Get ready for an evening of high energy Scottish folk-rock as The Princeton Folk Music Society presents The Tannahill Weavers, Friday, Sept. 20 at 8 pm to be held at the Christ Congregation Church, 50 Walnut Lane, in Princeton, NJ.
The band features a unique combination of traditional melodies, driving rhythmic accompaniment, and rich three-part vocal harmonies that make their performances unforgettable. They are noted for being the first Scottish folk group to incorporate an instrument long thought to be too loud to play nicely with other traditional folk instruments: the highland pipes.
Roy Gullane (guitar and lead vocals) and Phil Smillie (flute, whistles, bodhrán and harmony vocals) formed the band in Paisley Scotland as the traditional folk-rock movement was getting started in 1968. The band now also includes Iain MacGillivray (highland bagpipes, fiddle,and whistles) and Malcolm Bushby (fiddle, bouzouki and harmony vocals). Iain, who is the Clan leader of Clan MacGillivray, comes from piping family: both his grandfather, Donald, and father Duncan are former world champions. Malcolm is considered to be one of the UK’s finest folk musicians, noted for his handling of dynamics and ornamentation, and beautiful tone, which lend a soulful, haunting and exciting magic to his music.
The band is named for the Scottish poet Robert Tannahill (1774-1810), who was known as the “Weaver Poet”. They have recorded several of his songs.
To hear The Tannahill Weavers, visit: tannahillweavers.com/listen
Tickets are available online or at the door (if not sold-out): $25 ($20 for members, $10 for students). For tickets and livestream access, visit www.princetonfolk.org. Doors open at 7:30PM. Ample free parking is available.