North stars
NORTHERN Streams, which highlights Scotland's Scandinavian links through folk music, has become a popular strand of Ceilidh Culture, Edinburgh's month-long celebration of the traditional arts.
This year's concerts by prominent Norwegian and Swedish performers are accompanied by a programme of workshops and performance opportunities open to all.
Scandinavia's folk musicians and singers haven't had the benefit of the promotion that the popular ECM label has given to Scandinavian jazz players over here, but, as last year's runaway successes, Norwegian singer Jon Anders Halvorsen and guitarist Tore Bruvoll confirmed, there are treasures waiting to be discovered.
Halvorsen and Bruvoll return to play at Canongate Kirk on Friday, April 8, alongside fellow Norwegian, singer Sigrid Randers-Pehrson, and Billboard can recommend the guests on Saturday, the 9th, at the Counting House, too: Swedish group Ranarim.
They've already been dubbed the Abba of folk music and if their CD, For Varlden Alskar Vad Som Ar Brokot, doesn't trip off the tongue quite as easily as Dancing Queen, it's got some cracking singing and playing on it.
Further information from 0131 228 1155 or www. ceilidhculture. co. uk.
April unplugged
PROMOTERS of the nonamplified (well, not amplified much) Acoustic Affair have a busy programme at the beginning of April at Glasgow's Tron Theatre.
First up is the Bard of Dundee, Michael Marra, who will be eschewing his usual keyboard for an upright piano in honour of the spirit of the evening on Sunday. The gig begins at 8pm and support is Heather MacLeod, who has been winning praise for her solo album, Crossing Tides.
On Tuesday, AA is presenting Karine Polwart, pictured, formerly of Malinky, whose ascendant star has seen her garlanded with BBC Folk Awards, one of which is for her solo disc, Faultlines. Her support is Danny Moran and, again, the gig starts at 8pm.
Choir calling
WITH French film sensation Les Choristes playing in our cinemas, the nation is poised for a boom in choral singing similar to the one that swept the nation of Edith Piaf, Sacha Distel and Serge Gainsbourg.
It is timely, then, for Glasgow University's department of adult and continuing education to offer a day school in Getting More Out Of Choral Singing.
On Saturday, April 16, from 10.15am-4.15pm, tutor John Gormley will be offering simple techniques to enhance rhythm, metre and pitching, and advice on producing good vowels and audible consonants.
Gormley is a composer and organist who currently conducts Eastwood Choral Society, the Glasgow Renaissance Singers, and the choir of Sherbrooke St Gilbert's Parish Church.
Fee for the day course is pounds-22.
Billboard is edited by.
Contact: Herald Arts, 200 Renfield Street, Glasgow G2 3QB. 0141 302 7019; or e-mail arts@theherald. co. uk
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