Author: Mikey

We are absolutely thrilled that Mac Ìle: The Music of Fraser Shaw is up for album of the year in the Scots Trad Awards! The album consists of a plethora of Scotland’s top musicians playing Fraser’s fantastic tunes. If you haven’t heard it yet, you can purchase a copy here.

Heralded as the most prestigious award ceremony in the traditional music calendar, the winners will be revealed during a glitzy award ceremony on Saturday 2nd December, at Paisley’s Lagoon Centre as Paisley bids for UK City of Culture 2021. It would be brilliant if you could take the time to vote for Mac Ìle, and please spread the word – there are also a number of other talented acts up for awards, including some members of the Islay Sessioners! Voting closes on Friday 24th November.

‘…there’s a real sense of joy and celebration of life within the album. Not just a celebration of Shaw’s life, but a celebration of life itself.’ – Bright Young Folk

Click here to vote for Mac Ìle

The Fraser Shaw Trust are delighted to announce that Fraser’s much anticipated tune book will be launched at Islay Sessions, a festival which he played an integral role in setting up. Mac Ìle: The Music of Fraser Shaw will contain 30 original compositions with chords, 10 pipe settings, stories, tributes and photographs. Lori and Innes Watson have been hard at work putting it all together, and we can’t wait to share it with the world! Get your pre-order here.

“We’d like to thank everyone involved in bringing the book to completion: for your advice, images, contributions, stories, revisions, proofreading, and encouragement. This has been a very important project for us: both wonderful and painful in equal measure as we listened to recordings of Fraser playing his tunes for hours to finish the job we started together. We are very proud of him and his brilliant music and hope you enjoy learning and sharing his tunes, and the photos and stories too. Fraser wanted to make this book to raise funds for the Lochgilphead MS Therapy Centre, so please support them by getting your copy and spreading the word to music players and learners, and appreciators of Fraser Shaw. ” – Innes & Lori Watson

“The tunes in this collection have a style of their own – a real identity – the hallmark of any great tunesmith. The tunes range from emotive and plaintive to rhythmical and driving, and they will be a joy to play for any instrumentalist. This is a wonderful legacy of Fraser – piper, musician and true gentleman.” – Fred Morrison

 

Special thanks to Creative Scotland’s Tasgadh fund administered by Fèisean nan Gàidheal for supporting this project.

The launch will take place in Bruichladdich Hall, November 18^th, 8pm at the big Saturday night Islay Sessions concert. Acts on the night include Tannara, Joy Dunlop and Jenn Butterworth & Laura-Beth Salter, and the book will be celebrated in style with some fine music, drams and cheer. Tickets will be available on the door, or via www.islaysessions17.eventbrite.com

The Trust are also honoured to sponsor the Islay Sessions workshops, in line with one of their purposes which is to help with the advancement of the arts and culture of Islay. Workshops will be led by fiddler Emma Tomlinson (The Routes Quartet) and can be booked by emailing islaysessionseducation@gmail.com

We’ve had an incredibly exciting few months launching Fraser’s CD on Islay and in Glasgow, raising funds for the Trust and celebrating the life of the man himself through music.

We also ran our annual fundraiser, Shawfest in September, which took place in Partick to huge success, raising £1200 in total.

The Trust are absolutely thrilled that the much anticipated Tune Book is nearly finished, and will be ready for launch at The Islay Sessions, a festival that Fraser played an integral role in setting up six years ago. Pre-order your copy of the book here!

Lori and Innes Watson have been hard at work putting it all together, and we can’t wait to share it with the world! The book contains 30 original compositions complete with chords, 10 pipe settings, and lots of stories, tributes and photographs.

“We’d like to thank everyone involved in bringing the book to completion: for your advice, images, contributions, stories, revisions, proofreading, and encouragement. This has been a very important project for us: both wonderful and painful in equal measure as we listened to recordings of Fraser playing his tunes for hours to finish the job we started together. We are very proud of him and his brilliant music and hope you enjoy learning and sharing his tunes, and the photos and stories too. Fraser wanted to make this book to raise funds for the Lochgilphead MS Therapy Centre, so please support them by getting your copy and spreading the word to music players and learners, and appreciators of Fraser Shaw. ” – Innes & Lori Watson

Special thanks to Creative Scotland’s Tasgadh fund administered by Fèisean nan Gàidheal for supporting this project.

