The Fiona Hunter Band consisted of five members who were Fiona Hunter on cello and vocals, Euan Burton on double bass, Mike Vass & Matheu Watson on guitars and Gillian Frame on fiddle and vocals.

They opened with a Burns song – The Weary Pund O Tow before moving on to Tannahill”s  – The Braes Of Gleniffer.

Fiona alternated between standing singing and sitting playing her cello as well as singing.

They did a variety of songs such as The Laird o Drum, Shift and Spin (about the Paisley thread workers), Heave Ya Ho, The Cruel Mother and Young Emsley – the last two being about murders which Fiona added was not all she sang about! 

The band were a joy to watch and listen to.

 

 

Then it was the turn of The Shee – the six piece all female group comprising of Amy Thatcher (Accordion), Laura-Beth Salter (Mandolin, Vocals), Lillias Kinsman-Blake (Flute, Whistles), Olivia Ross (Fiddle, Viola, Vocals), Rachel Newton (Electric Harp, Vocals) and Shona Mooney (Fiddle).

They opened with Troubles from their second album followed by Starlings from their latest one Murmurations which we were told had 2,000 different covers courtesy of Lillias each one depicting a different view of the murmurations of starlings (a collective noun

that I didn”t know!)

They then went onto a wonderful rendition of Tom Paines Bones and also Pipers & Polys/Sheenanigans (which, of course, drew a groan from the audience!) followed by their “murder” song called the Three Knights,  a song which uses the three singers in the group to great effect. Other songs included  were Sugarwine, Northern Frisk before finishing with Pity Me.

Another great concert, courtesy of Sandy Pratt who was unable to go and gave me his ticket!

Ruth Roy