www.list.co.uk/music

Thursday 4

Glasgow Gaberlunzie Live at the Star, St Andrew’s in the Square, St Andrew’s Square, 559 5902. 8pm. £8 (£6). Last gig of the Star year from the veteran all- round entertainers. Falkirk Ian Bruce Falkirk Folk Club, The Polish Club, Arnot Street, 01324 613395. 8.30pm. This popular singer- songwriter performs a mix of Scottish songs and original material.

Friday 5 Glasgow Scots Trad Music Awards 2008: Ceilidh Dance The Old Fruitmarket, Candleriggs, 353 8000. 9.30pm. £8. Hands Up For Trad annual awards ceremony celebrates Scotland’s musical tradition; enjoy the dance tonight before the awards ceremony tomorrow.

Edinburgh Canongate Cadjers Ceilidh Band The Merlin, Morningside Road, 447 4329. 8pm. £6. Live dance music, Ceilidhs in Lauriston Hall Lauriston Hall, Lauriston Street, 339 5374. 8pm. £8–£10. See Fri 28. Paisley Paisley Accordion Orchestra Christmas Concert Paisley Town Hall, Abbey Close, 887 1010. 7.30–10.15pm. £6 (£4). This award- winning orchestra plays a variety of traditional Scottish, classical and popular music.

Stirling King Creosote Tolbooth, Jail Wynd, 01786 274000. 8pm. £14 (£12). Eclectic indie folk musician, plaintive troubadour and founder of the Fence Collective.

Saturday 6

Glasgow Scots Trad Music Awards 2008: Awards The Old Fruitmarket, Candleriggs, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £10. Hands Up For Trad annual awards ceremony celebrates Scotland’s musical traditions with live music from Session A9, Capercaillie, Karine Polwart Band, Lau and Jimmy Shand Tribute. FREE Stow Sessions Tron Theatre, Trongate, 552 4267. 8pm. Traditional Music students from Stow College showcase their talents in this monthly set, followed by an informal jam session where everyone is welcome to bring along an instrument and participate. Edinburgh Wintersong 1 Workshop Gillis Centre, Strathearn Road, 623 8911. 10am–4pm. £20–£50 (inc lunch). Learn seasonal song with voice coach Wendy Carle Taylor. Winter Ceilidh Dance Rudolf Steiner Hall, Spylaw Road, 337 3410. 7pm. £11 (£6.50; under 12s 3.50). The Cosmic Ceilidh Band play at this fundraiser for Venture Scotland. Organic licensed bar and snacks, raffle and ‘Gandolf as MC’.

Lev & Friends Café Cossachok, Russian Cultural Centre, Albion Street, 553 0733. 9pm. £6. Violinist Lev Atlas leads Russian, Hungarian, Gypsy, jazz, classical and folk fusion. Edinburgh Susan McCamley Wee Folk Club, Royal Oak, Infirmary Street, 557 2976. 8.30pm. £3. Scottish singer-songwriter.

Irvine Acoustic Afternoons Harbour Arts Centre, Harbour Street, 01294 274059. 2–4.30pm. £5. Unwind with some fine acoustic music from various local groups.

Monday 8

Edinburgh Under One Sky Queen’s Hall, Clerk Street, 668 2019. 8pm. £15. Fiddler John McCusker leads his Under One Sky, collaborative project bringing together performers from England and Scotland, diverse backgrounds and genres. Musicians include Roddy Woomble, Julie Fowlis, Norman Blake, Iain MacDonald, John Tams, Jim Causley, Andy Cutting, Ian Carr and Emma Reid. Stirling Dave Pegg & PJ Wright Stirling Folk Club, Stirling County Rugby Football Club, Bridgehaugh Park, Causewayhead Road, 01259 218521. 8pm. Two veteran influential figures on the British folk-roots scene. Old Blind Dogs Stirling Folk Club, Stirling County Rugby Football Club, Bridgehaugh Park, Causewayhead Road, 01259 218521. 8pm. Songs and blistering fiddle pipe tunes from a leading Scots folk band.

