Scotch Broth - no, not foodlore...

...but my show on Aberdeen Student Radio!

http://storyquine.pbwiki.com/ScotchBroth

Like the dish itself, the Original Folk Music Show - which was first aired on Peterhead's hospital radio Radio Eastward in 1994 - is a rich mixture of Scots, Irish, English, Welsh and Global folk music, lore and stories.

My main aim as well as entertaining people with the classics, like Runrig, Wolfstone, Steeleye Span, the Albion Band etc, is to present as much contemporary artists as possible to the airwaves, as we broadcast online, so anyone in the WORLD can hear them!

I've already featured music from two Aberdeen bands - Paddyrasta and JingBang (formerly Shindig), and will be recording interviews with Danse MacCabre, the Conglass Ceilidh Band, Clarsach player Irene Watt (also Elphinstone student); singers Graham White, Shona Donaldson, Maggie & Dick Trickey, who all hail from Aberdeen and the shire.

If you know of any folk artists - singers or musicians that could feature on the show, please let me know! If you have your own band or you sing, again, tell me! There are details on the webpage how to get in touch specifically about the show.

To listen - get online at www.aberdeenstudentradio.com Wednesdays 12noon-1pm (GMT)

For now, spot 'weel-kent' faces in Paddyrasta's video for the song Meditation which I played last week.

Meditation by Paddyrasta

Very funny music video by Celtic Reggae Band Paddyrasta by award winning director Mark van Hugten

Highland Music School - Plockton

Yes, yes, I know, long time no blog?

Here are some videos - taken by mobile phone - of the most excellent students from the Sgoil Chiùil na Gàidhealtachd, the National Centre of Excellence in Traditional Music. They were our entertainment one night at the 37th Annual Ballad Conference held just down the road from the music school in Balmacara, near the Skye Bridge. More about the conference later.

The Highland Music School has amongst its students Naomi Ballantyne, daughter of Pat & the late Bob Ballantyne, who some folk will remember was a survivor of the Piper Alpha oil rig disaster, but sadly lost his fight against cancer a few years ago. Naomi is a star fiddler, piper, singer and step-dancer! And here she is showing off her fancy footwork!

Naomi was joined by her fellow students:

And again...

Our overseas delegates were bowled over by the sheer burst of talent in the room that night!

I hope to feature some of the students' material on my ASR show later next year, just written to their director, Dougie Pincock to ask!

Link to Sgoil Chiuil Gaidhealtachd