma.

Breabach blend double bagpipes, whistle, fiddle, song and Scottish stepdance to create an innovative Celtic style full of flare, excitement and diversity rarely seen in such a young group. Winners of the Danny Kyle Award Open Stage Award at Celtic Connections in 2005 the group have recently released their debut album The Big Spree on Vertical Records, produced by Capercaillie's Donald Shaw. In October 2007, Breabach set off around Scotland in a trusty old van with bags of instruments and enthusiasm. This episode captures their adventures in fine spirits.

The last episode in the 2006-2007 season on Tune Up podcasts is an extended omnibus edition. Series producer Bobby Perman is joined in the studio by Stuart Thomas from the Scottish Arts Council as they reflect on highlights from all ten episodes. Hear words and music from King Creosote and Jeremy Warmsley, Dom Trio, Hebrides Ensemble and Scottish Dance Theatre, Burnsong, Bellows and Bows, Julie Fowlis and Jenna Reid, Tinariwen, Aberfeldy, Paul Towndrow Sextet and Shadowed Spaces.

There are places in the towns and cities where you live that exist not by planned design, but by circumstance. Their elusive ambience attracts those with nowhere else to go, and those who wish to go elsewhere. Shadowed Spaces is a tour of nooks and crannies like these, in your towns and cities: forgotten steps that lead nowhere, alleyways, old railway tunnels. They placed musical performances in these spaces that helped spectators to think about the continued need for a sense of privacy in public.

Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham, who will embark on their 20th touring year together in 2007 are best summed up in the words of Mike Russell, who wrote in The Glasgow Herald "They are simply the best traditional musicians you are ever likely to hear" The Savoy Doucet Cajun Band Marc and Ann Savoy, along with Michael Doucet create and interpret authentic old-time Cajun music, from popular dancehall tunes to soulful ballads, drawing upon each member's rich historical connection to their native southern Louisiana. Catching this expert, unpretentious trio is about the closest most of us will ever get to hearing an authentic Cajun bash on a screened-in bayou porch. Bengan Janson & Bjorn Stabi Bjorn Stabi is without doubt a legend among folk music fiddlers in Sweden and was probably the first traditional Swedish fiddler to perform in the United States. Bengan Janson is one of Sweden's greatest virtuosi on the accordion. With his evident ability to to embrace all musical styles he has collaborated with Björn Ståb

Paul Towndrow Alto and Soprano Saxophonist, Composer, Educator, World Saxophone Competition finalist 2003 & 2004. Paul currently leads his own group, The Paul Towndrow Quartet, is a member of The Scottish National Jazz Orchestra and has also performed with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. The Sextet took off around Scotland in summer 2007 with Tune Up. This episode captures some of their unique, quirky, character.

Featuring spiritually uplifting melodies, beguiling guitar patterns and insinuating rhythms, Tinariwen's desert blues is at once bang up to date and timeless. Forged in the heat of the Southern Sahara, this nomadic people's songs reflect the daily lives of the Touaregs, a landless tribe scattered across the Sahara and into Libya by political change and conflict during the 1980s. Tinariwen formed ten years later, creating a new music based on their own traditions and incorporating western and Arabic sounds heard in their wanderings. They co-founded the now annual and internationally prestigious Festival in the Desert, scored a worldwide success with their second album, Amassakoul, and since winning the African section of the BBC 3 World Music Awards 2005, have continued to charm audiences with their music's trance-like beauty.

What would happen if you put 8 songwriters into a house for five days? Well, there was only one way to find out... In November 2005, Burnsong invited 8 writers from the worlds of jazz, pop, rock, folk and traditional music to write together in a Georgian Mansion deep in the heart of the Dumfries and Galloway Countryside. Boo Hewerdine, David Scott, Niki King, Emily Smith, Geoff Martyn, Marc Pilley, Riley Briggs and Sophie Bancroft picked up the gauntlet but with some trepidation – Who were these other people? Will I be able to write with a total stranger? Will there be prima donnas, divas and tantrums? If I get writers block will they cast me out? Where on earth is this place anyway? It took less then a few hours for these fears to dispel and to be replaced by a magical mix of music, writing, creativity and laughter. Just 5 days later the Burnsong 8 took the stage for the first time to perform the astonishing 24 songs they had written in those few days. And what songs they were – moving, haunting, beautifu

Aberfeldy are an indie pop band formed in Edinburgh, Scotland in 2002. The band are named after the Scottish town of the same name, Aberfeldy. Band Members: a.. Riley Briggs - songwriting, vocals, guitar, organ b.. Murray Briggs - drums c.. Ruth Barrie - keyboard, vocals, glockenspiel d.. Sarah McFadyen - fiddle, vocals, mandolin, banjo, glockenspiel e.. Ken McIntosh - bass In 2004 Aberfeldy signed to Rough Trade Records before releasing their first album and several singles. As well as touring throughout the UK, Aberfeldy have supported R.E.M. at their Loch Lomond gig, and Blondie and the Scissor Sisters at Edinburgh's Hogmanay celebrations (2004), and played at T in the Park (2005). Aberfeldy received funding from the Scottish Arts Council to travel to Austin, Texas to play at the 2005 and 2006 South by South West Festival. Several Aberfeldy songs were used in the soundtrack of Gamerz, a Scottish comedy film, while the song "Summer's Gone" was used in Argentina to advertise Quilmes beer. Original drum

Hailing from Shetland, Jenna grew up immersed in the islands rich fiddle tradition. At the age of nine, she began to learn the fiddle, and was taught by the late Dr Tom Anderson. When fiddle tuition became available in schools, Jenna studied with the late Willie Hunter and was under his direction until the age of 13; during that time she was a prominent prize-winner in the 'Shetlands Young Fiddler of the Year Competition' and by the age of 14 had won both the intermediate and open sections of this annual competition. Through this success she was subsequently invited to compete in the Glennfiddich Fiddle Competition. Whilst still at school Jenna also took lessons from Trevor Hunter and Margaret Scollay. In addition to playing the fiddle, Jenna also studied classical piano. On leaving school, Jenna went on to study a BA in Traditional Scottish Music at the Royal Academy of Music & Drama in Glasgow. Whilst studying fiddle, she also played piano and piano accordion, as well as being introduced to singing. J