Alan Reid wrote this song to celebrate the common folk, the workers and in this case the Lothian Miners and the ill fated coal industry in Scotland. Rough Diamonds refers to the “Salt of the Earth”, the honest working man.. Alan Reid and Rob van Sante joined forces in 2001 whilst working with Scotland’s finest […]
The Travelling Nation’s Pride by Sylvia Barnes and Brian McNeill
The Travelling Nation’s Pride came from a story told to Brian one summer’s night over a pint in the Dutch Inn in Skinflats. The teller, an old gentleman in his cups, said the balmy summer weather had reminded him of it, but insisted that it was ‘about a friend’ of his. the tale intrigued Brian […]
Between the Pines by RURA
With lyrics from acclaimed Scottish singer, Adam Holmes, and a tune from piper and whistle player, Steven Blake (both members of the band), ‘Between the Pines’ is a stirring, anthemic song from RURA’s hotly anticipated second album, ‘Despite the Dark’, released on April 27. One of the most hotly anticipated – and feverishly requested – […]
The House at Rosehill by Top Floor Taivers
The House at Rosehill This sparklingly original song by Claire Hastings features on the 2014 EP by Top Floor Taivers. Top Floor Taivers are a young and fresh Glasgow based band performing traditional and contemporary Scots songs and tunes. Coming from England, Ireland and Scotland, Top Floor Taivers combine vocals with piano, fiddle and clarsach […]
Clerk Saunders by Emily Smith
Emily continues to draw on her talent as one of the finest interpreters of traditional song in the UK presenting an album that is unshakeably Scottish but with farther, wider horizons. New settings of time worn texts weave beautifully alongside contemporary covers blurring the borders of old and new. Having celebrated a decade as one […]
Logie o’ Buchan by Iona Fyfe
The First Sangs, Iona’s first EP consists of four traditional Scots songs and provides modern, unique interpretation of songs which are around 200 years old. The First Sangs was released in early 2015 and was recorded live at the Radio 2 Young Folk Weekend at the Brewery Arts Center, Kendal at the Glasgow Royal Concert […]
Away From the Pits by Barluath
Away from the Pits was written by Chris Algar and first recorded by Vin Garbutt. When the song was written (c.1990) coal mines were still operating in Stoke. A new seam had been built under the road where Chris lived, and he noticed houses on the street starting to deteriorate following this. The stimulus for […]
Music of the Loom by Danny Kyle
According to his sleeve notes, Danny defines the “heroes” as the songs and their carriers, whilst the “soft targets” are the people for whom they were written. By that definition, then, as well as by many others, Danny Kyle was indeed a hero. On this CD we have thirteen tracks which reflect exactly the mixture […]
The Braes O Bonhill by The Clutha
Who can say where this song originated! Ronnie Alexander picked up this localised version from sources around Bonhill in Dunbartonshire WIDELY regarded as a near-permanent institution on the Scottish folk scene, the Clutha, while never maintaining as high a profile as some other Scottish bands of the past four decades, has been an innovative and […]
Queen of Argyll by Silly Wizard
The Queen of Argyll was always a hugely popular live song for Silly Wizard, one of Scotland’s all-time most influential folk bands. This version was recorded in front of a sell out crowd in Cambridge, Massachusetts during the band’s 1983 North American tour. The recording was originally released as 2 LPs. A repackaged and re-mastered […]