Produced by Davy Steele;
Recorded at Pier House Studios, Edinburgh;
Engineered by Peter Haigh;
Cover photo by Stuart Polwart;
Sleeve design by Iain Copeland / Just George

The CD title of course refers to Greig / Keith: Last Leaves of Traditional Ballads and Ballad Airs.

Musicians

Karine Polwart: vocals, guitar;
Steve Byrne: vocals, bouzouki, guitar, cittern, mandolin;
Kit Patterson: fiddle, guitar, mandolin;
Mark Dunlop: bodhrán, whistles

Tracks

1. Whaur Dae Ye Lie? (5.02)
2. Strathmartine Mains (Love and Freedom) (Roud 6258) / Banish Misfortune (2.52)
3. The Hills of Ardmorn (4.03)
4. The Light Dragoon (Roud 162; Child 299; G/D 7:1470) (2.47)
5. The Dreadful End of Marianna for Sorcery (4.00)
6. Thomas McElvogue’s No.  2 / Rocky Road to Dublin / Merrily Kissed the Quaker / Cathal McConnell’s Slip Jig (5.31)
7. The Beggar Man (Roud 212; Child 279 Appendix; Henry H810) (3.27)
8. Dimna Juda (2.48)
9. Alison Cross (Roud 3212; Child 35) (4.04)
10. The Bonnie Lass of Fyvie (Roud 545; G/D 1:84) / The Silver Spear (5.04)
11. Jimmy Waddell / The Battle of the Somme (4.41)
12. The Green Wedding (Roud 93; Child 221; G/D 5:1024) / Bill Harte’s Jig (5.04)

Tracks 1, 5 Karine Polwart;
Track 2a Mary Brooksbank;
Tracks 2b, 4, 6bc, 7, 9-10, 12 trad. arr. Malinky;
Track 3 Roy M.B. Williamson;
Track 6a Thomas McElvogue;
Track 6d Charlie Lennon;
Track 8 trad. Macedonian;
Track 11a Davy Steele;
Track 11b Pipe Major William Lawrie

Produced by John Morran;
Recorded at Castlesound Studios, Pencaitland, Scotland in May-June 2002;
Engineered by Stuart Hamilton;
Mixed by Stuart Hamilton, John Morran and Malinky;
Mastered at Castlesound Studios;
Sleeve artwork by Linda McCann and Mike Garden

Musicians

Jon Bews: fiddle [1-5, 7-13], harmony vocals [2], vocal drone [6];
Steve Byrne: lead vocals [2, 12], unison vocals [13], harmony vocals [1, 5, 12-13], vocal drone [6], bouzouki [1, 4-5, 10], guitar [2, 4, 7, 12], cittern [3], octave mandolin [8, 11];
Mark Dunlop: lead vocals [9], unison vocals [13], whistle [1, 5, 9-11], low whistle [2, 10, 12], bodhrán [1, 3-4, 7-8, 11-12];
Leo McCann: box [1-5, 7-8, 10-13], box drone [6], whistle [3, 9, 11], low whistle [4];
Karine Polwart: vocals [3, 6], lead vocals [1, 5, 7, 10, 13], harmony vocals [2, 12], guitar [1-2, 4-5, 8-11], bouzouki [12]

Tracks

1. Billy Taylor (Roud 158; Laws N11; G/D 1:169; Henry H213, H757) (4.46)
2. The Lang Road Doon (5.43)
3. Thaney (4.01)
4. The Back of Adie Bolton’s Van / Leaving Rum reels (4.00)
5. The Rovin’ Ploughboy (Roud 2138; G/D 3:547) (2.36)
6. The Sound of a Tear Not Cried (2.03)
7. Three Ravens (Roud 5; Child 26) / The Raven’s Return (6.11)
8. Llantrisant Ladies strahspey / Yorkston Athletic slip jig / Roy’s Roast reel (4.34)
9. I Dreamed Last Night of My True Love (Roud 406; Laws M13; G/D 5:1012) (4.17)
10. The False Lover Won Back (Roud 201; Child 218; G/D 5:974) (4.30)
11. Gone to the Bower jig / Olaf Cowan’s Welcome to Wardieburn jig / The Road to Gloutane slow reel (4.44)
12. The Trawlin’ Trade / La Jument De Michao (2.28)
13. Follow the Heron (3.34)

