Scottish musicians star at Folk Festival’s Spangin’ Spree

Scottish musicians were the star of the show at Friday night’s Scots On Da Rock – Spangin’ Spree Folk Festival concert in Clickimin.

Dancing and merriment was a guarantee from the offset with three lively visiting acts on the bill and one very special Shetland supergroup.

Up and comers Talisk kicked off proceedings. This Scottish trio have been making waves in the traditional music scene since their formation just a short time ago.

Concertina player Mohsen Amini leads the line with unbridled energy and is backed up by two very gifted musicians in the form of Hayley Keenan on fiddle and Craig Irving on guitar.

Talisk are undoubtedly a band with a bright future – don’t expect to see them filling in the opening act slot for much longer.

Next on stage was Shetland supergroup Dwaam. Featuring 13 of Shetland’s most accomplished musicians it was near guaranteed that Dwaam would be a hit with the expectant crowd.

Local acts such as Hom Bru and Haltadans were represented in the act which featured four fiddle players, two banjos, two guitars, a mandolin, accordion, piano, bass and drums.

As Dwaam fired into a boisterous set of reels towards the end of their slot the very foundations of Clickimin seemed to shake under the weight of vigorous dancing. The only regret must be that this was a one night only experience.

The Elephant Sessions had the unenviable task of following Dwaam, a challenge they rose to ably.

Their unique brand of funky folk rock was riotous good fun. Alasdair Taylor’s full bodied mandolin tones were truly a delight and the band earned the right to draw on some more unusual influences – such as calypso – by melding them ably into their anthemic sound.

Top of the bill was returning act Mànran. These huge stars of the Scottish music scene were a truly fitting conclusion to a night celebrating the best the country has to offer.

Flute, uilleann, bagpipes and Gaelic singing all featured in a set which drew heavily on the members Celtic roots.

And though the dancefloor started to empty a bit as Mànran played their final song this was in no way a reflection on their fantastic performance, but rather evidence of the popularity of the Festival’s club in Islesburgh – and people’s desire to get in before the queue built up.

Overall this was a concert which was sure to make attendees more than just a little bit proud to be Scottish.