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of carols, seasonal words and music, with the University Chorus and BA Applied Music Jazz Orchestra, with guests Douglas Academy Chamber Choir. Swingin’ into Christmas RSAMD, 100 Renfrew Street, 332 5057. 7.30pm. £10 (£7). Once again, singers from the Musical Theatre programme are joined by the RSAMD Big Band in a festive programme that’s sure to get your toes a- tapping. FREE Mono Jazz Mono, 12 King’s Court, King Street, 553 2400. 8pm. See Wed 9. Edinburgh Dan Nicholls Quartet The Jazz Bar, 1 Chambers Street, 220 4298. 8.15pm. £4. Exciting high energy jazz from this London pianist.

Thursday 17

Party Royal Concert Hall, 2 Glasgow Dr Feelgood The Arches, 253 Argyle Street, 565 1000. 7.30pm. £13. Rhythm’n’blues veterans from the 70s, whose unhinged sound inspired the early punk acts. ✽✽ RSNO: Big Band Christmas Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £12–£32 (concessions available). See in a swinging Christmas as Eliot Murray directs the RSNO Big Band through an eclectic and enjoyably cheesy selection of seasonal tunes, including ‘Silent Night’ and ‘White Christmas’. Also featuring a mystery guest star. Swingin’ into Christmas RSAMD, 100 Renfrew Street, 332 5057. 7.30pm. £10 (£7). See Wed 16.

Edinburgh The Freaky Family The Jazz Bar, 1 Chambers Street, 220 4298. 11.30pm. £2 (£1). See Thu 3. Dundee Jazz Dundee Rep, Tay Square, 01382 223530. 10pm. £5. Havana Swing are joined by special guests.

Hamilton Christmas Party Night Hamilton Town House, 102 Cadzow Street, 01333 450572. 7pm. £37.50. Party night at the Town House, with drinks, canapes, a three course meal and entertainment from funk and soul maestros Big Vern and the Shootahs.

Irvine The Scottish Blues Brothers and Live Showband Harbour Arts Centre, 114–116 Harbour Street, 01294 274059. 8pm. £10. Paying tribute to the seminal anthems and sweet soul music of Jake & Elwood, this duo bring with them a full eight-piece band.

Folk

Events are listed by date, then city. Submit listings at least 14 days before publication to henry@list.co.uk. Listings are compiled by Henry Northmore and Norman Chalmers. ✽✽ Indicates Hitlist entry

Thursday 3 Glasgow Danny Schmidt & Carrie Elkin Lauries Bar, King Street, 552 7123. 8pm. £9. Two Texan singer-songwriters on tour. Eddie Walker St Andrew’s in the Square, St Andrew’s Square, 559 5902. 8pm. £8 (£6). The veteran guitar whiz and singer entertains from a huge repertoire of acoustic roots/rock, blues, skiffle and Americana. 5Edinburgh Rantum Scanctum The Jazz Bar, Chambers Street, 220 4298. 5pm.

Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham Very well kent faces in the folk world, this pair will be

bringing a fiddle, an accordion and probably a lot of warm banter as they continue their mini tour of Scotland. Having previously won 'best duo' at the BBC National Folk Awards, they were once praised by fellow folk musician, the Big Yin himself, Billy Connolly, for their 'clarity of tone' and rare 'passion'. Town Hall, West Kilbride, Thu 3 Dec; St Michael's Kirk, Musselburgh, Fri 4 Dec.

Donation. An eclectic mix of contemporary, Americana and traditional songs. Falkirk Landermason Falkirk Folk Club, The Polish Club, Arnot Street, 01324 613395. 7.30pm. £tbc. Fiona Lander and Paul Mason have been described as ‘folk rooted in jazz with flute and guitar’ but they also use sax and keys.

Largs FREE Stretch Dawrson Outfit Victoria Hotel, Gallowgate Street, 01475 672355. 9pm. Driving fiddle in Scotland’s only Western Swing band, led by the brilliant singer/guitarist from out west in Mull.

West Kilbride Aly Bain & Phil Cunningham Town Hall, Arthur Street, 01475 689493. 7.30pm. £16. Fiddle and accordion music par excellence, and a lot of humour, from TV’s best known Scottish folkies.

Friday 4

Edinburgh Kate Campbell Wardie Church New Hall, Netherby Road. 8pm. £12 & booking fee from Tickets Scotland and Ripping Records. Originally from New Orleans, this Southern Belle sings of social issues with passion and in a beautiful voice. Hear her here in an intimate venue. Aly Bain & Phil CunninghamSt Michael’s Kirk, Inveresk Village, Musselburgh, 665 6310. 8pm. £tbc. See Thu 3. Penicuik Fanattica and Blueflint Penicuik Arts Centre, West Street, 01968 678804. 7.30pm. £5. Quirky Balkan sounds and the great banjo-based female duo with their new album.