Track 1 words trad., music Karine Polwart;
Track 2 Steve Byrne;
Tracks 3, 6, 7b, 13 Karine Polwart;
Track 4 Leo McCann;
Tracks 5, 7a, 9-10, 12b trad. arr. Malinky;
Track 8 Jonathan Bews;
Tracks 11ab Mark Dunlop;
Track 11c Terry ‘Cuz’ Teahan;
Track 12a John Conolly

Produced by John Morran;
Engineered by Nick Turner at Watercolour Studio, Ardgour, Lochaber, Scotland in June 2005;
Mixed by John Morran, Stuart Hamilton and Malinky at Castlesound Studios, Pencaitland, October 2005;
Mastered by Stuart Hamilton at Castlesound Studios, Pencaitland;
Sleeve artwork origination by Ewan MacPherson;
Layout and typesetting by Steve Byrne;
Design finalising by John Slavin at DesignFolk

Musicians

John Bews: fiddle [1], backing vocals [2], string arrangement [12];
Steve Byrne: bouzouki [1, 5, 7, 10], cittern [3-4, 6-7, 9-11], guitar [2, 4, 12], lead vocals [3, 8], backing vocals [2, 9, 11];
Mark Dunlop: bodhrán [4, 6-7, 9, 11], whistle [1, 4, 7-8, 10], low whistle [2-3, 12], flute [4], uilleann pipes [12], lead vocals [5], backing vocals [2];
Fiona Hunter: lead vocals [1-2, 6, 9, 11-12], backing vocals [8], cello [3-5, 7, 9-12];
Ewan MacPherson: mandolin [2-5, 7, 9-10, 12], guitar [1, 8, 11], octave mandolin [6], tenor banjo [4, 7, 10], jew’s harp [9, 11], darabuka [1], backing vocals [2, 11]

with
David Francey, harmony vocals [8]

Tracks

1. Edom o Gordon (Roud 80; Child 178; G/D 2:231) (5.09)
2. Clerk Saunders (Roud 3855; Child 69) (7.34)
3. Hughie the Graham (Roud 84; Child 191; G/D 2:271) (5.12)
4. The Scotia Set: Memories of Paddy Le Blanc / Petticoats Loose / Cutty’s Wedding / You and I / S’iomadh Rud a’ Chunnaic Mi (Many’s the Thing I Saw) (4.33)
5. Seán ó Duíbhír a’ Ghleanna (John O’Dwyer of the Glen) (Roud 38230) (6.00)
6. King Orfeo (Roud 136; Child 19) (4.56)
7. Inertia Reels: Naomi Jones / The Inertia Reel / The Maid I Ne’er Forgot / The Flowing Tide (4.38)
8. Flowers of Saskatchewan (3.28)
9. The Bonnie Banks of Fordie (Roud 27; Child 14; G/D 2:199) / Pennknivsmördaren (6.03)
10. The Icon: Were Ye At the Peats Th’day, Donald John? / Maho Snaps / The Icon / Töst (5.00)
11. The Sun’s Cousin (6.49)
12. My Ain Countrie (The Sun Rises Bright in France) (Roud 21757) (3.58)

Tracks 1-3 trad. arr. Malinky;
Track 4a Donald Angus Beaton;
Track 7a Debbie Scott;
Track 7b John Bews;
Track 8 David Francey;
Track 10a Mark Dunlop;
Track 10c Ewan MacPherson;
Track 10d Magnus Stinnerbom;
Track 11 words Ewan MacPherson, Steve Byrne, music Ewan MacPherson;
Track 12 words Allan Cunningham, music trad. arr. Malinky

