Blue Rose Code and Caledonia Soul Voices, Queens hall

I missed his guitar playing, but the song selection was fab – long live Celtic Soul! .

Tonight’s Fringe show was a celebration of Caledonia soul voices (in association with Made in Scotland)

Blue Rose Code, aka Ross Wilson, played a full on, energetic set of a classy selection of soul-influenced Celtic songs and with a quality line up of Duke Special, Eddi Reader, Julie Fowlis and Hamish Stuart of the Average White band. I first heard Ross last year at my local folk club and became a fan after hearing his authentic and charged soul voice. Born in Edinburgh, Ross has also been south for several years and now returned to his home town, for which he has written his homage song Edina.

Ross showed us his major musical influences tonight, in the perfect surrounding of the Queens hall – in this celebration of soul and Celtic music - and he has great taste! His firm favourites being legends John Martyn, from Glasgow and London, and Van the Man from Belfast (and the deep south influences). Both mix great bass rhythms with perfect expressive soul voices.  

Ross was clearly up for enjoying this packed show and he was sporting new look longer hair and no beard!  He was backed by a full 14-piece band with a string section. He performed some of his own songs, as well as his soul selection. He finished the first set with John Martyn’s, I Only Want to Know About Love. Then in the second set his well loved song, Edina morphed into the Proclaimers ever popular, My Heart.  

Eddi Reader treated us to an upbeat Perfect. It was another joy to hear accomplished guitarist Hamish Stuart, who performed My Fathers Son and a memorable No More Days. While Gaelic singer Julie Fowlis sang, I Just can’t Get Over You (from the film Garden State) and she knows how to take a song on an emotional and intimate journey.  

BRC spoke of John Martyn’s ‘killing it’, and how seeing him live inspired him to be a soul singer too. Ross said, for him the best Van Morrison album was his live 1975 one and his Caledonia soul orchestra. Ross has an ear for the deep emotion of a song, that catches your breath. And none other than Martyn’s double bass player Danny Thompson played on his album.

For the full encore line up finale we enjoyed the cool vibes of renowned Edwyn Collin’s hit song, I Never met a Girl Like you Before, and an inspired version of Van Morrison's Crazy Love - and of course an exhilarating version of the Average White Band’s Pick up the Pieces! 

What a fun night!  Top marks. Thanks Ross.

Postscript: 

A few nights later legendary queen of soul Aretha Franklin died, sadly BRC hadn’t included any Aretha songs!

Van Morrison grew up listening to his dad’s collection of blues and R & B records.  – and mixed his Celtic and soul influences to create a unique soul genre and fusion: when the poignant Celtic moods and stories mixed with the riffs, vibes and relaxed R & B. Along with the improvisation and instinctiveness of the live musicianship of jazz.  

Ross has worked with renowned Gaelic singers Julie Fowlis, Kathleen MacInnes, BBC Folk Award Winner, Ross Ainslie, 2017’s Scottish Jazz Awards’ instrumentalist of the year Konrad Wiszniewski, leading violinist Seonaid Aitken and three of Scotland's finest jazz musicians; John Lowrie, Colin Steele and James Lindsay. His album ‘THE BALLADS OF PECKHAM RYE’, was nominated for SAY awards 2014 (Scottish Album Of The Year) and featured Danny Thompson, Karine Polwart, John Wetton, Aidan O’Rourke and Kathryn Williams.  He can be heard on BBC (TV and Radio), STV, Alba, TG4, Virgin Radio. He has toured the length of the UK to sold out venues and to festivals Celtic Connections, Edinburgh Fringe, Looe, Summer Isles, Lindisfarne, Southern Fried, Underneath The stars.

Music and Art Edinburgh festival

Mogwai

*ART

Scottish Photography at the City Arts Centre -  charting the development of fine art photography in Scotland. The exhibition features work by a range of historic and contemporary artists - Hill and Adamson, Thomas Begbie, Joseph McKenzie, David Williams, Maud Sulter, Wendy McMurdo, Calum Colvin, Christine Borland and Dalziel + Scullion. https://edinburghartfestival.com/whats-on/detail/in-focus-scottish-photography

Rembrandt at the National galleries Mound. 

Victoria Crowe: Beyond Likeness– Scottish Portrait gallery - https://edinburghartfestival.com/whats-on/detail/beyond-likeness (also A Certain Light at the Scottish gallery)  #edartfest

https://edinburghartfestival.com

*MUSIC on offer at Edinburgh festival caters for every taste – from guitar blues, live folk sessions,, grand opera, lively musicals, fun acapella choirs, exciting live shows, intimate concerts Queens hall - Blue Rose Code, Lindisfarne, Blazin Fiddles; and impressive classical orchestras – which include Scottish and international artists; long term favourites such as Tom Jones and Brian Wilson; contemporary performers such as Paloma Faith, Rag n Bone Man; progressive rockers Mogwai at the Leith theatre; folk artists. 

Blue Rose Code

There is the Summer Nights at Princes street gardens- 

Monday 6th August: Tom Jones, with Into The Ark 
Thursday 9th August: Bastille, and The Vaccines, and Retro Video Club 
Tuesday 14th August: Rag n Bone Man, with Grace Carter, and The LaFontaines 
Friday 17th August: Paloma Faith, with Ward Thomas 
Saturday 18th August: Kasabian, plus special guests
Sunday 19th August: Brian Wilson presents Pet Sounds, with Al Jardine + Blondie Chaplinand Beat Root Revival.

#edfringe

#edmusicfest

COMEDY is of course the main event with many respected and well known comedians appearing – Pleasance venue, Underbelly and many more.

VENUES – Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh Festival theatre, George Square theatre, Pleasance, Lyceum, 

Make time for a walk up the Royal mile and down the Mound to Princes street to savour the unique, colourful and often very obscure street entertainment!  Well worth it. Hope the weather holds…..

