Universal Hall: Music

MAGGIE MACINNES Fri 19th Mar, 8pm Singer and clàrsach player, Maggie MacInnes, was voted Best Gaelic Singer of the Year in the BBC Scots Trad Music Awards, 2004, Maggie will be performing Gaelic songs from her family tradition and some of her favourite Scots songs and will be accompanied by the wonderful Brian McAlpine (of Session A9) on Keyboards and Accordian with Anna Massie on fiddle, mandolin and tenor banjo. "Maggie … brings to her performance an uncontrived naturalness and at times raw heartfeltness that is nothing short of captivating.” P. Urpeth, Hi-Arts. £9/£7 to hear some of Maggie's music, click on the widget below FINDHORN FEMALE ARTISTS LIVE IN CONCERT Fri 2nd April, 8pm A Fundraiser for the Universal Hall & Moray Women’s Aid, this fabulous event features four local female artists/groups. CELTIC HARPIST & VOCALIST Iona Leigh has a unique sound that has been described as gorgeous vocals floating over a Celtic tinged musical backdrop, with an intermingled sense of both tradition and the contemporary. FOLK - JAZZ PIANIST Susanne Olbrich is a truly gifted pianist and composer who has inspired audiences in Scotland as well as abroad. Her music is a wonderful mix of Classical, Tango, Jazz & Celtic influences. FOLK SINGER-SONGWRITER Elizabeth Rogers has toured internationally as a Classical & Jazz singer, and is currently touring to promote her new self-penned folk material and upcoming second album. Kate O’Connell’s FEMALE ACAPELLA GROUP Too Many Kooks are vibrant, energetic performers with inspiring songs & beautiful harmonies, who deliver a wide repertoire of Scots, Pop, Gospel & Trad. African material. £9/£7 Tickets sold at the door Website Links http://www.ionaleigh.com http://www.myspace.com/susanneolbrich http://www.elizabethrogers.com http://www.toomanykooks.org.uk/site/group.html ELIZABETH ROGERS Fri 16th April, 7.30pm Liz Rogers returns to her old home fresh out of the recording studio to launch her latest CD, “Breathe and Begin”. After playing to enthusiastic audiences across the western-US and Japan last year, Liz comes back to the Hall to share her original folk music plus tales from the road, accompanying herself on guitar and with guest musicians backing. Having been compared to Joan Baez more times than she can count, Liz’s pure voice and intimate songwriting style are a treat not to be missed. £10/£8 DEVA PREMAL AND MITEN Fri 7th May, 8pm With CD sales of nearly one million, Deva & Miten are living proof that the power of mantra is as relevant today as it was thousands of years ago. Deva and Miten’s music is an expression of spiritual devotion, through song and chant. Deva, best known for her top-selling chant CDs, is a classically trained musician and gifted singer. Miten, was a singer-songwriter in the 70s, opening for such groups as Fleetwood Mac, Lou Reed and Ry Cooder. “Beautiful music, beautiful..." H.H. The Dalai Lama £12/£10 to hear some of Deva Premal's music click on the widget below THE AN TOBAR SESSIONS: AIDAN O’ROURKE’S AN TOBAR BAND AND THE DAVE MILLIGAN TRIO Fri 14th May Two of Scotland’s most exciting and acclaimed composers, present a stunning concert centred around a brace of contemporary musical pieces, which were originally commissioned by the An Tobar Arts Centre (Tobermory) in celebration of their tenth anniversary. The concert will also feature a specially written, new work by Dave Milligan and Aidan O’Rourke (Lau) which unites both of their respected ensembles for the first time. "Intense, beautiful…." (The Independent) **** £10/£8 to hear some of Aidan O'Rourke's music click on the widget below CHLOË GOODCHILD Sat 22nd May, 8pm Northern Lights Conference Concert A rare opportunity to bathe in the amazing sound world of the extraordinary Chloë Goodchild! Passionate about voice and sound as a vehicle for spirit, Chloe founded the Naked Voice practice in 1990. She has recorded a range of highly successful musical CDs and audio books, as well as singing for film, TV, radio and theatre world-wide. Her Sura CD received a Grammy nomination, and her most recent audio-teaching book, Awakening through Sound, won the USA Earphones Award 2008. “…a spectacular genius … at the core of a fascinating phenomenon that is allowing individuals to find their freedom and creativity.” Coleman Barks £10/£8 DUNCAN CHISHOLM AND IVAN DREVER Wed 26th May, 7.30pm Two of Scotland's most esteemed traditional players, Duncan Chisholm and Ivan Drever make a welcome return to the Universal Hall. With their eclectic mix of fiddle, guitar and song, an evening with Duncan and Ivan is a truly special experience, combining Duncan's fiddle mastery and Ivan's self-penned jewels. Both men work with esteemed Scottish band Wolfstone and together they wrote ‘Heart and Soul’ used in the Oscar winning motion picture 'Good Will Hunting.' £9/£7 KAREN MATHESON Fri 4th June, 8pm Widely recognized as the haunting vocals of Celtic supergroup Capercaillie, Karen Matheson will tonight appear with her band, who include Donald Shaw, Ewen Vernal and James Grant. Performing as part of her current UK tour, Karen has been involved with various projects including the award winning BBC series Transatlantic sessions as well as touring the world and recording with various artists incuding Emmylou Harris and Paul Brady amongst others. A truly special performer, we’re delighted to have her back to the Universal Hall for the first time in many years. £14/£12 to hear some of Karen's music click on the widget below DAIMH AND BUILLE Wed 16th June, 8pm Dàimh, (pronounced Dive) and Buille come together in a Tune Up tour.The charging pipe and fiddle led assault that has seen Daimh rocking far and wide is now joined by the amazing vocals of (mod gold medalist ) Calum Alex MacMillan from Lewis, Buille perform music based on traditional Irish forms but freely borrowing stylistic elements from jazz, blues, Eastern European music and contemporary classical music. Driven by Concertina , Uillean pipes and fiddle. " as fresh a breath that's blown through traditional (and roots) circles in a long, long time." The Irish Times £9/£7 to hear some of Buille's music, click on the widget below SCOTTISH CHAMBER ORCHESTRA Fri 18th June The SCO and Principal Conductor Robin Ticciati return to the Universal Hall with selections from Mozart (the overture from Don Giovanni and Violin Concerto No 5) and Brahms (Serenade No1). Brahms’ Serenade contains some of the composer’s most appealing music – it’s melodious and big-hearted with more than a hint of folk influence. Whilst writing it, Brahms was much influenced by Mozart, whose ‘Turkish’ Violin Concerto is performed here by the sensational young German soloist, Veronika Eberle. (Picture shown of Robin Ticciati by Chris Christodoulou). “ … a knock-out sound: tight, balanced and intensely lyrical.” The Scotsman £12/ £8 Seniors / £6 Disabled / £5 Students and Unemployed to hear some of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra's music, click on the widget below THE WILDERS Sat 24th July, 8pm The Wilders from Kansas City, Missouri, play storming roots-of-country, bluegrass and hillbilly. This is music as infectious, fun-loving and goodtime as you have heard, delivered by players who have burned up concert halls and festivals across the land. One of the most highly-charged acts on the circuit, the Wilders resurrect 1940's and 50's honky-tonk heroes like Hank Williams and Lefty Frizzell, “…hard-driving rhythm and sweetly dovetailing fiddle and dobro lines, they're an unstoppable honky-tonk choo-choo…” The Herald £12/£10 the hear some of the Wilder's music, click on the widget below