Produced by Steve Byrne;
Recorded, mixed and mastered at Pier House Studios, Granton, by Richard Werner, Peter Haigh and Steve Byrne in spring to winter 2005;
Cover photos by Steve Byrne and Ines Mayfarth;
Design by Steve Byrne

Musicians

Steve Byrne: vocals, bouzouki, guitar, concertina drones [6]

with
Tore Bruvoll: guitar [2, 7, 11];
Chris Wright: mandolin [9]

Tracks

1. The Ither Lass (3.49)
2. I Rue The Day She Gaed Awa (3.06)
3. The Bonnie Lass o Cairnie (5.28)
4. Leavin Angus in the Mornin (2.56)
5. Hogmanay (1.08)
6. April 1918 (The Lang Road Doon) (1.38)
7. Young Jessie o’ Bonnie Dundee (2.50)
8. Pawkie Adam Glen (1.02)
9. Howe o the Mearns (3.21)
10. Tam I the Kirk (1.34)
11. Rose Song (3.50)
12. The Turn of the Day (1.35)
13. The Seaward Toon (3.52)
14. The Sang (1.30)

Tracks 1, 4 Steve Byrne;
Tracks 2, 7 poem George Webster Donald, c. 1867, music Steve Byrne;
Track 3 poem George Webster Donald, c. 1867, music trad. adapted Steve Byrne;
Tracks 5, 9-10 poem Violet Jacob, 1915, music Steve Byrne;
Track 6 poem Helen B. Cruickshank, c. 1934, music Steve Byrne;
Track 8 poem Alexander Laing, c. 1830, music trad. arr. Steve Byrne;
Track 11 trad. Norwegian, translated by Steve Byrne;
Track 12 poem Marion Angus, 1931, music Steve Byrne;
Track 13 poem Marion Angus, 1927, music Steve Byrne

Produced by Steve Byrne;
Recorded by Brian Boyle at New Road Studios, Dunloy, Co Antrim in May 2008;
Additional engineering by Steve Byrne and Mark Dunlop;
Mixed and mastered by Richard Werner and Steve Byrne at B&B Studios, Edinburgh;
Original cover artwork by Linda McCann;
Cover concept and design by Gavin Robertson and Mark Dunlop;
Layout by John Slavin at Design Folk

Musicians

Mark Dunlop: vocals [1-2, 4-5, 7-9, 11], percussion [4], shruti box [8], D tin whistle [3, 6, 8, 10], bodhrán [3, 6, 8, 10];
Heather Montgomery: fiddle [1, 8, 11];
Chris Wright: guitar [1, 3-4], tablas [1], mandolin [3-4, 6], cittern [5, 6, 8], outrageous harmony vocals [5], shruti box [9], guitar [11];
Steve Byrne: jew’s harp [1, 4], percussion [4], guitar [8]

Tracks

1. The Nightingale (Roud 32290; Henry H75b) (3.43)
2. The Breaking of Omagh Jail (Roud 3581; Henry H181) (5.06)
3. Set of Jigs: Hugh McKiddon’s / The Siver Lining / Frolics in the Friary (3.53)
4. The Three Huntsmen (Roud 17; Laws L4; G/D 2:186; Henry H185) (4.23)
5. The Black Velvet Band (Roud 2146) (4.03)
6. Set of Reels: Islands on the Moon / The Borrowed Reel / Peter MacAskill’s Breakfast / The Virginia (5.38)
7. The Lag Song (5.03)
8. Shane Crossagh (Roud 13373; Henry H97) (7.25)
9. The Quaker’s Song (4.51)
10. A 1798 March (2.35)
11. The Banks of Newfoundland (Roud 1812; Laws K25) (5.01)

Tracks 1-2, 4-5, 6d, 8-11 trad.;
Tracks 3abc, 6abc Mark Dunlop;
Track 7 Ewan MacColl