Saturday 5

Edinburgh Lau The Queen’s Hall, Clerk Street, 668 2019. 8pm. £12–£14. Aidan O’Rourke (fiddle), Kris Drever (guitar and vocals) and Martin Green (accordion) create some of the most absorbing acoustic music in Britain today, drawing from traditional roots but moving into intense, complex, highly charged and downright exciting original music. All award-winning musicians, they’re just back from sell- out gigs in Tokyo. Winter Ceilidh Dance Roxy Art House, Roxburgh Place, 7pm. £10 (£6.50; children 3.50). Hud Yer Wheesht play at this fundraising dance for Venture Scotland.

Perthshire Bridging Tradition and CeilidhOchtertyre Song Sessions, WRI Hall, Nurses Lane, Comrie. 11am–5 pm. £5 (registration & tea from 10.30am). All-inclusive rate for tuition, lunch, teas and the later ceilidh, phone 01764 679518 or 655979. Irish & Scottish song master-classes. Scots and Gaelic singer Margaret Bennett and Cathal McConnell, the singer & flute player with the Boys of the Lough, share a lifetime of songs folklore and tradition. Ceilidh with tutors and all participants, open to the community, 8pm. £7.50 (£5). Tickets available at door. Ayrshire Gaberlunzie Dalry Scout Hall, Dalry Scout Hall, Smith Street, 01294 832499. 7pm. £10 (includes buffet). Scotland’s two veteran folk entertainers. Tickets available from BeGreen, The Cross, Dalry, or staslt@aol.com

Monday 7 Glasgow Yaman Tchai Ovna, Otago Lane, 357 4524. 8pm. £2. Indian classical sitar and flute music.

Glasgow Ceol’s Craic CCA, Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. 8.30pm. £8 (£5). Monthly Gaelic club and platform for Gaelic arts and culture. The Christmas- season event has leading young band Bodega, Seasaidh Lexy and Darren Maclean. Stirling Old Blind Dogs Stirling Folk Club, Stirling County Rugby Football Club, Bridgehaugh Park, Causewayhead Road, 01259 218521. 8pm. £9. The Dogs raise the roof with their mix of percussion-driven traditional songs and blistering fiddle and pipe tunes.

Folk Music

Tuesday 8

Glasgow FREE Thank Folk it’s Tuesday Sloan’s, Argyle Arcade, Argyle Street, 221 8886. 7pm. The GU Celtic band host this folk session.

Edinburgh Richard Dobson Leith Folk Club, The Village, South Fort Street, 07502 024852. 7.30pm. £8. The Texas singer/songwriter has co-written songs with the legendary Guy Clark. Ceilidh Club The Lot, Grassmarket, 225 9922. 8pm. £6. Ceilidh dancing, furious fiddle and accordion, and a caller to lead you through the steps. Live music from the Scott Leslie Ceilidh Band. FREE Andrew Gordon The White Hart Inn, Grassmarket, 622 7118. 9pm. Scottish music with singer Andrew Gordon. Falkirk Christmas Dance Falkirk Town Hall, West Bridge Street, 01324 506850. 7.30pm. £12. The Royal Scottish Country Dance Society dance has live music from the David Oswald Band and there is a buffet supper included. For tickets please call 01324 812351 or 01324 471975.

Wednesday 9

Edinburgh Ceilidh Dance Classes Bruntsfield Primary School, 12 Montpelier, Bruntsfield, 555 7688. 7pm. £6 (£3). Informal traditional Scottish dance classes, no experience necessary (over 16s). Dunfermline Dunfermline Folk Club: Dave Gibb Dunfermline Folk Club, Thistle Tavern, Baldridgeburn, 01383 729673. 8pm. £5. History, humour and great songs from the left-handed guitarist from Scotland’s highest village.

Thursday 10

Glasgow The Pogues O2 Academy, Eglinton Street, 08444 772000. 7pm. £29.50. Shane McGowan joins the original line- up as they go on one more Christmas tour of shambolic Celtic folk rockery. Mahmoud Mahdy Tchai Ovna, Otago Lane, 357 4524. 8pm. £2. Traditional Arabic music. Edinburgh Rantum Scanctum The Jazz Bar, Chambers Street, 220 4298. 5pm. Donation. See Thu 3. James Grant The Queen’s Hall, Clerk Street, 668 2019. 8.30pm. £12–£15. The ex-Love and Money front man sings from his current album Strange Flowers.

Falkirk Falkirk Folk Club Session Falkirk Folk Club, The Polish Club, Arnot Street, 01324 613395. 8.30pm. £2. An informal night of music and song. Stirling Daimh Tolbooth, Jail Wynd, 01786 274000. 8pm. £10 (£8). Formed some years ago in Moidart, Daimh, meaning affinity or kinship in Gaelic, is the exciting combination of musicians Ross Martin (guitar), Angus MacKenzie (pipes & whistles), Gabe McVarish (fiddle), Colm O’Rua (banjo & mandola) and Seumas Bremner (bodhran) from Ireland, Cape Breton, California and the Highlands of Scotland. Now with Calum Alex MacMillan on vocals, their brilliant instrumentation skills benefit from powerful Gaelic song. Gurf Morlix Tolbooth, Jail Wynd, 01786 274000. 8pm. £10 (£8). Classic country blues from the American legend.

3–17 Dec 2009 THE LIST 81