FEB-MAR 2009

TOLBOOTHStirling’s venue for live music and the arts

CLEVELAND WATKISSHEBRIDES ENSEMBLEGILDED BALLOONTHE BLENDSPIERS & BODEN

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The Tolbooth is owned and operated by Stirling Council

The redevelopment of the Tolbooth was funded by

The information in this guide was correct at the time of going to print.© Tolbooth, Stirling Council 2009

HEAR ABOUT IT FIRST ONLINE www.stirling.gov.uk/tolbooth

BOX OFFICE 01786 27 4000Open Tuesday - Saturday 10am - 6pm | Closed Sunday & Monday

ADVANCE BOOKING... Going Across the Sea 30th April

Lisa Knapp &

James Yorkston 21st May

Lau23rd May

Session A917th June

Standing gig

Seated gig

Design by Christine Jones www.christinejonesgraphics.com

Baropen

The New Year at the Tolbooth brings a whole host of possibilities for you to drive away those wintry blues.

Tap into your creative side by signing up to one of our classes or workshops, they are great fun and very friendly. See Stirling Arts Update for full details.

Brush up your Tango moves in February as the authentic sound of Argentina comes to the Tolbooth when the Alejandro Ziegler quartet arrive from Buenos Aires for their only Scottish gig.

See one of British Jazz’s most versatile talents, Cleveland Watkiss, performing a one off concert of his VocalSuite.

Expand your musical horizons at The Blend festival in March with a day of Flamenco on Sunday 15th and a newly commissioned work, I Murder Hate, by dub maestro Adrian Sherwood.

I hope to see you here soon…

Alasdair CampbellArtistic Director

INDEXJAZZ

jazz singers' open mic nights p4

cleveland watkiss p6

tommy smith’s youth jazz orchestra p12

TRADITIONAL/FOLK

auvo quartet p5

nils økland & catriona mckay p15

the blend p16

spiers & boden p18

alasdair roberts & pumajaw p19

CLASSICAL

hebrides ensemble p11

WORLD/AMERICANA

alejandro ziegler tango quartet p8

marc atkinson trio p14

POP

reloaded p10

electronic bar p10

acoustic bar p10

THEATRE

the last of the red hot lovers p7

SINGER SONGWRITER

keith james p9

COMEDY

gilded balloon p13

gilded balloon p17

STIRLING ARTS UPDATE

news

classes & workshops

the changing room

AT THE BACK

how to book p22

getting here p23

at a glance p24

WED 4 FEB, 8PMTHU 5 MAR, 8PMSINGERS £5AUDIENCE £3

The lights go down, the band starts the first bars of the intro and you are there, in the spotlight, on stage at the Tolbooth.

This is your chance to sing in front of a live audience with the support of a fantastic jazz band and everyone in the crowd.

The open mic nights are relaxed and informal, there are no prima donnas and the only qualifications you need are a sense of fun and a desire to sing.

Come along to our cabaret club, sit down, enjoy a drink and an evening of home-grown entertainment.

7PM

4 www.stirling.gov.uk/tolbooth www.myspace.com/tolboothstirling

AUVO QUARTETTHU 5 FEB, 8PM£12/£10

Bringing together the traditions of Scandinavian and English folk music, the Auvo Quartet combine

ice cool Finnish vocals with cutting-edge composition, wild improvisation and an electric stage presence which few can rival.

The musical result of this explosive combination of traditions can be described as both unique and contemporary but it also has a beautiful timeless quality to it.

The four excellent musicians, two from Helsinki and two from Newcastle, produce a distinctive and really fresh sound with new and traditional compositions featuring songs, polskas, tangos, schottische, waltz and polkas.

This is contemporary traditional music at its very best.