Produced by Steve Byrne and Dave Wood;
Recorded at Butterstone Studio, Perthshire, Scotland in July 2008;
Engineered by Jamie and Julia MacLean;
Mixed by Jamie and Julia MacLean, Steve Byrne and Dave Wood;
Mastered by Denis Blackham at Skye Mastering;
Design concept and sleeve notes by Steve Byrne;
Photography by Thomas Gavin;
Layout by John Slavin

Musicians

Steve Byrne: lead vocals [1, 3, 7], vocals [6, 9-10, 12], 8-string bouzouki [4, 6, 8-9, 11], 10-string bouzouki [1-2, 8, 10], guitar [3, 5, 7, 12], jew’s harp [2], shruti box [2, 5, 10];
Mark Dunlop: lead vocals [5, 9], vocals [1, 12], whistle [1, 3-4, 6-12], bodhrán [2, 7-8, 11], flute [];
Fiona Hunter: lead vocals [1-2, 6, 10, 12], vocals [9], cello [3-9, 11];
Mike Vass: fiddle [1-12], vocals [1, 12];
Dave Wood: guitar [1-2, 4-6, 8-11], bouzouki [3, 7, 12], vocals [1, 12]

with
Dougie MacLean: didgeridoo [2]

Tracks

1. Pad the Road Wi Me (Roud 4599; G/D 4:875; Henry H18a) (3.11)
2. The Broomfield Hill (Roud 34; Child 43; G/D 2:322; Henry H135) (4.06)
3. When Margaret Was Eleven (5.07)
4. Cows & Cottongrass: Gan te the Kye Wi Me / The Cottongrass (3.53)
5. Dark Horse on the Wind (5.47)
6. The Shipyard Apprentice (4.18)
7. Sweet Willie and Fair Annie (Roud 4; Child 73; G/D 2:212) (7.33)
8. The Drunken Duck: The Drunken Duck / The Ronan Boys / The Chattering Magpie / The Famous Ballymote (4.51)
9. The Ploughboy and the Maid (Roud 186; Laws M24; G/D 1:170; Henry H105) / Give It a Wee Try (3.55)
10. Why Should I?: Janice Leask of Lerwick / Why Should I? / Jock Hosie’s Fancy (3.52)
11. Ruaraidh Mor’s: Cavers of Kirkcudbright / Ruaraidh Mor’s Lullaby (6.55)
12. The Road tae Drumleman (4.45)

Track 1 words trad., additional verses Steve Byrne, music Mike Yates;
Track 2 words trad. sdapted Steve Byrne, music trad. arr. Malinky;
Track 3 Pete St John;
Tracks 4, 8d, 10b trad. arr. Malinky;
Track 5 Liam Weldon;
Track 6 words Archie Fisher, music Bobby Campbell;
Track 8a Lillias Kinsman-Blake;
Track 8b Liz Carroll;
Track 8c trad. arr. Steve Bryne, Mark Dunlop;
Track 9a words trad., music Mark Dunlop;
Track 9b, 11a Mike Vass;
Track 10a Mark Dunlop;
Track 10c Lindsay Ross;
Track 11b Duncan Johnstone, adapted Neil Johnstone;
Track 12 words Willie Mitchell, music Tony Cuffe

Produced by Donald Shaw;
Recorded by Kevin Burleigh at Gorbals Sound, Glasgow, in August 2014;
Additional recording and editing by Richard Werner at B&B Studios, Leith;
Additional editing by Steve Byrne at Das Esszimmer. Tranet;
Mixed by Donald Shaw and Kevin Burleigh with Malinky at Gorbals Sound;
Mastered by Iain Hutchison at GloWorm Recording;
Photography by Thomas Gavin;
Artwork and design by Lizzy Doe

