To brighten up a cold January, GIL has been on the lookout for some forthcoming gigs here in London for lovers of Gaelic music. Here are some highlights:
Burns Night Songs with Ainsley Hamill.
Although she’ll likely be singing in Scots on this occasion, Gaelic singer Ainsley Hamill returns to Cecil Sharp House on Burns Night with a programme of Burns Night London Songs.
A few tickets are still available here.
Duncan Chisholm touring his Black Cuilin album
Fresh from winning Album of the Year 2023 at Na Trads, Highland fiddler Duncan Chisholm will be showcasing said disc at King’s Place on 2 Feb.
Sadly tickets are all now gone, but you can put your name on the waiting list here.
Brìghde Chaimbeul to play Hackney
Trailblazing small-piper Brìghde Chaimbeul is back in London in February, this time playing at the Hackney Folk Club. The hipsters of Homerton are not going to know what has hit them.
Thursday 22nd Feb at the Round Chapel. Tickets available here.
Trail West to play the 100 Club
Tradsters Trail West will be visiting the dubious surroundings of Oxford Street’s 100 Club for the only London gig of their current tour.
30th March 2024 – tickets available here.
Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas
Sabhal Mòr Ostaig favourite Alasdair Fraser and other half of this perhaps unlikely duet (fiddle and cello), Natalie Haas, will be playing at King’s Place on 23 May. It shouldn’t work, but it does. (Their version of Farewell to Nigg is a particular spine-chilling favourite of GIL’s.)
Tickets here.
Julie Fowlis and Westward the Light
Gaelic sensation Julie Fowlis is back at King’s Place on 31st May with support from folk quartet Westward the Light. There are still a few tickets left for this but greasaibh oirbh ma tha sibh ag iarraidh fear fhaighinn!
Tickets here.
Note that King’s Place is running a “Scotland Unwrapped” series this year, from which some of the above gigs are drawn. Other Highland / trad acts appearing later in the year include Mànran and Kinnaris Quintet. GIL will update the site later, but the full programme is available here.