For this performance the quartet will be joined by feature guest percussionist, Brendan Murphy. “a joy to listen to” BBC Radio 3

“Majesty, elegance, dexterity and spice. A feast for the ears!” Karen Tweed (Swap)

Tom Oakes – fluteSuvi Oskala – vocals / fiddleJulian Sutton – melodeonRoope Aarnio - guitars

www.myspace.com/theauvoquartet

BOOK IF YOU LIKE: SWAP, LAU, HAUGAARD & HØIRUP

7PM

5Box Offi ce 01786 27 4000

BOOK IF YOU LIKE: ABBY LINCOLN, TONY BENNETT, AMY WINEHOUSE

7PM

CLEVELAND WATKISSSAT 7 FEB, 8PM£12/£10

o-founder of the vastly influential Jazz Warriors, Cleveland Watkiss is a sensationally talented jazz

vocalist, three times winner of best vocalist at the Wire/Guardian Jazz Awards; he brings his highly original VocalSuite to the Tolbooth.

VocalSuite is Cleveland’s pioneering solo work, in which he performs a cappella vocal improvisations using an electronic device to record, loop and layer his voice. Making seamless links between musical cultures, Cleveland blends live improvisation, counter-point harmony, breakbeat and basslines to stunning effect, creating a true performance of the moment.

"Best male jazz singer in Britain" Evening Standard

www.myspace.com/vocalsuite

SUPPORT

THE STIRLING YOUTH JAZZ

ENSEMBLESupport comes from Laura MacDonald and the Stirling Youth Jazz Ensemble as they perform some of the exciting work they have been rehearsing over the last few months at the Tolbooth. The Ensemble is made up of the fantastic talent coming through Stirling schools. Laura is one of Scotland’s leading jazz musicians and has an acclaimed reputation as a performer, composer and recording artist.

www.myspace.com/lauramacdonaldjazz

EXCLUSIVE!

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6 www.stirling.gov.uk/tolbooth www.myspace.com/tolboothstirling

RAPTURE THEATRE PRESENT

THE LAST OF THE RED HOT LOVERS BY NEIL SIMON

WED 11 FEB, 7.30PM£10/£8

Rapture return with Neil Simon’s classic sixties comedy about sex, love and seafood.

Think of the great red-hot lovers…Byron…Casanova…Barney Cashman?!!!

Barney, the owner of a fish restaurant, tries to make a “catch” by attempting to woo, seduce and bed a trio of lovelies. The results are both comic and touching as Barney learns a lot about women and even more about life.

The ingredients of zippy one-liners mixed with pathos make the perfect recipe for a great night out for the Valentines season.

Neil Simon is the acclaimed Pulitzer Prize winning author whose plays include classics such as “Barefoot in the Park” and “The Odd Couple”.

“I’m in raptures over Rapture” The Daily Mail

“Excellent production”The Stage

www.rapturetheatre.co.uk

6.30PM

7Box Offi ce 01786 27 4000

ALEJANDRO ZIEGLER TANGO QUARTET

THU 12 FEB, 8PM£12/£10 PERFORMANCE ONLY£17/15 FOR WORKSHOP AND PERFORMANCE

Tolbooth audiences have been treated in the past year to some of the very best Tango and Salsa musicians

available and have loved every toe tapping second of it.

So it is with great excitement that we bring what is considered to be one of the most important ensembles of today’s tango scene, The Alejandro Ziegler Quartet, from Buenos Aires to the Tolbooth.

After playing with the legendary Argentinean musicians of the golden age of tango, Alejandro Ziegler created his quartet to continue the tradition of the great tango

orchestras and to compose his own music.The quartet performs all different styles of tango: Piazzolla, Pugliese, Di Sarli, Troilo, D'Arienzo, and Ziegler's music.

This will be a seated concert.

Javier Stromann - bandoneonAstro Rocco - violinPatricio Peralta - double bassAlejandro Ziegler - piano, arrangements, conducting

TANGO DANCE CLASS, 6PM

Want to learn some impressive Tango dance moves? Come along to our Tango class to warm up for the performance.

EXCLUSIVE!

