Tannahill Weavers

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More About

• Roy Gullane
• Robert Tannahill
• Colin Melville
• John Martin
• Phil Smillie

Scotland's Tannahill Weavers adopted their name from Scottish poet Robert Tannahill and the traditional industry of the band's hometown of Paisley, and for three and a half decades has forged its own sparkling legacy as one of Scotland's premier traditional bands. The Tannies play the rousing jigs and reels of the Highlands and Lowlands with virtuoso technique and renowned spirit, firing up the old melodies with driving rhythms and rock-like intensity, chiefly via Roy Gullane's furious guitar. The Tannies' other trademark is spine-tingling vocal harmonies, led by Gullane's fine-grained tenor, on the ancient and modern ballads that round out their repertoire. Phil Smillie's ethereal flute and whistles vividly evoke the craggy mists, deftly weaving gorgeous musical tartans together with Colin Melville's stirring pipes and John Martin's fiddle and various other strings. The Tannies' latest, characteristically accomplished album is 2007's Live & In Session, their first for Compass after decades at Green Linnet. All ages. (Photo by Maggie Smillie)
Thu., Oct. 7, 7 p.m., 2010