Scotland Tour 2019: The Concerts

One thing I've neglected to mention is that this tour contained some of the finest music and musicians I've had the privilege to encounter.

Our tour guides, Jim and Susie Malcolm, are brilliant musicians, and music was an integral part of our tour. In fact, music was everywhere.

We sang on the bus. Every region, town, and deed (good or bad) had a song, and we sang about it. I'm serious. The songbook, hand-pieced by Jim and Susie, was a hundred pages long. (I don't remember the actual count, but that's pretty close)

We were sometimes serenaded by impromptu singers along the way. Jim's mother not only brought us Forfar Bridies for lunch, she also sang a lovely song for us before she left. Jim's brother Scott jumped aboard the bus and sang for us before we departed Edinburg. People joined our little musical group on the ferry on our trip to the Orkneys and added to the merriment.

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Every night, we were honored with a private concert. 
Our first day in Edinburgh included a fiddler, an accordianist, and Jim on his guitar and harmonica whilst we ate lunch and got to know each other.
After dinner that night, Emily Smith, one of Scotland's finest traditional singers, sang for us. https://emilysmith.org/about/
Beth Malcolm and guitarist Dorian Cloudsley performed for us on Wednesday night. http://www.bethmalcolm.com/
In Orkney, Jennifer and Hazel Wrigley entertained with brilliant music on fiddle and guitar--and a fun, humorous look at Orkney traditions and words that kept us in stitches. https://www.wrigleysisters.com/
Saturday night, we learned great dances at a ceilidh at the Royal Hotel in Stromness.
Our after-dinner concert on Sunday was a fiddle and harp duo, Iain MacFarlane and Ingrid Henderson. https://www.allcelticmusic.com/artists/Iain%20MacFarlane.html , http://www.musicplockton.org/ingrid.henderson.asp
​Monday, Gaelic singers Arthur Cormack and Anne Martin sang for us and encouraged us to join in--who knew I could sing in Gaelic? https://projects.handsupfortrad.scot/hall-of-fame/arthur-cormack/ , http://www.annemartin.scot/
Tuesday, everyone in our group was encouraged to share something. Some sang, some told funny stories, some shared an impactful moment in their lives. Even our bus driver Graham surprised us with a tune on his euphonium!
We listened to the amazing folk band Malinky Wednesday night. They sang wonderful songs and played the whistle, guitar, and fiddle. https://www.malinky.com/
Our last concert was a gift from Jim, Susie, and Scott who joined us again just outside Edinburgh. Beautiful music, incredible voices, and a bittersweet farewell at the end of our tour. https://www.jimmalcolm.com/

Please take a moment and click on some or all of the links above. You'll be amazed by the caliber of music represented on our tour, and maybe you'll be tempted to purchase a CD or two to enjoy. Go ahead. You'll be glad you did. I was fortunate to purchase mine at the concerts, and I listen to them every day.

As if our tour day wasn't quite full enough, each night we were invited to music sessions at local pubs after the evening concert.

I must say, if the music of Scotland interests you, this tour cannot be beat.