Scottish festivals & MUSIC 2018

Broken Records Queens Hall Edinburgh

Music revenues are up, with more formats than ever before, but still a third down on the peak of 2002.

25% are spent into A & R to develop new music and it is crucially important to have investment in new talent coming through and for the grassroots to be supported. Also important to have curators.

We have to ask - can we be passive or engage in shaping our own choices?

**NEW ALBUMS:

Broken Records - https://www.brokenrecordsband.com

Blue Rose Code - https://bluerosecode.com

Father John Misty - https://www.fatherjohnmisty.com

Mugstock

**There are many great festivals Scotland lined up for the summer 2018 –

Nile Rodgers presents a new festival Kelvingrove park Glasgow.

"FIESTA & FOLD" - 30th June - 1st July - http://westendfiesta.co.uk

Doune the Rabbit hole – 13^th – 15^th July - https://dounetherabbithole.co.uk

MugStock – 27^th – 30^th July -  http://mugstock.org

TRNSMT – Glasgow Green – http://trnsmtfest.com

Belladrum festival, Inverness – 2^nd – 4^th August -  http://www.tartanheartfestival.co.uk

Edinburgh festival 2018 – 3^rd – 27^th August - https://www.eif.co.uk

 

Nile Rodgers & Irvine Welsh

On radio Scotland Rodgers spoke of his excitement over his new festival, and playing with good mates Earth wind and Fire at Glasgow’ Kelvinggrove park.

I met Nile at Edinburgh book festival a few year back and he did an awesome fun talk there with his guitar in the Spiegel tent! Earth Wind and Fire and Chic! Great fun!

Blue Rose Code at Celtic Connections 2018

A restless torn soul

Blue Rose Code, (aka Ross Wilson) Scottish singer-songwriter, performed a concert at Celtic Connections 2018 to support Beth Orton. Ross commanded the ABC stage as he sang with a full band line up. 

His band consisted of Lyle Watt on guitar, Ian Sloan on Pedal Steel, Angus Lyon on keys, Graham Coe on Cello, Nico Bruce on bass and with drums and brass, trumpet and sax. He played dynamic guitar and the kind of set to get lost in. He performed songs from his new 2017 album ‘Water of Leith’, as well as other fan favourites.

In some memorable songs he has connected to his Scottish roots (thankfully) – and brought in the lovely Gaelic voices of Kathleen McInnes and Julie Fowlis on some of his best songs – Sandaig, Passing Places, Where the Westlin Winds Do Carry Me, Edina - more of this please!  He also performed the soothing Nashville Blues (minus guitar), followed by the optimism of Grateful.

The drama of his voice and songs have soul and hope filled emotional surges. His voice is engaging and expressive alongside his pounding guitar. His sound mixes Celtic soul with smooth rhythms informed by the soul and blues of John Martyn and Motown .

I would have enjoyed to hear Ross on a couple of songs solo to take the tempo down a little. The ABC audience was here to hear the headliner - subtle songstress Beth Orton - and sometimes less can be more too. I first heard Ross on his previous sold out visit to the folk club for more intimate gigs and was highly impressed with both his strong performance and music and also with the enthusiasm of the fans.  

Ross is an exciting young talent and I look forward to his future songs. He was great fun to shoot, with the engrossed fun energy he puts into his set!   https://bluerosecode.com

He sang of the cries of freedom all along the west coast

Blue Rose Code Milngavie folk club

It was a thrill to hear this exciting Scottish talent

Ross charmed and beguiled us with his soul-filled voice and songs from his 2017 album, Water of Leith along with some of his best loved songs as fans filled the intimate MFC setting

He performed along with his quality band that included Andy Lucas on keys who also played the opening support, and is a strong singer songwriter in his own right, and with accomplished guitarist Wild Lyle Watt. Its encouraging to see such outstanding younger talent when so many on the folk circuit are not so young anymore and are well into their sixties.

SET

His set ranged from blues ballads Nashville Blues to the upbeat rhythms of One Day at a Time, and Ebb and Flow. He sang his older favourites – Rebecca O, One Day at a Time, In the morning, My Heart The Sun, Where the Westlin Winds do Carry Me, Silent Drums,

I was particularly impressed with his new songs, such as Passing Places, Sandaig, 

He sang his very moving interpretation of Davie Stewart’s Scotland Yet.

We were treated to top vocals on Edina, followed by an impassioned Child and a jazzy I am Grateful. And for his encore he sang a welcome version of John Martyn’s, ‘I don’t know about Evil I only want to know about love’. (Martyn’s renowned double bass player Danny Thompson played on BRC’s album the Ballads of Peckham Rye.)

He sang of the cries of freedom all along the west coast.

His sound mixes Celtic soul with smooth rhythms – clearly informed by the blues of Van Morrison and other guitar legends such as Paul Simon or John Martyn – and as he says left alone with some Motown records! No wonder I’m a fan then! (While I might also choose to hear a little of bob Dylan in there too.)

I first heard Ross on his previous sold out visit to the club last December and was heartily impressed with both his strong performance and music and also with the enthusiasm of the fans.  

I met him before the gig when we spoke of the legend Dick Gaughan, who has been unwell.

I thought of his chat between songs. He told stories of the songs he sung – of the injustices he wanted to shine lights on.  His "What You Do With What You'e Got, The Yew Tree and of course his Westlin Winds. 

Celtic Connections 2018 are holding a concert for Dick Gaughan.

https://bluerosecode.com

On his new album Water of Leith BRC is joined by Julie Fowli and Kathleen McInnes.

Ross’s voice enriched our souls and I’m grateful too for his gift of music! Ross sings of how to love, the soul of Scotia, how to reach new horizons.