The gig opened with Phil Alexander and the Edinburgh Youth Gaitherin' Big Band. Phil on accordion, two other tutors on fiddle, 3 kids on fiddle plus flute, harp, guitar and bass. A nervy start suggested this might be something to be endured. But that soon gave way to enjoyment, with some good solos on flute and harp. Promising group.
The Come All Ye project was started by Phil as a celebration of the diversities of culture in modern Scotland. featuring new compositions mixed with folk tunes from around the globe, the band featured Phil, an Englishman with Polish roots, and musicians from Brazil, India, Jamaica, Nigeria, China, Hungary and Kurdish Syria. With Mr Alexander playing piano and accordion, there was a huge mix of stringed and percussive instruments, both the familiar and the strange to our Scots eyes, and excellent vocals from the three women in the line up (representing Jamaica, Nigeria and China). An incredible mix of styles and sounds melding together, giving the whole show a sense of unpredictability and built in excitement. Highlights included the middle eastern tones of the oud, and a Chinese song that increased in intensity and speed as it built up. Wonderful stuff.
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