Catriona Mckay and Chris Stout will launch their new album ‘White Nights’ at 28 York Place (aka, 'The Police Club) in Edinburgh on Sun 20th June at 8pm. This is your opportunity to get your hands on the album before it is officially released later in the summer as well as have a great live musical experience to boot.
Tickets are just £10 from venue or
at the door from 7:30pm or
email: jwwelsh@btinternet.com or
text: 07717 885 855 or
from Coda Music on The Mound
Here are some reviews and comments about Chris and Catriona, jointly and individually, to give you some idea of the amazingly high quality performance you'll be letting yourself in for if you buy a ticket for this gig.
"The outstanding musicianship of this closing concert in the Edinburgh International Harp festival was maintained by Shetland fiddler Chris Stout and harpist Catriona McKay in a four-handed hotbed of musical creativity. Playing material from their forthcoming White Knights album, they opened with an eastern-inclined prelude, Stout’s fiddle keening and trilling plangently over whirring harp strings, before accelerating into the kind of vivacious exchanges that characterise their playing.
"There was a tune inspired by the Lofoten village of Å – pronounced 'eugh', an unprepossessing title for a sprightly number, while The Trows' Jig, celebrating Shetland’s little folk, was a gentler melody, though with a distinctly nordic ring. The trows' apparent response – a supernaturally snapped harp string – did nothing to diminish a hugely engaging performance."
(Edinburgh Harp Festival, April 2010)
"If Stout is composing at a high level, using the Scandinavian influence on Shetland’s music to exhilarating effect, he is also playing the traditional slow airs of the islands, such as Auld Swaara, with uncommon finesse, deep feeling and a very personal tone."
(Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh, Rob Adams November 2007)
" … quite simply, the best musical performance in the Hall’s history, one which would have done justice to auditoria anywhere in the world."
(Glenurquhart Public Hall, September 07; Chris and Catriona)
"The interplay between Stout’s fiddle and McKay’s (borrowed) harp was frequently dazzling and complemented by a palpable delight in the music, as Shetland tunes whizzed off into mercurial excursions … "
(The Scotsman, Jim Gilchrist; April 07)
"His tunes embrace every nuance of musical expression, including agonisingly beautiful album closer ‘Dynröst’, a tune that would wrest an emotional response from the hardest heart."
(***** Songlines, Chris Stout)
Chris Stout is a hugely dynamic and charismatic fiddle player, composer and producer from Fair Isle in the Shetland Islands. His diverse background, deeply rooted in both traditional and classical styles, has brought him to collaborate with musicians across the globe.
Catriona McKay and Chris Stout consolidated over 10 years of performing as a duo with the long awaited CD "Laebrack" (Greentrax October 2005). Reviews included comments like " ... remarkable duo ... cutting-edge of traditional music in the 21st Century." (www.musicinscotland.com). "It's a musical 'tour de force' that demands listening. The playing is quite excellent." (www.allcelticmusic.com) "rooted in their traditions.brimming with contemporary influence ... A lesson in harp and fiddle playing, and a delight to the ear. (Scotland on Sunday).
Catriona has taught many harp courses and workshops/masterclasses in various countries including USA, Switzerland, England, and Ireland, extensively in Scotland as well as the Edinburgh International Harp Festival for many years. She has been the external examiner for the BA Scottish Music at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and has adjudicated several harp competitions including the New Hampshire Highland Games and the Virginia Highland Games, USA. She is harp and clarsach teacher at Scotland's specialist music school, St. Mary's Music School, Edinburgh and has been a guest harp teacher at the RSAMD, Royal Northern College of Music, Chethams School of Music, City of Edinburgh Broughton School specialist music department and Limerick University Irish World Music Centre.
Catriona has devised a new harp that has been designed and made by Scottish harp makers "Starfish Designs". It has a new tuning pattern, designed for use in contemporary folk music. The "Starfish McKay" harp is unique and is an experimental and exciting step in a new direction for the evolving tradition of the Celtic harp.
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