Alice Allen and Patsy Reid
It’s just over 100 years since James Scott Skinner recorded ‘The Strathspey King’ and Alice Allen (cello) and Patsy Reid (fiddle) are celebrating this milestone by releasing their own take on his last, iconic recording.
With a first class honours degree each, these two in-demand and effectively bi-lingual Scottish musicians grew up steeped in the North East fiddle tradition, becoming effortlessly fluent in their native strathspeys, reels and airs, and simultaneously pursuing a hybrid musical education, both achieving the much sought after technique that Skinner himself flaunted, whist remaining true to their respective roots.
It is little known that Skinner actually started off his playing career accompanying tunes on the cello for dances, and from Banchory, Alice pays homage to his published bass lines, blending and contrasting them with her own, vibrant and percussive, modern accompaniment style. As the youngest ever winner of the prestigious Glenfiddich Fiddle Championship, Patsy, born in Dundee, is in her element here, returning to her fiddling origins.
Together, Alice and Patsy breathe new life into these wonderful tunes and lets hope their recording may be enjoyed by Scottish music lovers for another century.
Plockton Music School
When it comes to showcasing the next generation of traditional musicians, few events are as eagerly anticipated as those presented by Plockton Music School. After a year of dedicated hard work at this esteemed institution for traditional music, the students are set to reveal their talents. Their unique approach to Scottish culture, played with both sensitivity and flair, combined with their mastery of traditional and contemporary styles, has made their annual tour a highlight in the calendar. Numerous performances and recitals across the country have bolstered their reputation as exceptional musicians and captivating live performers. Their showcases have received widespread acclaim from audiences, with their performances regularly drawing enthusiastic crowds.