BLACKWOOD & HICKORY

LIVE SHOW

Mr Breisleach
Crooked Mountaineer

When we first heard about this gig one name leapt off the page ...that of former Capers bassist John Saich. Intrigued we read on to learn that this was to be a concert like none we had ever been to.

John was the musical director on this project to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Mid Argyll Pipe Band, making it the longest established pipe band in Scotland I believe. Other musicians involved besides the pipe band themselves were former (& still occasional) Capers drummer James Mackintosh (now of Shooglenifty and The Karen Matheson Band) and Brian McAlpine formerly of The Pearlfishers & The Iron Horse, now with Charlie McKerron's other band Session A9.

The show was billed as "Traditional music with a twist" and we knew we had to go despite the fact that it was taking place in Ardrishaig Hall near Lochgilphead - what's a 4 hour drive from our home in Inverness to hear great music like this?

The pipe band had decided that their 80th anniversary concert should not be too formal (band members were not required to wear the entire uniform and some were without ties, and/or waistcoats etc) and should be something a bit different to the usual pipe band fayre. The project was over 12 months in the making and apparently there were many obstacles to be overcome - not least with funding. Instead of the pipe band playing on their own they were joined by the 3 musicians mentioned above on guitar, drums and keyboards respectively. We had been a little concerned that the pipes may drown out the other instruments, particularly the guitar, but we needn't have worried as the acoustic mix was spot on.

The range of music played was wide. The concert opened with 2 of the pipers playing didgeridoos while Brian played along on the keyboards. We heard traditional pipe band tunes and solos and some tunes written by various members of the pipe band amongst others such as Dougie MacLean. One of the band's drummers also played the fiddle & some members played various kinds of drum. All this with the boys playing along. (John even played tambourine at one point!) This was funked up pipe band music with dance rhythms and boy did it work! John was dancing around the stage grinning like a Cheshire cat as he played, clearly having a ball.

One of the less traditional sets of tunes played that got a good reception from the audience was introduced by saying that some people say that the best pipe tunes come from out west....well this one comes from way out west - Los Angeles! It was a solo set that started with a traditional piobaireachd that flowed into The Doors' "People Are Strange" and then into a Breton gavotte. It continued flowing back and forth between the gavotte and the Doors tune while the 3 boys played along in accompaniament. This worked really well and was certainly not something we'd expected.

We heard sets with the full band and sets with one or two members of the band & also solo performances. This was a very entertaining evening and I wish that the band would take it on a mini tour as I'd love to see/hear it all again. We noticed that it was being filmed, but don't know if this was just for the band's purposes or if they're planning to release a DVD. Oh how I hope they are!

It was good to see John enjoying himself so much. I can't remember seeing him so animated on stage before.

The last time we saw him was 8 years ago when he gigged along with Charlie McKerron at Aberdeen's Lemon Tree for the "Celtic Grooves" project band "Big Sky" in 1999. I hope we get the chance to see him again. His direction on this project was spot on - definately as billed..."Traditional music with a twist". A great night out. Thanks to all the musicians involved and WELL DONE JOHN!

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FANS FORUM

Anyone seeking the wow factor would have found it in abundance at Ardrishaig Hall on Saturday September 15th. The sell out show Blackwood & Hickory saw the Mid Argyll Pipe band take quality performance to a new level, featuring the individual and collective talents of all fifteen pipers and drummers and their three piece professional backing band. As President David Higgins reminded the audience, the show was produced not only to commemorate eighty years of history, but also to look forward to the future, and with innovative arrangements of new and traditional tunes Blackwood & Hickory was a resounding testament to the Pipe Band's richly deserved reputation.

Eight young piping students joined the band onstage for their first ever live performance on Rod Buchanan's Somerled's Legacy, concluding the first half of the concert to rapturous applause. Strident jazz and rock tinged solo performances from Pipe Major Tony Higgins and Pipe Sergeant Tamara Campbell also confirmed that we have the highest calibre of musicianship on our doorstep in Mid Argyll. Whether in duos, in trios or performing in set pieces - whether on drums, highland pipes, small pipes, fiddle or didgeridoo - every member excelled with pride and confidence throughout, and when the capacity crowd stamped, clapped and shouted for more, they duly obliged with a roof raising encore.

Blackwood & Hickory has been a milestone project for the Mid Argyll Pipe Band, working over many months with session musicians and top level sound engineers, conquering the challenges of stage management and presentation. The success of the show has also been in no small part thanks to the many volunteers and helpers who worked tirelessly before, during and after the event. In all, Blackwood & Hickory was perhaps best summed up in one word after the show, by a young jubilant band member: awesome!

GOLOWAN FESTIVAL

PENZANCE, CORNWALL

The response to it got bigger and bigger as the gig went on. Your stage presentation knocked everyone's socks off!

Mike Sagar-Fenton Festival Director

You gave me goose bumps every time you played. In the Ritz arena music venue this year, what a sound you made. Everyone in Penzance has been talking about you guys and how awesome you were.

Ben Bodilly

Just wanted to say how the Ritz gig was the absolute highlight of my Golowan week.  Having watched you in previous years I was looking forward to your return.  The daytime was good but the evening was just amazing and even my very sceptical husband really enjoyed it (he normally goes more for the rock or pop). Such rhythm!  Thank you so much, I hope you'll be back next year. 

Bridgit England