7PM

BOOK IF YOU LIKE: ASTOR PIAZZOLA, CARLOS CARDEL, THE GOTAN PROJECT

8 www.stirling.gov.uk/tolbooth www.myspace.com/tolboothstirling

BOOK IF YOU LIKE: LEONARD COHEN, SUZANNE VEGA, NICK DRAKE

LORCA: POET IN NEW YORKKEITH JAMES

FRI 13 FEB, 8PM£12/£10

The inspiration for this special concert comes from the book of writings, Poet in New York, by Gabriel Garcia

Lorca, which documents evocatively his impressions and experiences of New York in the early part of the 20th century.

You can expect an evening of unique and evocative music performed by Keith James and Rick Foot, featuring material by Leonard Cohen, Lorca, Nabokov, Sylvia Plath, Bob Dylan, Suzanne Vega and Pablo Neruda.

The evening will begin with a short film bio-documentary about the life and work of Leonard Cohen.

"Genuinely inspirational" BBC Manchester

"An elegant and beautifully crafted reinterpretation of a great artist's words" BBC Radio Scotland

www.keith-james.com

Also Tonight:

The Changing Room private view, somebodyelse Graham Fagen, 6 – 8pm, All Welcome see The Changing Room pages for details

7PM

9Box Offi ce 01786 27 4000

www.myspace.com/reloadedstirling

Fri 20 Feb, 7.30pm, FreeSat 14 Feb

RELOADED 2Doors open 8pm£4

Sat 28 Feb

RELOADED INFO DAYDoors open 1pm£3After a sold out event last year the Reloaded Info Sessions are back! This is a great opportunity to speak to music industry pros about the real music business and how to get ahead in it. This year will include panels on Marketing and Performance along with a select number of bands getting feedback at a top A&R session.

Sat 28 Feb

RELOADED Doors open 7.30pm

Sat 21 Mar

RELOADEDDoors open 7.30pm£6

Fri 20 Mar, 7.30pm, Free

A chance to catch some of the best electronic/acoustic acts around, as the music takes over the Tolbooth Bar. Doors

7:30pm, free entry and

drinks promo's

1939 Seventy years ago Europe was teetering on the brink of war following a devastating economic

depression. At the heart of the maelstrom great music not only survived but thrived, composed and performed in the worst of circumstances to offer solace, hope and joy.

For this performance the world-class playing of the Hebrides Ensemble will be set against a backdrop of striking visuals of the time. The programme centres on Béla Bartók’s great sixth and final string quartet, written in 1939 before he fled the war to America, and features music composed in the concentration camps. Despite the

ON THE BRINKHEBRIDES ENSEMBLE

THU 19 FEB, 8PM£12/£10

terrible circumstances and place of its birth, the music of Bartók, Gideon Klein and Hans Krása offers surprising optimism and beauty – a vision of a brighter future.

"…a searing experience and the hottest ticket in town" The Scotsman on Hebrides Ensemble’s production of The Martyrdom of St Magnus

Ravel Kaddish ... (Jewish prayer for the dead)Gideon Klein ... String Trio (1944)Schulhoff ... Duo for violin and cello (1925)Hans Krása ... Passacaglia and Fugue String Trio (1944) Bartok ... Quartet no 6 (1939)Hans Krása ... Tanec for string trio 1944

www.hebridesensemble.org.uk

7PM

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TOLBOOTH GIGS CONTINUE ON PAGE 13

TOMMY SMITH’S YOUTH JAZZ ORCHESTRA

SAT 21 FEB, 8PM£8/£6

The Tommy Smith Youth Jazz Orchestra is one of the most talented, exciting and dynamic

young jazz ensembles on the planet.

Under Tommy Smith’s unassuming leadership, musicians, some of them as young as twelve, have been encouraged, nurtured and directed into a highly disciplined, superbly creative unit where their personalities are allowed to develop and shine. Their enthusiasm for the music tumbles out of every live performance.

Now, with a new concert season, including an appearance at Glasgow International Jazz Festival, the Tommy Smith Youth Jazz Orchestra enters a new phase, promising superb ensemble playing, outstanding solo adventures and vibrant music full of imagination, precocious maturity and youthful pizzazz.

