Gifford

It gets really tedious when everybody boils any type of education down to budgets, ringfencing, cuts here, cuts there... There is more than plenty money to go around. Local, Scottish, and central governments waste millions of pounds on many of the things mentioned before on this thread. They want us to care about how money is allocated, but it's all done as a smokescreen. We are buying into mind numbing nonsense. Look at the bigger picture for once, let's live in a country, or world, where we put money into worthwhile areas (i.e. creative industries as well as the obvious essential areas) rather than piss billions away in, and make us, the people who elect these bangers, argue with each other as to what is worthwhile. And if anyone starts harping on about 'utopian nonsense, nay socialist mayhem', then, well, I guess you win. We're being taken for a ride.

Fiddlers' Bid won 'Best album of the year' at the Scots Trad Music Awards last night for 'All Dressed in Yellow'. Thanks a million to anyone who voted for us, we are delighted to have won. A good night was had by all in Dumfries. I thought Steven Spence and Maggie Adamson were unlucky not to win in their respective categories. Cheers

Dear all, If you have a spare couple of minutes, it would be splendid if you could vote for any of the Shetland representatives at the Scots Trad Music Awards at http://www.handsupfortrad.co.uk/tradmusicawards/ Voting started today and ends on the 20th November. Just to register an interest, Fiddlers' Bid are nominated in the 'Best Album of the Year' category for 'All Dressed in Yellow' which was released this summer. It is a public vote, and with Maggie Adamson and Brian Nicholson, Steven Spence, Ross Couper (with Bodega), Kevin Henderson (with da Bid and Session A9), it would be a much appreciated couple minutes of your time. Thanks, Gifford

Hi all, this was sent out to our mailing list last night, so I thought I would add it here too. Cheers, Andrew Hello everyone! 1 - New album After a hectic few weeks we are delighted to announce that our sixth album, 'All Dressed in Yellow', is ready for release. We did a Shetland launch in early August at the 'Fiddle Frenzy', and are pleased to say that it is now available for purchase from our website http://www.fiddlersbid.com You can also hear clips and buy from http://www.myspace.com/fiddlersbid A full UK launch in the shops will happen in early November but until then you can buy directly from our website, or from Coda Music in Edinburgh. Quotes so far have been, "a ground-breaking recording and a must for all enthusiasts." "an eclectic mix of traditional and contemporary styles, both in melody and arrangement, played by a mature, innovative band combining outstanding musicianship." (Shetland Times) A full review can be found at: http://www.shetlandtimes.co.uk/34382 2 - September gigs We are going to play a couple of concerts in September, it would be great to see some of you there. The details are: Friday 11th September, The Old Fruitmarket, Glasgow, 8pm Tickets: By phone: 0141 353 8000 Online: http://www.glasgowconcerthalls.com Sunday 13th September, at Victoria Hall, Shipley, West Yorkshire Tickets: http://www.ents24.com/web/event/1790142/Fiddlers_Bid.html 3. 2010 tour A tour in April 2010 will be announced shortly, stay in touch through the website at http://www.fiddlersbid.com and http://www.myspace.com/fiddlersbid All the best! Fiddlers' Bid

Hi folks, few gigs this weekend that maybe a few exiled Shetlanders would be interested in... Tonight (Thursday 20th) Aberdeen Music Hall Friday 21st November Banchory Woodend Barn Saturday 22nd Alnwick Playhouse Our last gigs until Celtic Connections and then a new album to be recorded in the first half of next year. Be good to see some of you at the gigs! Cheers

Fantastic news! Exciting times for the creative industries in Shetland. Delighted with the result.

£100 pounds might seem a lot to pay, but bear in mind that the new anti-touting regulations (purchaser max 2 tickets, and must have cardholder and guest names on the tix, along with photo id on night of gig) means that people wont have to pay £500 on ebay for them. I'm still not sure if your first comment was tongue in cheek about getting him to the folk festival as he is probably slightly beyond that, but the electric atmosphere at his gigs is enough for me to say that £100 is worth every penny. I've spent that on a crap night out and forgotten it. Nighthawks is a classic album I agree. His live stuff doesn't resemble this though, it will be mostly his most recent output (Real Gone, Orphans, maybe some Mule Variations/Alice/Blood money). Just to rub it in again, my seats are right up at the front 7 rows from the front

I hope you all got your tickets for Edinburgh! I got great seats near the front. Yes 95 quid is expensive, but totally worth it and a fraction of what the ticket touts would be selling them for (I was offered 900 by a tout at the last gig). Still a few tix left fae www.ticketmaster.co.uk and 08706063424 good luck!