Musicians

Steve Byrne: vocals, bouzouki, guitar, jew’s harp, harmonica;
Mark Dunlop: vocals, whistles, flute, bodhrán;
Fiona Hunter: vocals, cello;
Mike Vass: fiddle, tenor guitar, vocals

with
Donald Shaw: harmonium [5], accordion [11]

Tracks

1. Tarves Parish (Roud 5592; G/D 3:389) (3.01)
2. The Brisk Young Lad (Roud 6139; G/D 4:892) (3.33)
3. The Twa Sisters (Roud 8; Child 10; G/D 2:213) (6.30)
4. The Fairy King’s Courtship (Roud 6875; Henry H56) / Baby Iris instrumental (3.38)
5. Son David (Roud 200; Child 13; TYG 35) (5.28)
6. The Moss o Burreldale (Roud 1876) / Lady Mary Ann (Roud 31; Laws O35; G/D 6:1222) / Humours of Glendart instrumental (3.54)
7. The Bonny Hoose o Airlie (Roud 794; Child 199; G/D 2:233) (5.43)
8. Edzell’s Bonnie Braes (Roud 9283) (4.17)
9. Long Cookstown (Roud 883; G/D 3:603; Henry H745) (3.24)
10. The Term Time (Roud 2181; G/D 3:391) (3.14)
11. The Wild Geese (5.10)

All tracks trad. arr. Malinky except
Track 3 trad. translated Steve Byrne, arr. Malinky;
Track 4b Mike Vass;
Track 5 trad., harmony arrangement Malinky, Donald Shaw;
Track 11 words Violet Jacob, music Jim Reid

This CD is part of the collaborative Walter Scott Minstrelsy Project project between Johannes-Gutenberg-Universität Mainz and University of Edinburgh, supported by funding from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) and Creative Scotland.

Produced by Steve Byrne;
Project director: Dr Sigrid Rieuwerts;
Recorded by Richard Werner at B&S Studios, Pilrig, and Pier House Studios, Granton;
Additional recording by Mike Vass ar Rusty Squash Horn Studios, Glasgow;
Additional editing by Steve Byrne at Das Esszimmer, Tranent;
Mastered by Garry Boyle at Slate Room Studio, Pencaitland;
Song notes by Steve Byrne, Sigrid Rieuwerts and Emily Lyle;
Cover design and typesetting by Chris Wright;
Cover portrait of Walter Scott by Sir Henry Raeburn, photographed by Mark Usher

Musicians

Lucy Pringle: vocals [1, 5, 10];
Chris Wright: cittern [1], 12-string guitar [10], low whistle [10];
Fiona Hunter: vocals [2, 6], cello [6], shruti box [6];
Steve Byrne: vocals [4, 8, 11], guitar [2-4, 8, 11];
Mark Dunlop: whistle [1, 3], low whistle [2];
Mike Vass: fiddle [3, 6-7], string arrangement [7];
Siobhan Miller: vocals [3, 7];
Kirsty Law: vocals [9]

Tracks

1. [LP] The Bonny Hynd (Roud 205; Child 50) (3.52)
2. [FH] The Wife of Usher’s Well (Roud 196; Child 79) (4.56)
3. [SM] The Cruel Sister (Roud 8; Child 10; G/D 2:213) (7.28)
4. [SB] The Battle of Otterbourne (Roud 3293; Child 161) (5.55)
5. [LP] Lord Randal (Roud 10; Child 12; G/D 2:209; Henry H814) (4.39)
6. [FH] Fair Helen of Kirconnell (Roud 8191) (5.04)
7. [SM] Johnie of Breadislee (Roud 69; Child 114; G/D 2:250) (5.40)
8. [SB] The Dowie Dens of Yarrow (Roud 13; Child 214; G/D 2:215) (7.25)
9. [KL] The Lament of the Border Widow (Roud 199; Child 106; G/D 1:163) (3.49)
10. [LP] Armstrong’s Goodnight (Roud 8196) (3.25)
11. [SB] Prince Robert (Roud 55; Child 87) (9.18)

All tracks trad.

