Emily Smith and Jamie McClennan

February 21st
Members $15 Non-members $20

'Scots Singer of the Year 2008/9' Emily Smith has firmly established herself as a leading light in the Scottish folk scene. Since winning the 2002 'BBC Young Traditional Musician of the Year Award' she has released four critically acclaimed albums, toured extensively with her band on the international folk circuit and is recognised not only as one of Scotland's finest interpreters of traditional song but also as a talented songwriter and multi-instrumentalist.

New Zealand born musician Jamie McClennan has many strings to his bow. He has over ten years experience as a touring musician having played in line-ups ranging from surf bands to pipe bands to traditional bands. His versatility and passion for music comes across in his infectious energy on stage and it's clear that every part of him is affected by his performance.

With Jamie McClennan's Scottish ancestry and Emily Smith being born and raised only ten miles from Burns' Dumfriesshire home of Ellisland Farm, it seemed fitting to make their contribution to the Scottish Government's 'Year of Homecoming' an album of Robert Burns songs. (2009 marked the 250th anniversary of the birth of Scotland's National Bard Robert Burns.)

They started out with the intention to only include songs Burns wrote in or about Dumfriesshire but as they delved deeper with their search the album has become a collection of lesser known songs written by Burns, songs he collected and a few in there for no reason other than that they enjoy singing and playing them!

There is a happy, optimistic feel to their new album, 'Adoon Winding Nith'. There are no broken hearts, no sad endings, just songs celebrating love, beauty and good times. From the delicate 'Gowden Locks o Anna' which Burns said was "the best love song I ever composed in my life" to the jolly 'Whistle o'er the Lave o it', Smith and McClennan display their versatility as a duo occasionally underpinned by the bass skills of Duncan Lyall. Their imaginative choice of instrumentation and approach to arranging ensures each tracks sounds fresh to the listener's ear be it original Burns or new settings of songs such as their powerful 'Soldier's Return' and lullaby version of 'Lassie Lie Near Me'.

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