No Man’s Land

Perth Concert Hall, November 11

Amid the range of Armistice-themed cultural events taking place across Courier Country this weekend, one stands out for its sheer scale and scope.

The Celtic Sessions – a series of acoustic concerts inspired by Scottish traditions put together by Perth Concert Hall and Perth Theatre custodians Horsecross – is presenting a unique centenary concert to remember the Great War in songs and stories.

Heading an impressive ensemble bill are Indian folk-fusion exponent and composer Raghu Dixit, Mercurynominated multi-instrumentalist ESKA, acclaimed ex-Battlefield Band troubadour Karine Polwart – whose theatrical work Wind Resistance enjoyed a successful Perth Theatre run earlier this year – Orkney songsmith Kris Drever, Irish folk-rocker Declan O’Rourke and alt-folk performer Blue Rose Code, aka songwriter Ross Wilson.

Also playing a starring role will be the house band from the Made In Perthshire show, which was originally put together to mark the 10th anniversary of Perth Concert Hall in 2015.

Led by two of Scotland’s finest traditional musicians, piper Ross Ainslie and fiddler Patsy Reid – both from Perthshire – the band also features Seonaid Aitken (violin), Alice Allen (cello), Graeme Stephen (guitar), Signy Jakobsdottir (drums), Dave Milligan (piano) and Ben Nicholls (bass) and draws on its members’ combined talents in folk, jazz, classical and rock.

The aim is to perform the story of World War One and its aftermath from a diversity of viewpoints, embracing ethnic diversity, combatants from both sides and civilians.

Horsecross Arts’ contemporary music creative director Andy Shearer says a few surprises are in store on Sunday. “There will be a mixture of some familiar songs – though not necessarily performed how you’re used to hearing them – and some not so wellknown, including some that have been specially written for the show,” he explains.

“There will be themes we’re familiar with — the tragedy of young lives lost and life in the trenches — but we’ll also hear of the experiences of people in India and Ireland and from black participants in the conflict.”

ESKA, who was brought up by Zimbabwean parents who moved to London when she was two, says black Britons fought on the Western Front alongside African Americans who served the USA despite its racial segregation. “British and French colonies in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean, as well as German colonies in Africa, had indigenous people serving across the European continent as well as theatres of war in Asia, Africa, at sea and in the air,” she adds.

Multi-instrumentalist ESKA, left, and Karine Polwart, formerly of the Battlefield Band, will share the platform.