CD 1 produced by Mike Vass and Steve Byrne;
CD 1 recorded, edited and mixed by Mike Vass with Steve Byrne at GloWorm Recording, Glasgow, in November 2018-March 2019;
CD 2: archive material collected, digitized and mixed by Steve Byrne at Das Gartenzimmer, Tranent;
Mastered by Garry Boyle ar Slate Room Studio, Pencaitland;
Front cover portrait by Michael Corr;
Sleeve design by John Slavin at Design Folk

Musicians

Steve Byrne: vocals, bouzouki, guitar, jew’s harp, harmonica;
Mark Dunlop: vocals, whistles, flute, bodhrán;
Fiona Hunter: vocals, cello;
Mike Vass: fiddle, tenor guitar, vocals

with
Ellie Beaton (Rothienorman, Aberdeenshire): vocals [4];
Len Graham (County Antrim): vocals [5];
Cameron Nixon (Peterculter, Aberdeenshire): vocals [7];
Barbara Dymock (Fife): vocals [8];
Hector Riddell (Finzean, Aberdeenshire): vocals [10];
Dàibhidh Stiùbhard (County Tyrone): vocals [12]

Tracks

CD 1: new recordings

1. Begone Bonnie Laddie (Roud 5530; G/D 6:1136) (2.53)
2. The Forester (Roud 67; Child 110; G/D 7:1465) (5.00)
3. The Maid of Doneysheil (Roud 6894; Henry H530) (4.19)
4. Sleepytoon (Roud 3775; G/D 3:356) (3.15)
5. True Lover John (Roud 179; Child 248; Henry H699) (3.10)
6. The Braes o Broo (Roud 5572; G/D 3:443) (4.11)
7. The Baron o Brackley (Roud 4017; Child 203; G/D 2:234) (5.20)
8. Gie Me a Lass Wi a Lump o Land (Roud 8463) / The Tarbolton Lasses (2.37)
9. Lovely Armoy (Roud 13541; Henry H9) (4.11)
10. The Hash o Bennagoak (Roud 1527) (4.02)
11. The Lads o the Lindsay (7.04)
12. The Groves of Donaghmore (4.23)
13. Awa Wi Ma Laddie (Roud 9252) (2.25)

CD 2: previous, demo and live recordings

14. Martinmas Time (Roud 2173; G/D 1:161) (6.49)
    demo recorded by Mack Neal, Tea n China Studios, King’s Hall, Edinburgh, 20-21 December 1998
15. Alison Cross (Roud 3212; Child 35) (live) (4.14)
    recorded live in the Main Auditorium of Glasgow Royal Concert Hall at Celtic Connections on 12 January 2000, supporting Boys of the Lough
16. Whaur Dae Ye Lie? (5.04)
    from Last Leaves (2000)
17. Billy Taylor (Roud 158; Laws N11; G/D 1:169; Henry H213, H757) (4.47)
    from 3 Ravens (2002)
18. The Lang Road Doon (5.34)
19. The Trawlin Trade (2.26)
    both recorded live on the Scottish Folk Festival Tour of Germany, January/February 2002
20. King Orfeo (Roud 136; Child 19) (4.49)
    from The Unseen Hours (2005)
21. Clerk Saunders (Roud 3855; Child 69) (demo) (7.02)
    demo recorded by Reuben Taylor at Gilmore Place Studios, Edinburgh, on 15-16 January 2005
22. Seán ó Duíbhír a’ Ghleanna (John O’Dwyer of the Glen) (Roud 38230) (5.53)
    from The Unseen Hours (2005)
23. Pad the Road Wi Me (Roud 4599; G/D 4:875; Henry H18a) (3.12)
    from Flower & Iron (2008)
24. Son David (Roud 200; Child 13; TYG 35) (5.23)
    from Far Better Days (2015)
25. Fisherman’s Wife (3.42)
    recorded live at Tønder Festival, Denmark on 26 August 2000 by Danish Radio
26. The Newry Highwayman (Roud 490; Laws L12; G/D 2:260) (3.33)
    recorded live at CelticFolk, Wimborne, on 19 February 2005
27. The Bonnie Lass of Fyvie (Roud 545; G/D 1:84) / The Silver Spear (8.01)
    recorded live in the Strathclyde Suite, Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, at Celtic Connections in January 2009