Tuesday 9

Edinburgh Ceilidh Club The Lot, Grassmarket, 225 9922. 8pm. £6. Ceilidh dance with callers to lead you through the steps, with music from Free Range. Saint Andrew & the Rare Wee Helps Leith Folk Club, The Village, South Fort Street, 478 7810. 8pm. SOLD OUT. A rare performance by this enigmatic Scottish fly fisherman. See Wed 10. FREE Andrew Gordon The White Hart Inn, Grassmarket, 622 7118. 9pm. See Tue 2.

Wednesday 10

Glasgow Michael Simons Tchai Ovna, Deanston Drive, 649 7258. 8pm. £2. See Wed 3. Edinburgh Saint Andrew and the Rare Wee Helps Leith Folk Club, The Village, South Fort Street, 478 7810. 8pm. £8. A second helping of the great Dundee screwball bard with Michael Marra and Kevin Murray as backing band. http://www.saintandrew.biz Brian McNeill Edinburgh Folk Club, Cabaret Bar, The Pleasance, 650 2458. 8pm. £7 (£6). Ex-Battlefield songwriter and multi-instrumentalist.

Stirling An Comunn Gaidhealach Albert Halls, Dumbarton Road, 01786 473 544. 7.30pm. £4. A night of Scottish music and exhibition dancing, with the Cluran Highland Dancers. Dunfermline FREE Dog House Roses Dunfermline Folk Club, Thistle Tavern, Baldridgeburn, 01383 729673. 8pm. Folky blues and Americana from Glasgow.

Sunday 7 Thursday 11

Glasgow The Pogues Carling Academy, Eglinton Street, 0844 477 2000. 7pm. £29.50. Shane McGowan joins the full original line-up as they go on one more Christmas tour of shambolic Celtic folk rock. Edinburgh Lucy Kaplansky and Justin Rutledge The Pleasance Cabaret Bar, Pleasance, 7.30pm. £14. Popular, compelling guitarist singer/songwriter from the USA on tour with the Canadian performer.

Classical Music

Classical Events are listed by date, then city. Submit listings at least 14 days before publication to suzanne@list.co.uk. Listings are compiled by Suzanne Black and Carol Main. ✽✽ Indicates Hitlist entry

comedy about Geronimo and his two daughters, both of whom he is trying to marry off. Sung in English with English supertitles. Classic Music Live! Falkirk Various Venues, 01324 713746. Times vary. Prices vary. A series of evening and lunchtime classical concerts with top notch UK and international performers.

Thursday 27 Saturday 29

Glasgow Westbourne Music The Merchant House, 7 West George Street, 226 4444. 12.45pm. £7 (£3–£6). Slightly early celebration of St Andrews Day brings together harpist Rhona MacKay, flautist Eddie MacGuire and cellist Sonia Cromarty, who perform Scottish music and some light classics. FREE Kelvingrove Organ Recitals Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Argyle Street, 276 9599. 1pm. Free lunchtime organ recitals every day by different organists. FREE Music in the University: Scottish Flute Trio Glasgow University Concert Hall, University Avenue, 330 4092. 1.10pm. New commissions written by female composers, in celebration of Scottish- American composer Thea Musgrave’s 80th birthday.

✽✽ BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra: Russian Winter 2 City Halls, Candleriggs, 353 8000. 7pm. £10–£23 (£8–£21). Stefan Solyom conducts as world-renowned Russian pianist Alexander Melnikov performs Rachmaninov, the brilliant pyrotechnics of Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini contrasting with the brooding sobriety of The Isle of the Dead. Stravinsky’s Dumbarton Oaks and his lavishly colourful ballet The Firebird complete the programme. With a Pre-Concert Prelude and Post-Concert Coda.

Edinburgh ✽✽ Scottish Opera: La Traviata Festival Theatre, 13/29 Nicolson

Street, 529 6000. 7.15pm. £14–£60 (concessions available). Verdi’s intensely moving opera about courtesan and fallen woman Violetta who falls for nobleman Alfredo. A new co-production with Welsh National Opera directed by David McVicar. Audio description and touch tour 29 Nov. Scottish Chamber Orchestra: Alexander’s Feast Queen’s Hall, 87–89 Clerk Street, 668 2019. 7.30pm. £8–£26 (£6–£19.50). The oratorio tells of the powerful feelings that the music of the flautist Timotheus elicits in his audience, culminating in Alexander the Great trying to burn down the city of Persepolis. With conductor/ harpsichordist Richard Egarr.

