Natural sound brings praise for Stars duo

Natural sound brings praise for Stars duo

The Brunton Theatre in Musselburgh stages an acoustic concert by saxophonist Tommy Smith and pianist Brian Kellock - whose recently released third album as a duo, Whispering Of The Stars, has received enthusiastic reviews on both sides of the Atlantic - on Saturday September 20.

Smith and Kellock prefer the intimate interaction with an audience that playing without PA equipment gives their readings of jazz standards, and have been receiving positive feedback from audiences for working with the natural sounds of their instruments.

l www.thebrunton.co.uk

Williamson on folk club bill

Milngavie Folk Club has two concerts lined up for this month. Blues guitarist and singer Hans Theessink appears at the club, which meets at the town's Fraser Centre, on September 16, with modern day bard and former Incredible String Bandsman Robin Williamson, above, to follow on September 20.

Future guests at the club include Scottish folk singer-guitarist-songwriter Archie Fisher and singer-songwriter Anthony John Clarke in a duo with Fairport Convention's Dave Pegg.

l www.theessink.com

Stage set for referendum

The Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh is marking the independence referendum with a week-long series of plays and events designed to encourage discussion and reflection.

A special stage performance of David Greig's ongoing project The Yes/No Plays will take place twice on the voting day itself (September 18), while recent Edinburgh Festival Fringe hit Spoiling, by John McCann, returns to the Traverse from September 16-20.

Gary McNair, who had a Fringe hit of his own in the shape of Donald Robertson Is Not A Stand-up Comedian, teams up with Davey Anderson for a one-off performance of How To Choose?, a decision-making drama set in a radio station, on September 16.

"The Yes/No Plays have been a chance for me to laugh at myself, my fellow campaigners and the politicians," said playwright David Greig. "It's a delight to be making them into a show at the Traverse Theatre for referendum night. The atmosphere is going to be electric and I think people will want to gather together to share the moment."

l www.traverse.co.uk

Movies focus on childhood

Films and videos shot by pioneering amateur Scottish filmmakers will be showcased in an exhibition which opens today at the Museum of Childhood on Edinburgh's Royal Mile.

The result of a project by the University of Glasgow, Children And Amateur Media In Scotland, which runs until May, charts the experience of 20th-century childhood through selections from 2,000 home movies, fiction films and documentaries.

l www.edinburghmuseums.org.uk