Filed under: Press | Tags: Concert, Gig, Homecoming Scotland, Kilmarnock Tartan Tidings, Music, Press, Rabbie Burns, Trashcan Sinatras
Homecoming Scotland 2009 was a series of events designed to attract people of Scottish ancestry to visit Scotland.
The Homecoming started on 25 January 2009 (Robert Burns night) and ran until 30 November 2009 (St Andrews Day). Throughout this period there was a long list of events, including several well-established attractions like Celtic Connections, Glasgow International Comedy Festival, Royal Highland Show, Edinburgh International Film Festival, Edinburgh Military Tattoo and the Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival.
Another Homecoming celebration though, was Kilmarnock’s Tartan Tidings – a low-key affair combining musical entertainment from local ‘heroes’ culminating in some Z-list celebrity switching on the town’s Christmas Lights.
The 2009 event had an array of talent including the Donnie Munro Band, Andrew Merry(?), A Gospel Choir, Peatbog Faeries and the Trashcan Sinatras.
Now you’re probably wondering why the Trashcans were mingling with the Z-listers, but if you know your history – which I’m sure you do – then you’ll know that Kimarnock was the band’s home for several years, so it seemed appropriate for the organisers to ask some real heroes to return for the event.
Frank, last week…
28 November 2009
Filed under: Related | Tags: CD, Eddi Reader, Music, Rabbie Burns, Trashcan Sinatras
This is an excellent tribute CD from Eddi Reader to Scotland’s Bard, Robert Burns.
Eddi Reader has never hidden her love for Burns and it shows on this fantastic release, where she brings her own unique arrangements to his poems.
Backed by a who’s who of international artists such as John McCusker, Boo Hewerdine, Phil Cunningham, Roy Dodds and Christine Hanson the album was recorded in a mere three days and includes one track not written by Burns.
That track is ‘Wild Mountainside’, written by Mr John Douglas – but you knew that didn’t you. It’s a cracking version and includes the amazing Kate Rusby on harmony vocals.
A deluxe version of this CD with 7 additional songs was subsequently released not long ago – seek it out, ‘n a’ that.
2003 Rough Trade Records Ltd
A review of Eddi Reader’s reissued album ‘The Songs of Robert Burns: Deluxe Edition’, from the February 2009 issue of Q magazine. This re-packaged album brings together the original album with seven new songs and features her version of ‘Wild Mountainside’, a song written by John Douglas.
Q Magazine / February 2009
Filed under: Press | Tags: Press, Rabbie Burns, Scottish Comedy, Trashcan Sinatras
‘No Holds Bard’ was a 60-minute comedy aired on BBC Scotland for the 250th Anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns It was a kind of mocumentary which followed the lives of five people as they prepared to vie for the 2009 Cup O’Kindness – the trophy awarded to the champion in Burns recital.
Now I’m taking a flyer on this one and if I’m wrong, someone please correct me.
As the credits roll, a snippet of new song ‘I Hung My Harp Upon The Willows’ plays. The song may be written about Richard Brown, a friend of Burns. Brown was born in Irvine, where Burns met him in the autumn of 1781 and they became fast friends, so far as women and poetry were concerned.
This would explain its use in the programme – I hope!
Below is a press cutting review from Scotland’s Daily Record and also a video still from the programme credits.
Quick update:
This wee story may well be the inspiration for the song.
25 January 2009 – No Holds Bard – BBC Scotland
