News – Page 10

Live Music – Breabach, September

Breabach closed 2019 by winning the BBC Traditional Music Album of the Year and playing Sydney Opera House in 2020! We are delighted that they will be playing Lochwinnoch Golf Club on the 24th Sept 2021. We will have 20 tickets available from ‘Now and Then’ in the village and the rest online at Paisley art centre Price £18 from 23^rd July

doors open 7.30and 8pm start

https://renfrewshireboxoffice.ticketsolve.com/shows

“As polished as it was passionate, matching fiery intensity with exquisite finesse, this was a magnificent set.” The Scotsman ★★★★★

“This award-winning band is forging ahead into fresh pastures new with their forward-thinking musical attitude, which flies the proud banner for Gaeldom.” FolkWales Magazine ★★★★★

“…with Frenzy of the Meeting, Breabach have once again cemented their place at the forefront of Scottish traditional music with an album that is beautiful, exciting and filled with some much-needed optimism.” The National

“Breabach embarked on the journey from Astar to Frenzy of the Meeting with an open mind and a keen desire to explore, listeners who join them are sure to enjoy the results with an ever increasing sense of wonder.” Folk Radio UK

Having closed 2019 by winning the coveted BBC Scotland Traditional Music album of the year, the band were looking forward to a busy 2020.

2020 marked a very special year in the life of Scottish folk favourites Breabach, as it was their 15^th anniversary. Throughout those 15 years the band have always looked to acknowledge and respect the origins of both the music they play and the roots of the band whilst embracing the future with new ideas, energy and belief. It is these key attributes, combined with hard work and talent, that has seen them develop into one of Scotland’s most exciting and successful folk groups. With 6 albums under their belt, a multitude of awards and a consistently full touring schedule, quite literally across the world, they look perfectly set to continue to build upon their successes.

The band started their anniversary year by teaming up with Glenturret, who distilled a special single cask 15 year-old single malt in celebration. They then headed off to Australia to perform at the iconic venue of Sydney Opera House. Celebrations continued with a UK wide tour through February and March before the world became a very different place.

The band spent lockdown writing Dùsagadh, five new pieces of music put to animation by BAFTA award winning Cat Bruce. This ‘virtually toured 19 venues/festivals in the UK between the 11^th of February and the 1^st of March, with proceeds split between both the band and participating venues/festivals.

Breabach unite the talents of Megan Henderson (Fiddle, Vocals), James Lindsay (Double Bass, Vocals), Calum MacCrimmon (Bagpipes, Whistle, Bouzouki, Vocals), Conal McDonagh (Bagpipes, Whistle) and Ewan Robertson (Guitar, Vocals, Cajon).

Links

Website: http://www.breabach.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/breabach

Twitter: https://twitter.com/breabach

Instagram: https://instagram.com/breabach

Bandcamp: https://breabach.bandcamp.com

Videos

‘Birds of Passage’ single September 2018 https://youtu.be/KJeOvCYMFu0
‘Knees Up’ single January 2019 https://youtu.be/ew6YhBuK28k

Performance at Celtic Colours 2018 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8l-6YxlLNg0

Celtic Connections 2017 promo https://vimeo.com/207103690

The making of ‘Astar’ – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQ26ntV-jV8

Performance at The Visit 2016 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-ONgCnGeGc

Performance at Occit’amo 2016 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SP16g_vSY4

All or Nothing’s – The Swings, August

This event is delivered for the Lochwinnoch Primary School and Nursery.

The Swings is a new work for outdoors in 2021. It consists of a giant swing set, 5 m high and 2 swings. Two aerial artists use the Swings as their apparatus to fly high and they perform periodically during the day. In between shows the Swings are going to be used by the school pupils to sit and swing.

Lochwinnoch Films4U

Tickets now in Wee shop in Church Street, Lochwinnoch.

Keeping chickens in your own garden

This short video is a quick introduction to keeping chickens in your garden. It’s three stars are rescue hens from the Scottish charity ‘A Wing and a Prayer Hen Rescue’. They previously lived in a cage and now have retired happily to a garden in Lochwinnoch.

Wing and a Prayer Hen Rescue are the first hen rescue charity in Scotland, registered in 2014. They rescue hens from commercial farms when flocks are replaced and rehome them as pets, saving them from slaughter and ensuring they get the retirement homes they deserve. www.wingandaprayerhenrescue.scot/

Hen keeping starter guide: https://www.bhwt.org.uk/hen-keeping-starter-guide/

Caring for chickens – ten questions you should ask yourself before you commit: https://www.raising-happy-chickens.com/caring-for-chickens.html

Making your garden insect and wildlife friendly

Doing our bit for wildlife is vital for our native species, who are facing the challenges of habitat loss and climate change. This short video workshop introduces how you can help them in your garden. Connecting with nature is beneficial to our mental and physical health and adds beauty and interest to our lives.

The Yearnstane Project:

https://www.facebook.com/yearnstaneproject
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKpWtHeh2ek

Birds are at the start of the nesting season and the race is on to make the most of the good weather and abundant food supply.
Like a long haul race that we might watch on TV, a marathon or the Tour de France, the birds could do with some help and support along the way.
That’s what we can do for the birds; provide them with food and water to keep them going while they frantically try to raise their brood of chicks.
The chicks don’t eat the seeds and nuts whilst they are still in the nest, they need soft bodied invertebrate prey like caterpillars, worms, spiders and lacewings.
We can create habitats within which these creatures can thrive. Plant a variety of plants and flowers that will flower throughout the year, which are all different shapes sizes and heights. This will help to create lots of wee niches for a wider variety of creatures to thrive.
Do a lot by doing nothing. Leave some piles of leaves; don’t cut everything back at the end of the year. This will provide great overwintering habitat for many species, from snails to bumblebees
Queen bees are emerging from nearly 7 months of hibernation, you can see them swaying through the air, looking kind of dazed.
It is vital they get some food as soon as possible to build up the strength they will need to build a nest site and lay the first of the next generation.
Any early flowering plants in your garden are a lifeline. Crocuses, Pulmonaria, Primrose are some examples.

Foraging and gathering wild herbs

Foraging with wild food is a great way to get to know plants and flowers. It gets you outdoors, which benefits your mental and physical health and provides a wealth of fascinating information about the social history and folklore of our local wildlife.

Gorse Cordial Recipe
You will need:
4 handfuls of Gorse flowers
250g of caster sugar
600ml of cold water
Zest of 1 orange
Juice of 1 lemon
Method:
Put the water and the sugar in a pan and bring to the boil. Boil rapidly for 10 minutes to make a sugar syrup
Take off the heat and add you orange zest, lemon juice and Gorse flowers
Stir and allow to cool overnight
Strain into a sterilized bottle
Should make approx. 500ml of cordial
Wild Garlic Soup
2 medium tatties
1 medium onion
1 litre of veg stock
4 big handfuls of wild garlic
Method
Peel and chop the tatties and onion
Soften them in the pan for a few minutes
Add the veg stock and wild garlic and cook until the potatoes are soft
Whizz the whole lot up and add a dod of cream and season to taste,

Musical and spoken literature video praising food in word and music

We have invited five of Lochwinnoch’s musical and literary talents perform music and literature in praise of food. We hope you enjoy the performances!
Following the very successful collaboration of Lochwinnoch Arts Festival with the Paisley book festival in February, Lochwinnoch Arts Festival are delighted to have a further collaborative event with Paisley Food Festival in April.

Pauline Vallance – In Amongst the teacups
Outi Smith
Claire Robertson – Frim Fram Sauce
Alan Bissett
Crawford Smith