THE CELTIC CONNECTION • APRIL 1994
Page 9
THE BATTLEFIELD BAND — AMID GLASGOW'S EMPTY SHIPYARDS
lain MacDonald, John McCusher, Alistair Russell and Alan Reid
The Battlefield Band's Highland Circus Heading West
By STEVE EDGE VANCOUVER — Scotland's Battlefield Band have recorded a string of magnificent albums of traditional and contemporary Scottish music. Inspired by their rich heritage of Celtic music and fired by the strength of today's Scottish cultural scene, they have created music of rare passion, relevance and joy.
Refusing to be limited musically by suffocating antiquarianisms or the "music biz," the, Battlefield Band have mixed old songs and tunes with new, self-penned material. They play a unique fusion of ancient and modern instruments — bagpipes, fiddles,
guitars, synthesizers, flutes and accordions.
Their live performances are second to none and they have played with such musical luminaries as Van Morrison, Mike Oldfield and Paul Brady. Age barriers have fallen before them — their audience range from punks to pensioners. They have written music for television, film and their own festival, "Battlefield Band's Highland Circus," which has become one of the major Scottish events of the year.
The band are Alan Reid (keyboard, vocals), Iain MacDonald (bagpipes, flute and whistle), Alistair Russell (guitar, cittern,
vocals) and John McCusher (fiddle, whistle, accordion, keyboards and cittern).
The Highland Circus will be in North Vancouver (a real hotbed of Scottish culture) on April 23 at 8 PM, at the Centennial Theatre, 2300 Lonsdale Avenue. Don't miss this opportunity to really let your hair down with "the Batties.
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Steve Edge is editor of the Rogue Folk Review and organizer of Rogue Folk Club events. Listen to Steve on Saturday mornings on CiTR FM 101.9 from 8 AM to 12 Noon on The Edge on Folk. For tickets to see the Battlefield Band call the Rogue Folk Club at (604) 736-3022.
Glasgow's Arts Festival
GLASGOW — A vast array of performers from Scotland and many other countries take part in Mayfest (April 27-May 21), Glasgow's international arts festival.
The program covers all apsects of the arts and includes: the Royal Scottish National and Polish National Radia Symphony Orchestras, the Bolshoi Theatre Children's Choir, Ireland's Druid Theatre Company, the Necessary Stage, a Singapore theatre company and Cuba's Buendia Theatre Company.
A new festival venue will be the 1,500 capacity state-of-the-art tent in Kelvingrove Park.
For more information, write John Mclnally, Press Officer for Mayfest at 18 Albion Street, Glasgow, Gl 1LH or phone 011-41-552-8000/6611 or fax 011-41-552-6612.
SCOTTISH TINSELTOWN
EDINBURGH — Scotland looks set for a screen bonanza with a rush of new movies. Mel Gibson has been searching out locations for his new film Braveheart about Scots patriot Sir William Wallace. Mary Reily, a remake of the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde story, will be shot partly in Edinburgh.
Shooting on a film about Bonnie Prince Charlie starts soon. An-otherproject,OiflsfM£ the Deer, stars Brian Blessed, Iain Cuthbertson, Jack D'arcy, Fish and newcomer Jacqueline Pirie. Highlands and Islands Enterprise, the British Government's jobs and training agency, has put up £35,000 of the £420,000 cost. — Reuter
On the Road Again
ENGL AND —Rosemary Milvain has become the oldest known woman in Britain to pass a driving test — at the age of 84. She had 67 years of accident-free motoring to her credit, when a minor accident put the brakes on her travels.
A court fined her £120 for careless driving and ordered her to sit a test after her Daihatsu Sport Trak bumped into another vehicle. The Northumberland woman promptly bought a copy of the Highway Code, booked 10 lessons and passed the test.
— Liatn Ferrie
Women Ordained
ENGLAND —The first holy communion services were held recently by the new women priests of the Church of England. The event brought forth celebration and excitement in sharing history being made, as 32 newly-ordained women took up their duties.
There were also prayers for unity in the Church of England, to heal bitter divisions caused by the issue. During the next few months, 1,000 more women will be ordained, marking the biggest upheaval in the church since the Reformation, 450 years ago.
— Reuter
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SATURDAY JUNE 25/94
back at It's New Location
COQUITLAM TOWN CENTRE STADIUM
COQUITLAM, B.C. Cty
Pipe Bands •Dancing • Sports Stage Show • Food Concessions • Beer Garden Competitions Start 10:00 am
Admission $8.00 (Srs./Stud. $5.O0) 12 yrs. & under free
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