FOLK PREVIEW

Patrick Street Glasgow: Tron Theatre, Sun 19 Sep

There's one in most towns in Ireland and in US and British cities too, for that matter, a product of the post-famine Irish diaspora. So when revered fiddler Kevin Burke (ex-Bothy Band), master button-accordionist Jackie Daly (ex-De Dannan) and rambling singer/bouzouki player Andy Irvine (ex-Planxty) decided to form a band together, the name Patrick Street seemed entirely apposite. Now, after five albums the latest one recorded live it’s obvious that the street has become a long road.

'New' boy Ged Foley (it's a band joke he’s been with them for five years) is, he reveals, still-thrilled to be playing with his musical heroes. '1 first went to see Andy in ’75, at a folk club back home in County Durham, and around the same time I saw Kevin when he released the If the Cap Fits album. What a great musician he is. All of them. They have such a pedigree in Irish traditional music. Even though I’d been travelling for years in the Battlefield Band and the House Band, I was terrified on that first Patrick Street tour.’ But not now. Although in the guitar department for most of the

Good neighbours: Patrick Street

night, Ged's got a new bow to his string, so to speak. ’I had to stop playing the (Northumbrian) pipes about four years ago when I broke my arm. After that my left fingers went numb every time. So I got into fiddle instead. Playing with Kevin Burke!’ (Norman Chalmers)

CLASSICAL PREVIEW BT Scottish Ensemble

Glasgow: Royal Concert Hall, Sun 12 Sep.

In a year when the Queen’s Hall has hit 20 and the SCO has reached the ripe old age of 25, it is now the turn of the oldest of this powerful famin spawned by what was the Scottish Philharmonic Society to celebrate its 30th birthday. Originally founded by violinist Leonard Friedman as the Scottish Baroque Ensemble, the group of a dozen top young instrumentalists is now known as the BT Scottish Ensemble.

The current Artistic Director is Clio Gould, who has been with the Ensemble from 1993. Since then, the group has gone from strength to strength, particularly in terms of its artistic aims and standards. As an easily portable body, it is in demand

Team players: The 81’ Scottish Ensemble

throughout Scotland and abroad. ’I was very inexperienced when I arrived,’ she says, ’but I knew a few key things that had to be established.’ At this time, players were engaged on a fairly ad hoc basis and repertoire was stuck in an 18th century mire. ’l was very determined to establish a group of players who were working regularly together as a real team, as that is what brings improvement and results in addition to introducing a more challenging repertoire,’ says Gould. To see and hear the players on stage now is evidence of her success. 'There are sacrifices involved, of course; but they really want to work with each other. This way we are stimulated to discover new layers of development, as if we’re getting right under the skin of knowing each other and how we play. Also, it's just so much fun.‘

(Carol Main)

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The finest acoustic music from the Hebrides and Cape Breton.

WED 15 SEPTEMBER INVERNESS CALEDONIAN HOTEL

Tickets from Balnain House, 40 Huntly St, lnverness. 01463 715757

FRI 17 SEPTEMBER PORTREE SKYE GATHERING HALL

Tickets from An Tuireann, Portree. 01478 613306

SAT 18 SEPTEMBER DUMFRIES CAIRNDALE HOTEL

fickets from Midsteeple Information Shop, Dumlries. 01387 247780

THURS 23 SEPTEMBER PERTH SALUTATION HOTEL

Tickets from Perth Theatre, 185 High St, Perth. 01738 621031

FRI 24 SEPTEMBER GLASGOW CENTRAL HOTEL

Tickets from Virgin, Argyle St. 0141 204 5151; Candleriggs 0141 287 5910

SAT 25 SEPTEMBER EDINBURGH THE HUB

Tickets from The Hub, Castlehill. 0131 473 2001

Credit Card Hotline for all concerts

0870 7300247

fickets cost £10 and are subject to booking fee

9-23 Sep 1999 TIIE “8735