Friday 28

Glasgow Friday Lunchtime Concert Series: RSAMD Brass RSAMD (Academy Concert Hall), 100 Renfrew Street, 1pm. £9 (£6). A concert of transmutations centred on the music of JS Bach, including Liszt’s Fantasia on B.A.C.H and Barber’s Transmutations on Bach. Scottish Chamber Orchestra: Alexander’s Feast City Halls, Candleriggs, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £11–£24 (£8.50–£18). See Thu 27. FREE Sound Thought 2008 Glasgow University Concert Hall, University Avenue, 330 4092. The second annual interdisciplinary showcase of research undertaken by postgraduate music students. Edinburgh Scottish Opera: The Secret Marriage Festival Theatre, 13/29 Nicolson Street, 529 6000. 7.15pm. £14–£60 (concessions available). Domenico Cimarosa’s Italian operatic

Glasgow Follow that Star: Christmas Music with the Salvation Army City Halls, Candleriggs, 779 5000. 7.30pm. £6. Christmas comes early to Glasgow with a concert of festive tunes from the Clydebank Salvation Army Band, Douglas Academy School Choir, Puppets-r-us and Santa. Royal Scottish National Orchestra: St Andrew’s Party! Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £10–£28 (concessions available). Phil Cunningham and Aly Bain join the RSNO along with some other special guests for a celebration of the best of Scottish traditional music. Glasgow Chamber Orchestra RSAMD (Academy Concert Hall), 100 Renfrew Street, 8pm. £10 (£7). Peter Cynfryn Jones conducts Dvorák’s popular Cello Concerto, with soloist Rudi de Groote, Vaughan Williams’ The Wasps Overture and Elgar’s famous Enigma Variations. FREE Sound Thought 2008 Glasgow University Concert Hall, University Avenue, 330 4092. See Fri 28.

Edinburgh ✽✽ Scottish Opera: La Traviata Festival Theatre, 13/29 Nicolson

Street, 529 6000. 7.15pm. £14–£60 (concessions available). See Thu 27. Edinburgh Bach Choir Greyfriars Kirk, Greyfriars Place, 225 1900. 7.30pm. £12 (£9). The Renaissance meets the 20th century in a spiritual programme featuring Thomas Tallis’ 40-part motet Spem in alium alongside Striggio, Arvo Pärt and John Tavener. Edinburgh University Music Society Sinfonia Reid Concert Hall, Edinburgh University, Bristo Square, 650 2427. 7.30pm. £8 (£4). A performance conducted by Iain McLarty. Edinburgh University Chamber Choir Canongate Kirk, 153 Canongate, 8pm. £7 (£5). From Advert to Christmas features music by Jacob Handl, Schütz, Praetorius and Bach’s celebratory Magnificat. With organist Stuart Hope and conductor Eric von Ibler.

Clarkston FREE Greenbank Recitals: Tomasz Pawlik Greenbank Parish Church, 36 Eaglesham Road, 1pm. Part of a regular series of recitals on the organ, with tea and coffee served afterwards. Dunfermline December Songs Carnegie Hall, East Port, 01383 724487. 8pm. £10. Soprano Anne Diack and pianist Robin McCleish perform Broadway composer Maury Yeston’s contemporary music theatre song cycle, commissioned for the centenary of the Carnegie Hall and inspired by Schubert’s Winterreise.

Sunday 30

Glasgow Coffee Concert Series RSAMD (Academy Concert Hall), 100 Renfrew Street, 11.30am. £8 (£5). Mikhail Rudy puts the RSAMD’s Steinway through its paces with an all-Russian programme of Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, Scriabin Etudes and his own arrangement of Stravinsky’s Petrushka. 27 Nov–11 Dec 2008 THE LIST 77