A Sense of the Place CD is a collaboration of local musicians of songs inspired by the North East of Scotland.
Irene’s song “Calloused Hands” is one of the songs featured on the album.
The idea of making “A Sense of the Place” CD flowed from this fundraising effort as a lock-down project and was made possible by the award last October of a Coastal Communities Grant from Aberdeenshire Council.
Sense of the Place CD
The project, set in the coastal communities’ strip from Findon to St Cyrus explores what it is like to live on the fringes, the margins, where land meets sea in the North East corner of the Mearns. The inspirations for songs came from the lives and experience of the artists themselves and source material from some local historians and writers. They reflect on the sense of place, the people, the stories, and the roots that make us who we are.
Each of the CD songs is steeped in meticulous research, and is authoritatively performed, bringing evocative and dream-like qualities, raw emotion and strong story telling. These tremendously powerful songs form a unique body of work that will be listened to, played and sung for generations.
‘‘It was envisaged that some of Scotland’s finest musician and local artists might like to contribute to the recording, and we were over the moon when artists responded to our invitation to take part.’ said Meg Findlay, project Artist Support .
”We have ten artists who are all weel kent in the North East and stand with some of Scotland’s finest talents, particularly in musicianship and song-writing. Here’s the list of artists and the song titles ….. you’ll have to wait to buy the CD to get the stories associated with these amazing songs.”
Iona Fyfe – Lady Finella
Claire Hastings – Keeper of the light
Kris Drever – Catterline
Mike Blackburn – Boat memories
Jenny Sturgeon – Violet Rae
Findlay Napier – The Snowdrop
Irene Watt – Calloused Hands
Steve Byrne – The Sands o St Cyrus
Bob Knight – Cutty Sark
Paul McKenna – Far From Home
Award-winning collaberating artists
The artists: Iona Fyfe – deeply rooted in the singing tradition of the North-East and winner of Scots Singer of the Year at MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Award 2018. Claire Hastings – Winner of BBC Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2015 ‘A remarkably talented singer-songwriter’ SONGLINES Magazine.
Mike Blackburn – sings from the heart and ‘Has a voice like warm velvet’ Ruth Fisher. Steve Byrne – finalist in 2001’s inaugural Young Traditional Musician of the Year. Immersed in trad music since early childhood, writes in his native Scots tongue. Irene Watt – musician, singer, ethnomusicologist, clarsach player and teacher who run three choirs.
Findlay Napier – one of Scotland’s finest singer-songwriters, teaching artist, master storyteller, ‘mesmerising and addictive’ Maverick Magazine. Bob Knight – well known and loved folk musician round the clubs in the North-East. Jenny Sturgeon – featured artist for Travelling Folk and BBC radio, ‘Musically superb, fascinating and utterly charming’ Shire Folk.
Paul McKenna – featured in Transatlantic Sessions 2019. His powerful, yet intensely emotive voice and passionate social conscience find expression in his new song. Kris Drever – multiple award winner with an incredible seven BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. Much acclaimed – a phenomenon. Joining them are the very accomplished musicians – Aaron Jones, Mhairi Hall, Emma Smith, Jen Austin and Mike Vass who provide excellent accompaniment.
The CD is produced using the expertise of top producer of the folk genre, Mike Vass.
Here is Irene playing Calloused Hands, live at the Heritage Centre, Gardenstown.
