Rootsy melodies from the Rachel Hair Trio
Scotland's Rachel Hair Trio
ONE of the leading bands in Scotland’s vibrant folk scene, the Rachel Hair Trio – fronted by acclaimed harpist and composer Rachel Hair – will visit Peel’s Centenary Centre on Saturday, October 6.
The band, completed by guitarist and singer Jenn Butterworth and top double bassist Euan Burton, present a sparkling blend of melodic harp mastery, rootsy songs and sophisticated rhythmical drive.
Nominated as Scottish folk band of the year at the Scots Trad Awards in 2011, the trio has honed a repertoire drawn from traditional, contemporary and international sources to create performances that crackle with character, passion, verve and joie de vivre.
From the Scottish Highlands but now based in Glasgow, the harpist has toured extensively with her music in recent years, performing around the UK, Europe, the US and as far afield as India, as well as leading workshops at international harp festivals.
Though, as the other of half of Adam Rhodes, a member of Manx-based bands King Chiaullee and Barrule, she is no stranger to the Isle of Man,
‘I’ve been coming over to the island for four years now and last year I began teaching harp for the Manx Heritage Foundation,’ explained Rachel.
‘It’s brilliant as I have 15 harp players that I teach over two days, once a month, and it means I get to come and visit all my friends and play tunes in The Whitehouse with them!’
Support for the Centenary Centre concert will actually come from a new band, Claasagh, formed as a result of Rachel’s sessions.
‘Claasagh is basically five of my students playing Manx tunes on the harp,’ said Rachel. ‘We had our first concert at St Germans as part of Yn Chruinnaght and they went down a storm, so I’m excited to have them opening at our Centenary Centre gig.’
As familiar as Rachel is with the lay of the land in the Isle of Man, it will be new territory for the rest of the band.
‘This is the first time my trio will have come over to the island to play so I’m really excited to finally show off the island to them after babbling on about it for years,’ said Rachel.
‘It reminds me a bit of [home town] Ullapool there, with everybody knowing each other,’ she added. ‘It’s great to escape to, but I love being in Glasgow – it’s such an amazing place for music. For a long time after I moved from the Highlands, I didn’t really know where I belonged, or if I belonged anywhere, but I feel much more settled now – maybe partly from seeing so much more of the world, and knowing where I want to come back to.’
The show next Saturday starts at 7.30pm. Tickets are £10 on sale from Celtic Gold in Peel, Peter Norris Music in Douglas, Thomson Travel in Port Erin and Shakti Man in Ramsey.
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Weather for Isle of Man
Wednesday 22 May 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 6 C to 12 C
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