“…a swaggeringly confident testament to the ongoing high quality of Scottish jazz.” The Guardian

“…Smith has them playing with terrific vigour and maturity well beyond their years.” The Herald

The orchestra will be back at Tolbooth on the 4th April.

www.tsyjo.com

BOOK IF YOU LIKE: DUKE ELLINGTON, COUNT BASIE, THE MINGUS BIG BAND

7PM

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PHIL NICOLTHU 26 FEB, 8PM £10

orn in Scotland but raised in Canada multi-award-winner Phil Nichol is a Tasmanian devil on

guitar, performing wickedly funny songs with superb improvisational skills.

For this first night of the Gilded Balloon Comedy Club Phil presents a back-to-basics stand-up show. No theme, no story, no band, nothing fancy, just jokes and funny songs.

www.martinsimpson.com

7PM

COMEDY CLUB

Winner of the if.comedy award at the Edinburgh festival in 2006 for his show ‘The Naked Racist’, Phil is a legend amongst stand ups!

NOT SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN OR THOSE WHO ARE EASILY OFFENDED

"Exhilarating, incredibly funny and clever" ★★★★★ Scotsman

THE GILDED BALLOON COMEDY CLUB IS BACK IN MARCH, SEE P17 FOR DETAILS.

13Box Offi ce 01786 27 4000

Marc Atkinson is one of Canada’s most talented musician/composers, he also has a hectic

schedule playing with roots sensations The Bills, as well as fronting the internationally acclaimed Marc Atkinson Trio.

A virtuoso mandolinist and guitarist, Marc is renowned in Djangoland as one of the top players of the genre and his playing has been described by those who know their stuff as “dazzling” and “hugely inventive”.

Marc can play the Django Reinhardt way as well as any but what the trio does, is broaden out well beyond Manouche gypsy style, to capture everyone’s attention.

Recently nominated in the Best Instrumental Group and Pushing the Boundaries categories at the prestigious Canadian Music Awards, the trio’s musical dexterity and fiery passion are receiving justifiable critical acclaim.

“They're outstanding for their vitality, exuberance, elegance & melodic strength, and for the joy these three fine musicians share... Atkinson is a daring & inventive acoustic guitarist and a powerful force in the new roots/jazz movement." Toronto Star

www.marcatkinson.com

MARC ATKINSON TRIOWED 4 MAR, 8PM£10/£8

www.martinsimpson.com

7PM

BOOK IF YOU LIKE: DJANGO REINHARDT, MARTIN TAYLOR

14 www.stirling.gov.uk/tolbooth www.myspace.com/tolboothstirling

7PM

NILS ØKLAND CATRIONA MCKAY

FRI 6 MAR, 8PM£12/£10

Norway’s leading hardanger fiddler Nils Økland and Scottish harpist Catriona McKay perform

ancient and contemporary interpretations of traditional folk from Norway and the northern reaches of Scotland.

The two sets will feature Catriona’s new work Floë for quintet, which was commissioned by Celtic Connections 2008 and a new collaboration between Nils Økland’s trio, Catriona McKay and Chris Stout.

Catriona McKay and Nils Økland have established themselves as two of the leading lights of the contemporary folk scene in the UK and Scandinavia. They are vital links between ancient musical traditions and the future, using the language of their heritage to create new sound worlds.

"sonically exquisite manipulation of folk traditions. Hauntingly beautiful." The Guardian

Catriona McKay - compositions & harpCatriona McKay - compositions & harpChris Stout - fiddleAlistair MacDonald - live electronicsPhil Alexander - piano/accordionOlov Johansson - nyckelharpa

Nils Økland - hardanger fiddleSigbjorn Apeland - harmoniumHakon Stene - percussion

www.myspace.com/catrionamckayharp

15Box Offi ce 01786 27 4000

Stirling’s roots music festival

FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS

Friday 13th March ...

Mary Hampton + Mor Karbasi

Saturday 14th March ...

