Karine Polwart: The Studio One Sessions
Post categories: Behind the Scenes, Music, Photographs, Presenters, Radio Scotland, Scotland, Session
|16:44 UK time, Wednesday, 21 July 2010
The exceptionally talented and ever busy singer-songwriter and mum, Karine Polwart tells us about the new series of exclusive sessions she's presenting for BBC Radio Scotland:
So who thought it was a good idea to present a 6 part music programme with a 3 month old daughter eh? The things I talk myself into! As good fortune would have it, my new lass Rosa is a wee trooper and enjoyed her first gig from behind glass at Pacific Quay, listening to the lovely singing of Emily Smith with Jamie McLennan. She's slept peacefully through the rest. But prizes for good behaviour during recording of the Studio One Sessions go to Growler, a beautiful golden retriever trainee guide dog puppy, who uttered not so much as a peep or a whimper during a a fabulous instrumental set from harper Catriona McKay and Shetland fiddler Chris Stout.
Karine Polwart, Growler, Catriona McKay and Chris StoutThe Studio One Sessions is a rare treat for me. The hour long concert sets in part two of each show are performed in front of an audience of just 20 to 30 people and the resulting intimacy adds real warmth and personality to the music. The artists have room to relax into their playing and time to tell the funny, moving and bizarre stories behind their songs and tunes. I know a lot of the performers personally and it genuinely makes me quite chuffed to know such talented people.
The only performer on the series whom I've never met before is one of my favourite of all singers, especially of the big old Appalachian ballads. I first saw New England's Tim Eriksen perform at Edinburgh Folk Club nearly ten years ago now and I was blown away. His brand of "hardcore Americana" owes as much to punk and alternative music (he's a long standing member of Cordelia's Dad) as it does to trad (he's a visiting professor at Dartmouth College and the University of Minnesota). And his voice was one of the most striking featured on the soundtrack to Anthony Minghella's Oscar winning epic "Cold Mountain". He records much of his own music as a series of non-stop live takes, with no re-takes or overdubs. And it's that kind of immediacy which I hope the Studio One Sessions goes some way towards capturing.
Karine Polwart: The Studio One Sessions on BBC Radio Scotland Thursday's from 20:05, for the next 6 weeks, with episodes available in iPlayer.
Comment number 1.
At 23:58 22nd Jul 2010, Alasdair Liddell wrote:Great show, but missed the first 20 minutes as satellite listeners doon sooth were not warned in advance that they would be getting the football instead (must keep the Motherwell diaspora happy, I guess), and it took me that long to fire up my laptop and i-player. Hope the next sessions will be carried on satellite!
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Comment number 2.
At 11:18 13th Aug 2010, Scotsbard wrote:Dear Karine,
Thank you for your great programme. You do Archie and the world of meaningful singing song-writing credit.
I would like also to say, that after having heard and seen Catriona MacKay live with Nils Økland as well as at the Homecoming Suite last year at Celtic Connections, and her latest collaboration, compositions and arrangements, I firmly believe that her prosodic reflections especially those of the Norse/Scots genre will transcend the generations and centuries. She is re-capturing the soul that Greig sought. She is going to be one of the greats.
Beste hilsen
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