The village hall of Bruichladdich opened its doors to friends and soon-to-be friends of Fraser Shaw’s music, for it was the night of the Mac Ìle album launch. The first launch that is, which took place on June 27th on the Isle of Islay. A second launch is scheduled to take place in Glasgow in August. The fact that it was a Tuesday night did not hinder the audience attendance, with a buzz of excited chitter chatter encompassing the hall awaiting an evening on enthralling music. It was an evening of two halves; of drams and gin provided kindly by Bruichladdich Distillery, of incredible music and musicianship and of a term you are likely to hear frequently regarding Fraser, that term being friendship.

The evening was kicked off to an enrapturing start by pipers Calum MacCrimmon and Angus MacKenzie, a traditional start to any concert or ceilidh. This was followed by a different blend of musicians for each set, all delivering snippets of their tales and time with the man in title and offering heartfelt performances. Local singer Alasdair Currie also delighted the crowd with a beautiful collection of gaelic songs, setting the equilibrium number of songs to tunes. After a short interlude allowing both listeners and musicians to refresh their glasses it was on to the second half, during which sentiment grew with every set.

The emotion emanating from the stage, I’m sure could be felt by each person in the crowd familiar with Fraser’s story or not. Music has an inconceivable way to convey emotions, perhaps emotions that wouldn’t be visible to a passing stranger but in this context they can be felt very nearly first hand. The busy audience was filled with friends of Fraser’s and also many people that wouldn’t have had the pleasure of knowing him. It is most likely the latter were visitors to the island discovering this little pocket of first class traditional music unexpectedly. As the musicians closed the concert it was the end of an incredible nights music, but to these perfect strangers who happened upon ‘A night for Fraser’, it is just the start of a new journey discovering his music, introducing it to friends alike and being almost ‘passengers’ of his legacy.

The Islay Sessioners hosted an evening Fraser would have reveled in – an evening of music, friends (old and new), drams and these fine things in life continuing into the night at the much cherished Port Charlotte Hotel. I think it is safe to say the Fraser Shaw Trust is doing exactly what it set out to do, if not more.

– Ciara MacTaggart

The Fraser Shaw Trust have been overwhelmed with support the past two years, and would like to extend a grateful thank you to all our donators. The work put in to making our work possible still continues, and we are extremely proud of Natalie Somerville, one of our Trustees, who recently ran the London Marathon in aid of the Trust. Speaking to us about her experience Natalie says, “It was my first time at the race and it has to be said that everything they say is true! It really is a phenomenal affair. The scale of the event is mind-blowing with thousands upon thousands of volunteers and almost 40,000 runners. The support from the Londoners was also superb – really showcasing the best of what the city has to offer in terms of hospitality, music and humour. For me, the hardest thing about the marathon was the training. Lots of long, cold, dark runs on my own around the streets of Glasgow – often a mental struggle just to get out the door! However, the race itself was amazing and the miles seemed to pass relatively quickly (until mile 23…!). If you ever find yourself questioning humanity – go and watch the London Marathon. The strength of some people, particularly those participating with disabilities, is just incredible. I laughed and I cried – and, of course, I thought about my mate, Fraser. A fabulous £1870 has been raised so far, and those funds will go towards supporting people living with MS as well as musical projects for young Ileachs. Thank you to everyone who sent support and I look forward to seeing who will run the London Marathon next for the Fraser Shaw Trust!”

Natalie is not the only one accomplishing a great feat to raise money for good causes – Lesley Shaw, another good friend of Fraser’s has decided to take on the challenge of the Ben Nevis Night Hike this August, to raise money for MS Society Scotland in memory of Fraser. Lesley says, “Training for the challenge has been good fun. I’ve started going back to the gym, running, trying some circuits and yoga and of course lots more hill-walking. The better weather definitely helps and over the past wee while I’ve climbed Schiehallion, Ben Narnain, Ben Chonzie, Ben Luibhean and the local smaller Donald, Tinto a few times. Nothing beats a flask of tea and sweet treats with an amazing view when you get to the top. The support so far has been amazing and I can’t wait to join the rest of the team at the MS Society Scotland for the challenge. I’m almost at 75% of the target donations so massive thanks to everyone who’s sponsored so far.” You can sponsor Lesley’s hike at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/LesleyShaw2017