An Interview With Scots Neo-Trad Super Group Old Blind Dogs: “Continuing That Evolution.”

The Scots neo-traditional super group Old Blind Dogs will perform at the Fort Hunter Barn in Harrisburg on Thursday, September 206th at 7:30 pm.  The concert is sponsored by the Susquehanna Folk Music Society.  More information can be found on the Susquehanna Folk Music Society website. Tickets are $24 General Admission, $22 for SFMS Members, and $10 for students (ages 3-22).  Tickets will be available at the door or online.

Earlier this week, the band chatted with SFMS staff writer Peter Winter via email about what makes traditional Scottish music unique, their newest record, “Room with a View,” and some of the band’s favorite Scottish folk records!

_______________________________________________________

Where does the band name come from?

The band name comes from an American ‘Old Time’ song called The Old Grey Mare. The band started touring in the US around 1994, the song was in the repertoire and when pressed on an early tour for a band name (which the group had not at that point committed to) the first thing that popped into their heads was the line “The old blind dog, she stole all the sausages, down in Alabama” and the name stuck…

How would you characterize the Scottish fiddle music tradition? What sets it apart? 

Within Scotland there are many musical influences and styles that all add to the vast richness of our fiddle culture. There’s not one thing that sets it apart. Fiddle music in Scotland is defined by the rhythm of the dances and songs of the different regions that make up this puzzle. Gaelic song is part of this as much as pipe Marches and Strathspeys and reels. From as far north as Shetland down to the Borders there are a huge range of musical styles which are constantly evolving.

You guys obviously bring in a lot of different styles into your music. How do you approach the fine line between tradition and innovation? 

We were all brought up steeped in the traditional music the came before us but it’s impossible in a world of multi media to live sheltered from exposure to music and popular culture from all over the world. As a result we were all brought up listening to music from every genre and many other cultures. Whilst we’ve always remained very respectful of our tradition – we are very proud of our culture after all – we’ve all been heavily influenced by other music. As an aural culture, passed on by ear, our tradition has always changed. By incorporating new styles and influences we are just continuing that evolution.

Where does the title for your newest record, “Room with a View” come from?

The album title came from a lovely day photographing the front cover. An early start in the mist, loading furniture in to a van and heading for an isolated chimney on the road between Tomintoul and Grantown-on-Spey.The weather was kind to us!

What do you hope the audience takes away from an Old Blind Dogs show?

Our shows are an opportunity to dance and sing, to immerse yourself for one night in the joy and hedonism of Scottish ‘Celtic’ culture. Let your hair down, take a ‘dram’ (a shot of whisky), forget your worries and transport yourself to Scotland for a night!

What are some mandatory records to listen to for people who want to get more into specifically traditional Scottish music?

Music is so subjective I think it’s better if we answer this individually with our personal favorite traditional Scottish albums!

Aaron 

1. “Handful of Earth” by Dick Gaughan 

2. “When First I Went To Caledonia” by Tony Cuffe 

3. “Yont The Tay” by Jim Reid

4. “Faultlines” by Karine Polwart

5. “Both Culture” – Martyn Bennett

Ali

1. Deaf Sheperd – “Gies A Drink O Water”

2. Wolfstone – “Unleashed”

3. Duncan Chisholm – “Redpoint”

4. Gordon Duncan – “Just For Séamus”

5. Eclipse First – “Names And Places”

Jonny

1.Silly Wizard – “Live in America”

2.Dick Gaughan- “Live in Edinburgh”

3. Jonny Cunningham- “Fair Warning”

4. Phil Cunningham – “Palamino Waltz”

5. The Corries – “Best Of”

Donald

1. Easy Club – “Skirlie Beat”

2. Shooglenifty – “Venus in Tweeds”

3. Karine Polwart – “Any Album”

_______________________________________________________

Peter Winter lives in Harrisburg where he writes, teaches music, plays in the Celtic group Seasons, DJs, runs half of the record label His & Hers Records and serves on the board of the SFMS. He is on instagram

An Interview with Nicholas Williams of Québécois trio Genticorum: “Constantly Learning!”

Celebrated Québécois trio Genticorum will perform at the Ware Center in Lancaster on Friday, September 20th at 7:30 pm.  The concert is sponsored by the Susquehanna Folk Music Society.  More information can be found on the Susquehanna Folk Music Society website. Tickets are $25 General Admission, $22 for SFMS Members, and $5 for students (ages 3-22).  Tickets will be available at the door or online.

Earlier this week, Nicholas Williams who provides Genticorum with vocals, accordion and flute, chatted with SFMS staff writer Peter Winter via email about the roots of Québécois music, as well as the group’s newest record, “Avant L’Orage.”

_______________________________________________________

How would you describe  the and sound of Quebecois music for someone who is not as familiar with it? Take the Irish musicians who were jamming in the lower decks of the Titanic, get them to snowshoe 40 miles through the woods to drink spruce beer in a log cabin with a group of burly french speaking woodsmen that love to sing while they work for 12 hours at a stretch. Inhale the delicious aroma of salt pork and baked beans with maple syrup that is simmering on the wood stove, and make a place at the piano for Marie-Hélène, who just got back from Boston, where she learned some cool new chords that fit perfectly with the song that everyone is singing…

What can you tell me about the new record, 2018’s “Avant L’Orage”? Avant L’Orage translates to “Before the Storm.” We love the image of the moment before the storm hits, when the air is charged with electric potential, but at the same time there is a quiet, calm focus.   It also refers to the fact that while all of the traditional songs that we have arranged for the CD are love songs, they all end in tempestuous disaster.

You guys have a been a band for 18 years! Does it feel that long? How do you keep it fresh?

Being connected to the larger traditional music community helps.   As well as performers, we are teachers, audience members, dancers, cultural ambassadors, and students!  We’re constantly learning from musicians we meet, and gaining inspiration from the people in our music communities, whether they are our fans, or our idols!   

_______________________________________________________

Peter Winter lives in Harrisburg where he writes, teaches music, plays in the Celtic group Seasons, DJs, runs half of the record label His & Hers Records and serves on the board of the SFMS. He is on instagram