NEXT PERFORMANCE:
UCS : A Celebration Suite
The Whistlebinkies have toured extensively taking Scottish music to France, Germany, Italy, Finland, Iceland, Taiwan, Estonia and all the Celtic countries. In 1991 they were the first Scottish music group to tour The Peoples Republic of China. Recent festival appearances include the Edinburgh International Festival, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Glasgow Mayfest, the Hong Kong Folk Festival and the Festival Interceltique at Lorient, Brittany. In March 1996 the group made a highly successful contribution to the Scotland: Cultural Counterpoint festival at the Anderson Centre for the Arts, Binghamton University, New York State. In January 1995 the group were featured as the BBC Radio 3 ‘Artists of the Week’. August 1998 saw performances in Texas, at the Festival Interceltique, Lorient, Brittany and a show at the Edinburgh International Festival Fringe.
The Whistlebinkies frequently work with others on special musical projects. Recent collaborations have included a joint performance of Scottish fiddle music with Yehudi Menuhin, tours with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, collaborations with Capella Nova and a major project with the Glasgow Festival Strings and Scottish Ballet in Eddie McGuire’s ballet The Spirit of Flight. The group have recorded with David Essex and The Cutting Crew. The band commissioned, premiered and broadcast Scottish Circus by the late John Cage. The Whistlebinkies have contributed much music to feature and documentary film, television, radio and stage drama productions.
What people say:
A fascinating mixture… arrangements and new compositions based on Scottish traditional material provide an interesting example of joint creation, with all the members of the group contributing and discussing ideas. Ailie Munro: The Folk Revival in Scotland.Their repertoire is about as wide-ranging as it is possible to be. Kenny Mathieson: The Scotsman.Well, they’re just lovely. They don’t sing sentimentally… they sing straight, and with some kind of dignity. It is that quality of people doing their work well that I admire. John Cage: Tempo 1991.Punctilious attention to detail is typical of the group. They led the revival of interest in Scottish traditional music precisely by their willingness to dig deep into neglected territory, and played their findings with great attention to authenticity, as well as palpable affection. George Mackay: The Scotsman.There’s real spirit and energy about the whole set which, allied to inventive orchestration, makes it highly commendable. Nick Beale: Folk Roots.They are an outstanding group. Michael Tumelty: The Glasgow Herald.Their output has remained consistently good over the years, and they have never once been blown off their committed course by the gimmiky gusts that have swept through folk music since the Seventies. Alastair Clark: The Scotsman.Eine schöne Platte für ruhige Abende vor dem Kamin mit einem guten Single Malt Whisky. Review of Timber Timbre, FolkWorld 9, Germany.Anyone who made the trip to see their show at St Margaret’s Hope church in the afternoon got to experience the most moving performance of the whole festival when they backed the Limbe Choir in a reprise of MacMillan’s Sanctus. I was, I confess, close to tears. Keith Bruce : The Herald