A little while ago, I was extremely lucky to have a photo shoot with @bwattsphotography . He’s usually in the USA, but we managed to take advantage of his being in Scotland and us having access to the library and the whisky cellar at Turin Castle. Books, drams and fiddle are a few of my favourite things, so it was awesome to have that all captured so beautifully by such a talented photographer. Being photographed is not at all in my comfort zone, so I completely appreciate Brandon working his magic! Here’s a couple of examples.
#photoshoot #professionalphotographer #madskills #whisky #whiskytasting #drams #inthelibrary #itsgettingscotinhere #professionalmusician
A few from the weekend playing @jeriandruth gigs in Moniaive and Edinburgh 🎻
@moniaivefolkfestival & @edintradfest looked after us so well and I had the best time hanging out at both festivals! Both towns are always excellent fun and there's a magic about Scotland when the sun shines - it's such a beautiful thing ❤️
We played 3 completely different sets and I broke a violin string on stage, which was baffling because I don't think that's happened since I was a child playing in youth orchestra.
I'm still working on building strength + stamina, but it's a joy to play music 🎶
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#professionalmusician #scotland #oldtimefiddle #dropthumbsnotbombs #musicfestival
@crossover_festival is a great festival, that I love wholeheartedly ❤️
I took some photos (start + end) and played a lot of tunes.
It was great to be performing in the old time collaboration One Night String Band (@jeriandruth + @oldspotmusic ) and a bluegrass set with @gracehoneywell that wrapped up on a few songs with @goodguyhank . I also taught the Bluegrass Fiddle Workshop and played fiddle+banjo+guitar for a dance feature.
This was my first festival after injury and while that created some challenges, I had a lot of support + practical help from friends, which I'm thoroughly grateful for. It's an amazing community that I feel so lucky to be in 😍🎻
Come sing! 🎶
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#strivingforvibes #bluegrassfiddle #oldtimefiddle #festivalseason #professionalmusician
your favorite bluegrass babes of vim and vigor and alluring honky tonk grooves are back in action TOMORROW NIGHT APRIL 29TH at 8pm @bowlersrest in Edinburgh, Leith! entry is free, double fiddles guaranteed 😘💅🏼
Trouble in mind, I'm blue, but I won't be blue always.
The sun's gonna shine on my backdoor someday.
Richard M Jones, 100ish years ago.
🪕
This song came back into my head (it's so strange how songs wash in and out of mind) and banjo seemed the thing for it. These lyrics feel like they hit different this season 💔
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#blues #clawhammerbanjo #fiddleplayer #scotland #troubleinmind
Phone is full of @tattieborder photos after her recent visit to Glasgow. She brings so much joy into a situation 😍🐕
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#dogsofinstagram #citybreak #borderterrier #fyp #flashbackfriday
Another #throwback to London! (last one)
There was a Ballad Lines day on @musicaltheatrereview one of the days I was playing the show. We were asked about our favourite line in the musical and as a dep (deputy) who learnt the part without team rehearsal, my easiest bit to prepare was the traditional fiddle tune that I already knew! 🎻🎶
Thanks @graciemlai for including me in the online stuff 🎥
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#fiddleplayer #musicianlife #oldtimefiddle #londontheatre
#throwbackthursday to a couple of outings as a tourist in London earlier this month.
Visiting Kew Gardens, walking around Richmond, going through Chinatown, lunch with friends, visiting the London Scottish Malt Whisky Society (for diversity), rush hour on the West End (overheard a school kid say "what is this, the theatre street or something?" 😂) and seeing Hadestown in style - very lucky!!
Apparently, I always photograph Wollemi pines when I find them 🌿 ❤️
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#London #westend #kewgardens #daysoff
A few more pictures from my time playing Ballad Lines in London. It's an amazing piece of theatre, with a great team, that I hope reaches lots of audiences! 🎻
I was apparently taking photos of bright skies, spring starting and pretty sunsets. I really enjoyed playing the show and the chance to reconnect with pals (special mention to @louisesingsjazz for the epic outing to jazz + folk music all over town 🎶💃).
I'm home again in Glasgow and very sadly, wasn't able to finish my engagement due to injury. I'm still figuring out those associated logistics and trying to stay hopeful.
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#balladlines #professionalmusician #londontheatre #fiddleplayer #londoncity
Today brings up my first week in London playing @balladlines filling in for @sally.fiddle ! Two shows today, then one more week before I head home to Glasgow. It's a very cool thing to be doing!
One of the challenges has been figuring out how to play on Sally's fiddle that's tuned a tone lower (both me and the instrument have taken some getting to know each other). My favourite thing to practice for fun/tuning has been The Doctor by @olavmjelva . This is not the tuning it's recorded in, but I've been enjoying the resonance in F on this fiddle, with a G scale for my fingers. I think it sounds better under my ear than it does through a phone, but there we go.
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#fiddleplayer #musicianlife #musicaltheatre #london #practicepracticepractice
I'm in London!
I'm delighted to be filling in for @sally.fiddle for two weeks on Ballad Lines, playing parts developed by @laurajwilkie , so I've been listening to recordings of two of my favourites for the last little while, which is joyous! It's very cool to be here, playing one of the best musicals I've experienced - I strongly recommend everyone check this show out!!
🎶
I used to play musicals a lot in my late teens and early twenties, but playing the fiddle role (rather than viola, or violin) is the first time I've done this kind of thing not in a string section. It feels so different to be on a solo part! I arrived on Saturday, watched it and then played it for the first time yesterday (no rehearsal, just practice and counting as hard as I know how). It's been an intense few days, but the kind of pressure that I hope is going to make me a better musician 🎻
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#musicianlife #musicaltheatre #london #offwestend #fiddleplayer
A pretty last minute decision to spend the weekend in England playing old time tunes. I enjoyed the wintery scenes on the journey ❄️ Also the banjo lit up by coloured lights 🪕
4am was the earliest that I finished jamming and I still didn't get through all of the tunes... and it was a delight to participate in a couple of instant square dances.
It's always so great to hang out with pals playing music 🎻❤️
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#england #winter #musicianlife #oldtimefiddle #snow