Tracks 1-2, 6 words trad. adapted Steve Byrne, music trad. arr. Malinky;
Track 3 words Paddy McGuckian, public domain, additional verse trad. adapted Mark Dunlop and Steve Byrne, music Mark Dunlop;
Track 4 words William Clark, public domain, music trad. arr Malinky and Ellie Beaton;
Track 5 trad. arr. Malinky and Len Graham;
Track 7 words trad. adapted Steve Byrne, music trad. arr. Malinky and Cameron Nixon;
Track 8a words Allan Ramsay (1686-1758), public domain, music trad. arr Malinky and Barbara Dymock;
Track 8b words Robert Burns, public domain, music Thomas Dymock;
Track 9 trad. arr. Malinky;
Track 10 George Smith Morris (1876-1958), instrumental Dugald Dunlop’s Hornpipe by Mark Dunlop;
Tracks 11, 18 Steve Byrne;
Track 12 trad. arr. Maikky, Dàibhidh Stiùbhard;
Track 13 words trad. / Mabel Skelton, additional verse Steve Byrne, music trad. arr. Malinky;
Track 14 trad. arr. Steve Byrne, Mark Dunlop, Kit Patterson, Karine Powart;
Tracks 15, 20-22 trad. arr. Malinky;
Track 16 Karine Polwart;
Track 17 trad. arr. Malinky, Karine Polwart;
Track 19 John Conolly;
Track 23 text trad., additional verse Steve Byrne, music Mike Vass;
Track 24 trad. arr. Malinky, Donald Shaw;
Track 25 Frank Duthie of Peterhead arr. Steve Byrne, Mark Dunlop, Kit Patterson, Karine Powart;
Track 26 trad. arr. Jon Bews, Steve Byrne, Mark Dunlop, Leo McCann, Karine Powart;
Track 27 trad. arr. Jon Bews, Steve Byrne, Mark Dunlop, Fiona Hunter, Leo McCann, Ewan MacPherson, Kit Patterson, Karine Polwart, Mike Vass, Dave Wood

Notes

Malinky began as four people with the shared idea of performing a Scots song based repertoire in an era dominated by mainly instrumental groups.

Although the Malinky line-up has changed from time to time, our belief in Scots song as a vital means of local expression has never changed, and continues to motivate us twenty years after we started. Along the way, we’ve also sung songs from Ireland (North and South), England, Canada, even Macedonia. We’ve performed modern and self-penned songs, as well as anonymous ballads written centuries ago. Whatever we’ve used in the way of instrumentation and arrangement, our approach can be summed up in a few simple words—the sang’s the thing.

Over the past two decades, we’ve performed the length and breadth of Europe, and from coast to coast in North America, sharing the songs that we love and messages that we think matter with people who might never have otherwise heard them. We wanted to mark our twentieth anniversaiy by celebrating the generation of singers who inspired us, and by mentoring some young singers who are part of the next generation which will cany on the tradition.

Barbara Dymock, Hector Riddell, and Len Graham represent the Lowland Scots, North-East bothy ballad, and Ulster song traditions which have shaped our tastes, styles, and repertoires, while we hope you will enjoy hearing Ellie Beaton, Cameron Nixon and Dàibhidh Stiùbhard as emerging singers of note.

A handsel is a good-luck gift, given to mark a special occasion. What could be more special for any band than to celebrate twenty years spent doing what we love? This album is our good-luck gift to all the people who continue to support what we do, and to the singing tradition that continues to inspire us to sing up and sing out.