I Murder Hatewith Adrian Sherwood, Ghetto Priest, Ian King, Skip MacDonald and Pete Lockett

Sunday 15th March ...

Flamenco Day withPeter Walker, Gabriel Gonzalez & Miguel Linares

For full listings and details see www.theblendfestival.comTickets and info 01786 27 4000

"A performance masterclass" Chortle ★★★★

"Wonderful, engaging, feel-good, laugh-out-loud funny show" The Scotsman ★★★★

"Personal, surprising, unique … entertaining" The Times

7PM

RHONA CAMERONTHU 26 MAR, 8PM £10

fter a sell out run at the Gilded Balloon during last year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and countless rave

reviews, Rhona Cameron returns to the Tolbooth with her most revealing show to date.

One time ‘jungle celebrity’, ‘Grumpy Old Woman’ and now best selling author, Rhona takes us on a laugh-out-loud journey

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COMEDY CLUB

through her darkly comic and ridiculous life.

Expect brand new material, impeccable timing and a generous helping of her classic and sharp-witted observational humour.

THE GILDED BALLOON COMEDY CLUB IS BACK ON 22 APRIL WITH JARRED CHRISTMAS, DANIEL SIMONSEN + JOHN GAVIN, TOM STADE

17Box Offi ce 01786 27 4000

BOOK IF YOU LIKE: ELIZA CARTHY, ANDY CUTTING, CHRIS WOOD

SPIERS & BODENFRI 27 MAR, 8PM£12/£10

escribed by The Guardian as “the finest instrumental duo on the traditional scene” and twice

winners of the BBC Radio 2 folk award for Best Duo, Spiers and Boden have made the genre of spontaneous, punky English folk very much their own stomping ground.

Loud, proud, and with just a few acoustic instruments, they create a multitude of textures upon which they present traditional stories and dance music which are as much at home on the main stage of Cambridge Folk Festival as they are in a lock-in at the local pub.

The irrepressible performances as a duo and with their alter ego, the wildly

Dambitious eleven piece big-band folk phenomenon, Bellowhead (BBC Folk Awards for Best Live Act in 2005, 2007, 2008), have ensured that John Spiers and Jon Boden are in high demand with audiences.

“Technically they stand head to head with the best of their generation…halfway to reinventing the style without even realising it…" fRoots Magazine

Jon Boden – vocals, fiddle, guitar, stomp-boxJohn Spiers – melodeon, concertina

www.myspace.com/spiersandboden

7PM

18 www.stirling.gov.uk/tolbooth www.myspace.com/tolboothstirling

ALASDAIR ROBERTS AND PUMAJAW

SAT 28 MAR, 8PM£12/£10

Pinkie Maclure & John Wills aka PUMAJAW return to the Tolbooth after their memorable 2006

appearance supporting Rachel Unthank and the Winterset.

Combining Pinkie's extraordinary voice and concertina with John's looped and treated guitar, mandolin and hypnotic rhythms, they have a unique and seductive sound which spans sultry folk songs and psychedelic pop.

"What makes the duo's music outstanding is that while it's tender and lyrical, there's also an earthiness, a saltiness to it." Mojo

www.myspace.com/pumaja

Alasdair Roberts is a singer and guitarist based in Glasgow. His next album, provisionally entitled Spoils, is due for release in May 2009.

In contrast with the traditional material of his previous albums, The Crook of my Arm and No Earthly Man, Spoils consists entirely of Roberts’ self-written material and features a host of talented players. Expect new songs to be previewed at the Tolbooth.

“…he discovers the inner mystery of traditional music.” The Sunday Times

www.alasdairroberts.com

BOOK IF YOU LIKE: JAMES YORKSTON, KING CREOSOTE, KARINE POLWART

7PM

19Box Offi ce 01786 27 4000

Whether you are looking for a private meeting room, a large reception room or a purpose built, state of the art, 165 seat auditorium, the Tolbooth has the facilities and expertise to make any event shine.

