Alasdair Roberts

Some Alasdair appearances in Glasgow in January:

25th: Singing with Naomi Bedford at Mitchell Theatre, then later that night:
25th: Byrne’s Nicht, The Old Hairdresser’s (including Alasdair playing a Robert Burns song; with Norman Blake and Donny O’Rourke)
27th: Singing at RM Hubbert’s album launch, Stereo
28th: Alistair Hulett tribute concert, St Andrew’s in the Square: Alasdair Roberts, Ben Reynolds, Shane Connolly, Rafe Fitzpatrick (and special guests)

Then February 12th in London at the Lexington for Electroacoustic Club – Roberts solo!

Happy New Year!

Preparations are underway for touring in support of the Urstan record with Lewis-born Gaelic singer Mairi Morrison in May and June. Watch this space for more information.

In December, Alasdair, Rafe Fitzpatrick, Stevie Jones, Robin Robertson and Tom Crossley went into Chamber Studios, Edinburgh to record the songs about the archipelago of St Kilda which Alasdair has been co-writing with Robin. Now the songs have been taken elsewhere for overdubs to happen, including some contributions from very special guests. This work-in-progress should be finished at some point this year and will somehow be made available to the music-consuming public before too long.

Alasdair Roberts solo dates in England this month – please check the Live page for more information.

Alasdair has a few appearances in Glasgow during the Celtic Connections festival period in Glasgow in January 2012, some connected with the festival and some not.

On 25th January, Burns Night, he’ll be appearing with Naomi Bedford at the Mitchell Theatre. Naomi’s recent album Tales from the Weeping Willow, recorded by Gerry Diver in London, features some vocal and guitar contributions from Alasdair and a host of other collaborators. Later that evening he’ll be appearing at The Old Hairdresser for a Byrne’s Supper which will celebrate the life and work of Talking Heads’ David Byrne as well as of the fellow who must be Scotland’s most celebrated poet, Robert Burns.

On 27th January he’ll be joining RM Hubbert for the launch of his new album Thirteen Lost and Found, recorded by Alex Kapranos in the Scottish Borders. The album features many collaborators including Alasdair on a vocal its closing track.

Then on 28th January, Alasdair will be joined by Shane Connolly, Rafe Fitzpatrick and Ben Reynolds to play at a tribute concert to Alistair Hulett at St Andrew’s in the Square.

Alasdair is collaborating with the Glasgow-based Swiss artist Nicolas Party on a book relating to his song The Ruby in the Hawthorn. This will see the light of day in 2012.

In December, Alasdair and friends are going into the studio to record some music upon which they’ve been working in collaboration with poet and fellow Scotsman Robin Robertson – it’s a song cycle based upon the archipelago of St Kilda. These tracks may or may not be released.

March 2012 will see the release of the Urstan album on CD/LP through the Drag City label. Urstan is a collaboration between Alasdair Roberts and Mairi Morrison, a Glasgow-based Gaelic singer from the Isle of Lewis. Recorded at Diving Bell Lounge, Glasgow in January 2011, It features twelve tracks (a mixture of Gaelic and Scots/English songs) and a host of fine musicians, including Allan MacDonald, Stevie Jones, Alex Neilson, Alastair Caplin, Michael John McCarthy, Ross MacRae, Richard Merchant… and more.

Finally, a reminder – Alasdair solo gigs will take place in England in December.

Alasdair is one of the many collaborators on the new LP by RM Hubbert, Thirteen Lost and Found, which will be released on Chemikal Underground Records in January 2012.

Whaur The Pig Gaed On The Spree: Scottish Recordings by Alan Lomax 1951-’57 is a new LP release compiled by Alasdair Roberts from some 25 hours’ worth of Alan Lomax’s field recordings in Scotland. It is available now on Twos & Fews/Drag City and can be purchased here at Proper Music Distribution. The Too Long In This Condition LP/CD by Alasdair Roberts & Friends can also be purchased there.

A split 7″ by Alasdair Roberts/Karine Polwart and Drew Wright, released in conjunction with Whaur the Pig Gaed On The Spree, is available now. It features new versions of two of Scotland’s greatest muckle sangs – ‘Captain Wedderburn’s Courtship’ and ‘The Dowie Dens o’ Yarrow.’

December solo tourdates on the way…

WHO BUT I KNOWS THE SECRET OF THE UNHEWN DOLMEN?

We’d like to draw your attention to screenings of raw footage from Alan Lomax’s American Patchwork television series, presented by a US representative of the Alan Lomax Archive. These can be seen in Edinburgh on 8th, Newcastle Star and Shadow on 11th and Glasgow CCA on 12th November. The Newcastle gig will feature a small live performance by Alasdair Roberts.

Alasdair will also be doing a wee solo tour in England in December. Please keep an eye on this site for these and all other upcoming dates.

Alasdair Roberts will be singing two or three songs at the Star and Shadow Cinema, Newcastle on the evening of Friday 11th November, in conjunction with a screening of raw footage from Alan Lomax’s American Patchwork TV series. The footage features some previously unseen/unheard American folk/traditional music and musicians recorded and filmed in the southern USA.

See Live page for information on upcoming gigs: 1-3 November in France with Bonnie “Prince” Billy and more…

That’s The Scotsman newspaper’s verdict on Sokobauno’s Shane Connolly and Alasdair Roberts’ Archive Trails work ‘Horsemen’/'Galoshins.’ Come to see it performed at Cafe Oto, Dalston, London on 23rd October and/or CCA, Glasgow on 28th October.

21st October: Alasdair Roberts solo in Irvine. Alistair Hulett tribute concert.

Then 29th October – 3rd November: Alasdair Roberts solo with Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy in France.

9th November in Mono, Glasgow, Scotland will see the launch of the LP ‘Whaur the Pig Gaed on the Spree: Scottish Recordings by Alan Lomax’ which Alasdair Roberts compiled on behalf of the Alan Lomax Archive. The record will be released by Drag City/Twos & Fews. Then on 13th November he will sing some songs at The Pleasance, Edinburgh at 3pm along with a presentation by Ewan McVicar about Alan Lomax in Scotland. This is part of the Carrying Stream Festival to mark the 60th anniversary of the School of Scottish Studies.