Nick Keir 1953-2013

Greentrax Recordings

JJJJ The death through cancer of singer, guitarist and mandolinist Nick Keir in 2013 not only deprived the folk scene of a much-loved performer, both solo and in his 30-year membership of the Mccalmans, but also robbed Edinburgh of an eloquent bard, who enshrined its howffs, causeys and haar-bound nights in his songs and in several Fringe shows.

His love of the city and an essentially joyous and occasionally wry view of the world shine through in this compendious compilation of 37 tracks. His feelings for Edinburgh are manifest in numbers such as Festival

Lights, Slow French Waltz and the

piquant Mephistopheles on Minto

Street. Tracks performed with “The Macs” include Portnahaven and the (previously unreleased) Cold Night in

This Old Town.

There’s the droll cultural satire of American Accent, the wryly knowing

reflections of Middle-aged Men and

the beautifully wistful Daybreak Carol – something of a forgotten gem. ■