Final album for Blazin' Fiddles duo

Final album for Blazin' Fiddles duo

Blazin' Fiddles' Celtic Connections concert on Friday will mark the final appearance of the band's current line-up.

Iain MacFarlane and Allan Henderson, who have been Blazers since Bruce MacGregor brought together six of the best exponents to showcase the Highlands and Islands distinct fiddle styles in 1998, are moving on to jobs offshore in the oil industry.

Their replacements are both former Young Traditional Musicians Of The Year, Orcadian Kristan Harvey and Nairn-born Rua Macmillan. The band releases its final album, Six, with MacFarlane and Henderson, on February 3.

l blazinfiddles.com

The Bezzums are on their way

Germany's most popular English folk band, Broom Bezzums, make a rare visit to Scotland next month for a five-date tour.

Led by Northumbrian Andrew Cadie and Black Country native Mark Bloomer, who settled in Germany after busking together around Europe, the quintet have established themselves on Germany's acoustic music circuit with their narrative songs, political edge and quirky humour.

They play Falkirk Folk Club (February 6), Links Hotel, Montrose (7), Stirling Folk Club (10), Sound Sense, Moffat (11), and Kirkcaldy Acoustic Music Club (13).

l broombezzums.com

Club will be playing the blues

Scotland's blues scene has rarely been more vibrant, as compilation CDs such as the Jock's Juke Joint series will attest, and a new club in Edinburgh aims to celebrate local talent as well as promote touring blues acts.

The club, which will operate monthly, will launch with a fundraiser at the Voodoo Rooms on March 7 featuring The Black Diamond Express, Jed Potts & the Hillman Hunters, Fraser John Lindsay's Blues Incentive, and Hounddog Fraser & Rock Hunter.

Rising star Eilidh McKellar, described by Joe Bonamassa as "one of the brightest players I have encountered in a long time", follows with support from GT's Boos Band on April 18. The organisers intend to cover blues of every shade and style in future presentations.

l edinburgh-blues.co.uk