Scots link as duo return with Swing Hammer

Scots link as duo return with Swing Hammer

Cahalen MORRISON and Eli West, the American old-time, country, bluegrass and gospel duo who have been enthusiastically championed by bluegrass master and Celtic Connections regular Tim O'Brien, return to Scotland next week to promote their third album, I'll Swing My Hammer With Both Hands (reviewed last weekend in the Sunday Herald and heraldscotland.com).

As well as having an aptitude for American roots music, New Mexico-born Morrison writes poetry and is descended from the Gaelic bardic tradition - his great-grandfather, Murdo Morrison, was a poet from the Isle of Lewis who emigrated to the US in 1911 and had many of his poems taken up as songs by Hebridean singers.

The duo play Church on the Green, Denholm on Monday May 12, house concerts in Edinburgh (Tuesday and Wednesday), Acoustic Music Club, Kirkcaldy (Thursday), Glenbuchat Village Hall (Friday), CatStrand, New Galloway (Saturday) and Barrels Alehouse, Berwick (Sunday).

l cahalenandeli.com

Jazz diner plan to include art

SINGER Cindy Douglas is expanding her Eat To The Beat pop-up jazz diner idea into Dundee, Perthshire and Aberdeen and, as well as music and food, is offering visual art displays to add to the atmosphere.

Douglas hit on the plan to bring a New York jazz club, where audiences can eat high-class food before enjoying the music, to village halls and venues where jazz is a rarity while visiting the Big Apple last year.

After testing it successfully, she is taking it to Auchenblae Village Hall this Saturday (May 10), Dudhope Community Centre, Dundee (June 7), Birnam Arts Centre (June 21) and Hazlehead Park Cafe, Aberdeen (July 11). The music is provided by Douglas and her trio, the food by top chefs and the art exhibits by Gray's School of Art in Aberdeen.

l cindydouglas.co.uk