MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2017: Tolbooth

Congratulations to Tolbooth who have been nominated in Venue of the Year sponsored by Musicians' Union in the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2017. Vote now!

We asked Carolyn Paterson of Tolbooth the following questions.

Tell us about yourself
The Tolbooth, owned and managed by Stirling Council, is Stirling’s key music venue and hub for arts development for the surrounding area, and since its significant refurbishment into a venue in 2002, the venue has delivered an annual programme of high quality music events and a complimentary music and arts development programme to the community. The capacity is 200 standing and 160 seated, and the venue is well known for its intimate performances, loved by performers and audience alike. There is a strong traditional element at the heart of the programme, including both established and emerging artists. The key is in the relationship between the venue staff, the agents, managers, performers and tutors. The Tolbooth knows, understands and fosters these relationships, which are key to the success of a performance or workshop.

Performers in the last year from Scotland or with a Scottish connection include: Fara; McGoldrick, McCusker, Doyle; Siobhan Miller; Old Blind Dogs; Rant; The Elephant Sessions; Lau, Auld Hat, New Heids; Skipinnish; Rura; Blue Rose Code; Kris Drever; Nordic Fiddlers Bloc; Heidi Talbot; Duncan Chisholm Band; Fred Morrison; Skerryvore; Imar; Emily Smith & Jamie McClennan; Session A9; Ross Couper & Tom Oakes and Talisk; Karine Polwart; Mànran; Skerryvore; National Ceilidh Trail, Fèis Fhoirt Ceilidh Trail.

The outreach work has been key to developing the opportunities for traditional music in the area, delivered with key partners. The Tolbooth offers adult workshops, including fiddle led by Jo Miller, who with her work with Riverside Music Project has contributed significantly to the local scene. Our local Fèis, Fèis Fhoirt covers the Forth Valley area, and in addition to running 2 weekend Fèisean each year (one in a Stirling school the other in Camelon Education Centre in Falkirk) the partnership with the Tolbooth gives them access to space to run Saturday music classes, currently Clarsach, whistle, accordion, guitar, fiddle and a mixed class with Gaelic song, step-dance and mixed instrument. There are now tutors at the Saturday workshops who themselves started their musical journey at the Fèis.

In partnership with Stirling Council Education, and organised by Stirling’s Creative Learning Officer, there are weekly Monday Trad classes for all stages, led by Lori and Innes Watson. These classes offer group tuition at different levels, and opportunities to perform, including an annual ceilidh. As with the Fèis , some who attended these sessions, now are back as assistant tutors. Also with YMI funding the Tolbooth manages various music projects, including the Scots Sang project. 2018 will be the 10th anniversary of the project which has reached every primary school across Stirling. Led by local singer Amy Lord the project runs for 6 weeks in the schools before coming on the 7th week to the Tolbooth to perform the songs they have learned in front of friends and family. We also invite in top professionals to perform for the children in the hope that this will inspire them to think about taking up an instrument. As well as the songs, Amy ensures the children learns about the Scots language and the history behind the songs and Scots words.

The Tolbooth has hosted significant events for traditional music, including the annual performance of Distil since the project started – offering a performance platform for first compositions by traditional musicians. Also the Tolbooth has hosted The Visit on 3 occasions – an offshoot of the hugely successful Showcase Scotland initiative- to showcase of the best Scottish traditional performers for an audience of international promoters. We also give performance opportunities to local emerging artists and encourage youth performances, whether it be by participants of the classes, or the annual ceilidh trail, or nationally including the national Ceilidh Trail and the young people from the National School of Excellence in Traditional Music from Plockton, who will be performing at the Tolbooth for the second time in March 2018.

Through the years, there have been many projects involving leading traditional musicians – Aidan O’Rourke was musician in residence; the bringing together of Scottish musicians and Hungarian musicians; in 2007 the Tolbooth commissioned Allan Macdonald to compose Wallace 700 – and in 2014 Allan Macdonald was commissioned to compose a larger work The Bruce 700, to mark the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn. This premiere of the performance by the 50-piece ensemble took place in Stirling Council’s The Albert Halls, with the development taking place in the Tolbooth. The professional musicians included the tutors from the trad workshops, along with a group of the young people from the workshops.

Why are you involved in Scottish music?
The Tolbooth has offered a strong traditional programme from the start, as this proved popular with the audience, and through the years, this audience has developed with the various participatory programmes and opportunities.

The current programmer, Carolyn Paterson, has a strong background in traditional music. The first performance she promoted was Relativity and Sìleas in 1986, while working in the recording studio where Relativity were recording their album. She worked with REL Studios/Records, Green Linnet Records, Eclectic Records and the Scottish Arts Council, before coming to the Tolbooth in 2006. She was on the Traditional Music Forum from its creation until standing down 3 years ago, and she is on the steering group for Showcase Scotland and Showcase Scotland Expo.

Any particular career highlights?
The many memorable performances are highlights – when a performance goes well, when you feel the atmosphere crackle with atmosphere and tension, or with the solo performances, when you could hear a pin drop – when performers share their music and their stories for an audience – who dance, cheer, laugh or cry with them – that is truly special.

A particular highlight was The Bruce 700, especially the premiere performance in Stirling, but also at Celtic Connections the following year. It brought together so many elements and performers who had been involved with the Tolbooth. Every performance or sharing by all the young people learning at the Tolbooth is a highlight, with another unforgettable stand-out highlight being the piece composed by Aidan O'Rourke 'Golden Steps' for the older combined trad and jazz workshop groups to mark the Tolbooth's 10th birthday.

Equally memorable are every one of the Scots song performances when you see the children coming in, then reacting to the performance of the musicians, before singing themselves so confidently and with such enthusiasm.

What are your plans for the future?
To continue to offer a vibrant programme of different styles and stages of traditional music, and to continue to encourage participation in traditional music through further development of the range of classes, workshops and talks.

If you would like to come along to the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards in Paisley’s Lagoon Centre call 0300 300 1210 or to buy online visit www.paisley2021.co.uk/events/the-mg-alba-scots-trad-music-awards. Tickets can also be purchased via Paisley Arts Centre. Bands performing on Saturday 2nd December include Elephant Sessions, The Shee Big Band, Siobhan Miller, Tidelines, Paisley Fèis, Snuffbox, The Seamus O’Sullivan Experience, Lori Watson, Jenna Reid and Harris Playfair, Songs of Bàrd Phàislig (featuring Gillebrìde MacIlleMhaoil, Sìneag MacIntyre, Màiri NicAonghais, Seonaidh MacIntyre, Ewan MacPherson, Mhairi Hall, Màiri Nic a Mhaoilein and more to be announced. There will also be a late night ceilidh after the Awards till 1am.