Variety is the spice ...

Pete & Gregor by Gina Wright

Concerts, recitals, ceilidh dances .....

all very enjoyable and no two gigs ever the same!

Two lunchtime concerts in beautiful Dunkeld Cathedral went very well.

In the first, I was accompanied by the fabulous Muriel Johnstone on piano.  The following week I was back, this time with Dunkeld & District Strathspey & Reel Society.

Played a few tunes with Ali McCulloch in St Margaret's Church, Dalry, Ayrshire. It was a wonderful evening, featuring a host of youngsters, and Frazer Mclellan and his band. (Frazer did a great job organising the event.)

This was the third time Ali McCulloch and I have collaborated to present "The Twa Fiddles".  It was great to play these remarkable fiddles in such a fantastic space.  Thank you Dalry Burns Club!

Niel Gow (top) meets Robert Burns

Memories! Went to this fabulous concert 40 years ago!!

Very much enjoyed watching (again) this lovely animation when it was shown at Perth Theatre in October.  Here's me, with producer Iain Gardner during the Q & A session following the screening.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BEAR NAMED WOJTEK

The bear was rescued (as a cub) in Syria by Polish soldiers during the second World War.  He eventually travelled with them to Scotland and ended his days in Edinburgh Zoo. 

There is a fine bronze by Alan Beattie Herriot of Wojtek and a Polish soldier in Princes Street Gardens. (See above) 

Edinburgh-based film-maker Iain Gardner and his company made this lovely wee film, which also involved Iain Harvey (who produced the now perennial Christmas favourite,"The Snowman"). The storyline was written by Polish writer Wojciech Lepianka.

This is a sensitive and beautifully crafted film. The music for the ceilidh dance sequence features the playing of Muriel Johnstone, Gregor Lowrey and yours truly. (The tunes are The Tulliemet Burn + The Dipper, previously recorded on "The Birnam Oak".)

Paul Murton with yours truly

In late June 2023 I met Paul Murton on the banks of the Tay near Dunkeld to chat about Niel Gow.  (The one rainy day in an unbroken spell of dry, sunny weather!) This was for part of Paul's series about Scotland's rivers.

Michael Portillo, Fraser Bruce and Theresa in the Old Ship Inn, Perth.  Filming for one of Mr Portillo's train journey programmes.  Of course there was more hanging about than filming.  But that's always the the way of it!