Scotland’s most celebrated fiddle band Blazin’ Fiddles will be joined by special guests Justin Currie of Del Amitri and Edinburgh’s Soundhouse Choir, for an exciting Saint Andrew’s Day celebration at Edinburgh’s Usher Hall on Thursday 30th November 2023.
The award-winning band celebrating 25 years of touring and recording comprises musical royalty with Jenna Reid, Bruce MacGregor, Rua Macmillan and Kristan Harvey on fiddle alongside Anna Massie on guitar and fiddle and Angus Lyon on piano.
The six-piece hope this will be the first in a series of eponymous concerts held annually to celebrate Scotland’s national day. Each member of Blazin’ Fiddles draws a distinct flavour of music from their part of the Highlands and Islands. Blending solo and ensemble sets with the occasional insightful tale, they come together in a fiery blend to deliver an encapsulating and musically uplifting evening of entertainment.
Founding member and lead vocalist of legendary Scottish alternative rock band Del Amitri, Justin Currie will be joining the band to perform. Justin Currie was born in Glasgow in 1964, forming indie/post-punk band Del Amitri in 1980 while at school. After being joined by guitarist and sometime farmer Iain Harvie in 1982, Currie and Del Amitri released their self-titled debut album in 1985, going on to have several radio hits throughout the 1990s. Del Amitri, reforming for a UK tour in 2014 eventually released their seventh studio album, Fatal Mistakes in 2021. 2023 saw the band continue to perform live, appearing in the UK, Australia and the US. Currie lives in Glasgow with a cat called Rita and enjoys sitting about watching football and the films of Alfred Hitchcock on his television.
Opening the concert before sharing the stage with Blazin’ Fiddles and Justin Currie will be The Soundhouse Choir. Run by The Soundhouse Organisation, a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation whose mission is to promote independent live music, the choir was founded in 2016 as a collaboration with choir leader Heather Macleod. Originally from the Isle of Lewis, and now based in Edinburgh, Heather is well known as a teacher and performer, having performed with various acts including The Eliza Carthy Big Band. The Soundhouse Choir is a large community choir where all are welcome to share their voices and love of music.
Bruce MacGregor of Blazin’ Fiddles, said:
We think St Andrew’s Day deserves a real celebration, so we’re bringing together some of Scotland’s finest musicians and voices for one night only. We’re honoured to be joined by the incredibly talented Justin Currie and the wonderful voices of the Soundhouse Choir for what’s shaping up to be a great night of live music in the iconic Usher Hall.
Heather Macleod, choir leader of The Soundhouse Choir, said:
We are beyond delighted and excited to return to Edinburgh’s stunning Usher Hall for the second time this year as guests of Blazin’ Fiddles for a very special concert for St Andrew’s Night. We can’t wait to share the stage with them as well as Justin Currie – it’s going to be epic!