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FRASER BRUCE, PETE CLARK, IAN BRUCE, GREGOR LOWREY - Auld Hat New Heids

FRASER BRUCE, PETE CLARK, IAN BRUCE, GREGOR LOWREY - Auld Hat New Heids
Rickety Rackety Records RRR005

Four stalwarts of the Scottish folk scene come together here to create a show (and this album) of classic Scottish song, designed to make you feel like you are back in the early days of the folk clubs. They have chosen some of the most popular songs from that era – Shoals Of Herrin’, Wark O’ The Weavers, Fairfield Crane, Twa Recruitin’ Sergeants etc – and performed them in a straight-up, honest way, just as you might have heard them ‘back in the day’. Their hope is to get audiences (and listeners) singing along, enjoying all the fun and camaraderie that was part of weekly life for many back in the 60s and 70s.

It works! Within the first few minutes I was belting out Doon In The Wee Room and Gallawa’ Hills with them. And I didn’t stop much until it was over. Brothers Fraser and Ian provide most of the main vocals, with Ian’s guitar, Pete’s fiddle and Gregor’s accordion providing the best of accompaniment. Though these instrumentalists are well capable of filling the stage on their own, here they don’t; the focus is very much on the songs and the feelgood ambience.

This is one for people who want to reminisce about the good old days, or who want to experience them for the first time. It’s not perfect, and the style might feel a bit dated for some, but it is an album that shows us a little of what we are missing in this immaculately produced, often homogenised age. And I defy anyone not to sing along!

www.fraserbruce.co.uk

Fiona Heywood


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This album was reviewed in Issue 121 of The Living Tradition magazine.