Of all the counter arguments against Mareel, the one where sport centres produce a better sound anyway is got to be the weakest of the lot. 'Hardened professionals' with over 40 years experience means nothing, apart fae probable tinitus. I have almost, but not quite, been put off seeing bands in huge arenas for life after several horrific experiences. You can't beat a medium sized (Mareel sized) venue, with a good PA, a good sound engineer, and a great crowd. Best for atmosphere, sound, and overall gig experience in a place like Shetland. Saying that, I have had a few belting nights in the Clickimin, but several more ones where my experience was ruined by cavernous sound. Ones with a great PA and experienced sound engineers.

At work the other day I was having a debate with a lady who told me that Asian people were, 'lazy, smelly pigs with a bad attitude to "Scottish" people'. As much as I tried to persuade her otherwise, her only argument was that the ones she had crossed paths with were lazy etc, and I ended up feeling I lost the argument. I feel that debating with MinM might have the same outcome. I reckon in terms of football it is fine to dislike another team, but an unfair generalisation on their fans does not reinforce your argument.

Of course Rangers have loads of fans who are complete bangers, but so does everybody else. After Scotland lost to Italy last year a group of neds in front of me in Scotland tops on Queen Margaret Drive ran across the road and smashed an unsuspecting man with his wife over the head with a wine bottle. Yes this is a very rare thing for a Scotland 'fan' to do, but the anti-Rangers attitude shown by some seems to cloud their judgement on what the real problem is.

Does Shetland need a suitable music venue - IMO definitely yes. Anybody who thinks Clickimin is suitable is not on the ball. Although I've had some memorable nights there (Pulp, Shooglenifty spring to mind), it is without doubt one of the worst venues I've ever had the misfortune to play in. Not just in Shetland, but anywhere in the world I've been lucky enough to play. Some places down here in Glasgow are just as bad eg, Beirut in the Arches last October. Feedback from the first song to the last as the soundman freaked out over the acoustics. A venue with good acoustics is so rare, and if Shetland had one with a good PA bands would soon know that a guaranteed good night was in store. As to the expense issue, I can sympathise with the genuine concerns. But the pros do outweigh the cons for me. Does anybody think that the fears over care for the elderly etc would be sorted if Mareel didn't go ahead. Doubt it. I think it is a really exciting venture for Shetland, and having 600 folk pay £15/20 a ticket for a solid touring band regularly in the isles would be a real plus.

Found out one of the guitarists in this defunct band created a myspace site. I played bass in this band from 1999-2003, and listening to the tunes was a blast fae da past! Some interesting stuff if you are into Mogwai, Radiohead, weird guitar stuff. http://profile.myspace.com/musicofcannon

Tom played in the UK in 1987 and then in 2004 at the Hammersmith Apollo, chances are he won't be in coming up to Shetland for the folkie! Best live gig I've been to was in London in 2004 - brilliant live, totally bonkers.

Just a reminder that this gig is happening on Saturday night in the main auditorium of the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall. Tickets available from 0141 353 8000 most if not all of the downstairs is sold out but there are plenty of tickets for the balcony. The line up includes Fiddlers' Bid, Rock Salt & Nails, the Cullivoe Fiddlers, Astrid Williamson, Aly Bain, Filska, the Jim Halcrow Band, Hom Bru, Bryan Gear and Lise Sinclair - plus a couple of surprise guests...

Alec Couper is da man du needs to check oot, I hae it as a ringtone!

Tis I wha wrote da tune, and it will be named by the winning bidder as.... 'Da New Mareel'. Any fiddlers wanting a copy o da tune just pm me. Aa da best, Andrew