Media release: National Treasure Mairi Campbell returns to the Queen’s Hall with her nine-piece band for one-night only

Mairi brings together some of the country’s finest musicians with the Pendulum Band

For the high-res version of this picture, please visit https://www.dropbox.com/home/Mairi%20Campbell%20(1)/Mairi%20Campbell%20and%20the%20Pendulum%20Band

‘Mairi Campbell is a national treasure…her charisma commands the stage’
The Wee Review

Mairi Campbell transcends the role of performer…her voice is like no other’ Edinburgh Guide

‘Consummate, visionary musicianship…a performer of vivid, distinctive virtuosity’, The Herald

Having launched the Pendulum Band at the Queen’s Hall exactly a year ago, Mairi Campbell is back at the Edinburgh venue with her nine-piece band, the Pendulum Band. 

The show will see the Scottish traditional musician and her band play songs old and new, ranging from the tender re-setting of Burns’s ‘Lea Rig’ to the pulsating, rhythmic whirl of ‘The Rough with the Smooth’. Mairi will sing, play her viola and dance, tell stories and, command the stage with her unique blend of skill, charisma and humour.

For the past few years Mairi has been working with producer Dave Gray on conjuring up sounds that pulse between the ancient and shamanic (drawn from Scotland’s rock, soil and water) and the futuristic and electronic. This exciting, ground-breaking music will be incorporated into the concert, bound together by Mairi’s voice and movement.

The band will also cover some of ‘Storm’ tracks that were blasted out on the streets of Glasgow as part of Celtic Connections when the 10-metre-tall sea Goddess Storm took her inaugural walk on 18 January 2020. Mairi and Dave Gray created the music for this project.

Contemporary dancer Suzi Cunningham and step dancer John Sikorski are also helping to put the show together.

Mairi said: “I’m excited about this gig and getting all these amazing tracks out with this band who are great musicians as well as great friends and family. My daughter Ada is leading up the backing singers and Su-a-Lee (SCO cellist) and Nicky Haire from our precious improv trio will also be on stage.

“Last year’s gig was a great vibe in the hall. The audience were brilliant and I hope we can create a space to dance for the audience again this year. It’s that kind of groove – hard to sit still and music to move your heart as well as your feet.”

The Pendulum Band line up:

  • Mairi Campbell: voice, viola
  • William Jaquet: drums
  • Duncan Lyall: bass, keyboard
  • Innes Watson: guitar, viola, voice
  • Su-a Lee: cello
  • Nicky Haire: violin
  • Luna Blu (Ada Francis, Frankie Hay, Megan Savage): voices

Ends

Editor’s notes

Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh, Saturday 15 February 2020, 7.30pm

Buy tickets from the Queen’s Hall by phone (0131668 2019) or online (www.thequeenshall.net), £9 to £17.

Tickets: https://www.thequeenshall.net/whats-on/mairi-campbell-pendulum-band

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