Glenfinnan musicians take their place on virtual stage
Glenfinnan Ceilidh Band’s husband and wife duo Iain MacFarlane and Ingrid Henderson are among the musicians appearing in a new BBC ALBA series presented by award-winning Gaelic singer Julie Fowlis.
Filmed during the coronavirus lockdown, ‘Julie Fowlis|Ceòl aig Baile (Music at Home)’ is an eightpart music series that takes place in an extraordinary time in our history, using the lockdown as a creative boundary.
Julie said: ‘With festivals and gigs all postponed and cancelled, we thought this would be a great opportunity for artists to work together to create something timely and entertaining for the BBC ALBA audience.
‘The half-hour episodes will feature six songs, with each programme given to a pair of musicians to curate.
Between the musical tracks, musicians will reveal a little about their songs and tunes and how they are coping during these unusual times.
‘Each performance is recorded in the artist’s home with viewers getting a visual flavour of their life in lockdown.
The first programme is curated by Julie Fowlis and Éamon Doorley and while Julie presents the rest of the series, each programme will have a different set of curators, including Ingrid Henderson and Iain MacFarlane and Karen Matheson and Donald Shaw (Capercaillie).
As well as Rodrigo y Gabriela, there will be performances from acclaimed musicians Rosanne Cash, Zoë Conway, John McIntyre, Karan Casey, Mike McGoldrick, John McCusker, Kris Drever, Dirk Powell, Xabier Diaz, Karine Polwart and renowned Gaelic singer Kathleen MacInnes.
Margaret Cameron, Channel Editor at MG ALBA, which operates BBC ALBA in partnership with the BBC, said: ‘This series gives musicians, deprived of playing live concerts, a virtual stage and an opportunity to perform directly from their homes to viewing fans.
‘These programmes invite musicians from Scotland, Ireland, Europe, Canada, Mexico and the US to connect with fans and to perform in a visceral way, appealing to feelings as much as intellect.’
Julie Fowlis|Ceòl aig Baile, produced by Beezr Studios, starts on BBC ALBA tonight (May 14) at 10pm with each episode subsequently available on the BBC iPlayer for 30 days.