Variety is the spice ...

Pete & Gregor by Gina Wright

Concerts, recitals, ceilidh dances .....

all very enjoyable and no two gigs ever the same!

Very much enjoyed playing a lunchtime concert in Dunkeld Cathedral with my friend, the fabulous pianist Muriel Johnstone.  (This was part of a summer season of concerts to raise funds for repairs to the building.)

Dunkeld & District Strathspey & Reel Society played a concert & ceilidh dance at BIRNAM ARTS on Saturday 22nd November.  It was great to see so many young folk on the dance floor!!

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.)

Alistair McCulloch and I have collaborated on three occasions 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 2024.  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!