Contact Nicky Ferrie on 01786 27 4020 or email ferrien@stirling.gov.uk

20 www.stirling.gov.uk/tolbooth www.myspace.com/tolboothstirling

Tuesday - Saturday: 10am - 6pm, Sunday & Monday: Closed Open until performance starts on performance evenings.

If you have difficulty understanding English and would like translations, we can arrange this for you. If you need information on tape, large print or Braille, contact 0845 277 7000.

For more information on this publication contact Community Services on 01786 442963

BOOK YOUR TICKETSIn Person at the Tolbooth (see below for opening times)By Telephone call the Box Office on 01786 27 4000Online www.stirling.gov.uk/tolboothBy Post Tolbooth, Jail Wynd, Stirling, FK8 1DE

OTHER OUTLETS you can also book tickets for Tolbooth events by calling:The Albert Halls on 01786 47 3544macrobert on 01786 46 6666SECxtra 08700 13 26 52 *subject to possible booking fee

CONDITIONS You can pay by VISA, Mastercard, Switch or Eurocard.Tickets cannot be exchanged or refunded after purchase unless the event is cancelled. We can reserve tickets for a maximum of three days, after which time they will be released. No reservations will be taken within 3 days of an event.

Booking Fee These may vary but you will be advised at the time of purchase.

Access The Tolbooth is fully accessible and can accommodate a limited number of wheelchairs at each performance. Please ask when booking.

JOIN OUR FREE E-MAILING LIST Join our free mailing list and hear about special offers, new gigs and our new season before everyone else. You will also be helping us cut down on the number of paper brochures we need to print. Contact the Box Office on 01786 27 4000 or go to our website www.stirling.gov.uk/tolbooth and click on the email link.

22 www.stirling.gov.uk/tolbooth www.myspace.com/tolboothstirling

Stirling is centrally located within Scotland and within easy reach of Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen.

TrainsFor information call First ScotRail on 08457 48 49 50www.firstscotrail.com

BusesFor information call Citylink on 08705 50 50 50www.citylink.co.uk

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Wed 4 Feb Jazz Singers’ Open Mic Night 8pm Jazz pg4

Thu 5 Feb Auvo Quartet 8pm Traditional pg5

Sat 7 Feb Cleveland Watkiss 8pm Jazz pg6

Wed 11 Feb The Last of the Red Hot Lovers 7.30pm Theatre pg7

Thu 12 Feb Alejandro Ziegler Tango Quartet 8pm Tango pg8

Fri 13 Feb Keith James - Lorca: Poet in New York 8pm Singer/Songwriter pg9

Sat 14 Feb Reloaded 2 8pm Pop pg10

Thu 19 Feb Hebrides Ensemble - On the Brink 8pm Classical pg11

Fri 20 Feb Electronic Bar 7.30pm Pop pg10

Sat 21 Feb Tommy Smith's Youth Jazz Orchestra 8pm Jazz pg12

Thu 26 Feb Gilded Balloon Comedy Club 8pm Comedy pg13

Sat 28 Feb Reloaded Info Day 1pm pg10

Sat 28 Feb Reloaded 7.30pm Pop pg10

Wed 4 Mar Marc Atkinson Trio 8pm Gypsy/Bluegrass pg14

Thu 5 Mar Jazz Singers’ Open Mic Night 8pm Jazz pg4

Fri 6 Mar Nils Økland & Catriona McKay 8pm Folk pg15

13 - 15 Mar The Blend - Roots Music Festival vary Roots pg16

Fri 20 Mar Acoustic Bar 7.30pm Pop pg10

Sat 21 Mar Reloaded 7.30pm Pop pg10

Thu 26 Mar Gilded Balloon Comedy Club 8pm Comedy pg17

Fri 27 Mar Spiers & Boden 8pm Traditional pg18

Sat 28 Mar Alasdair Roberts & Pumajaw 8pm Traditional pg19

BOX OFFICE 01786 27 4000WWW.STIRLING.GOV.UK/TOLBOOTH

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