Since my last post I have been back in London, over to Sardinia, London, Glasgow, Ayr and have finally come to rest in London for March…… until next week when I head to Brussels. I arrived back in London to finish arranging the material for recording before heading to Sardinia with the Lovely Outi Smith ( piano player extraordinaire and founding member of The Cotton Street Singers). We arrived and so did the snow which is apparently VERY unusual for Sardinia…. typical Roberto Diane and Christian Marras combined to produce and Enrico Sotgiu arrived to provide percussion. Did I mention the amazing hospitality provided by the family Diane and the incredible food- what a team! It turns out the weather wasn’t that important as work took hold and I think I was outside about three times It was worth it- I can’t wait to share the new stuff.

Back to London for a gig in London’s Corinthia Hotel which is the most gorgeous hotel I have ever been allowed (back) in Great gig in the Bassoon bar with Roberto where we were expertly taken care of Dominico and his staff.

No rest for the wicked or Roberto (who I had already tortured by making him watch the Scotland Italy Rugby game) and the next day we headed to Soup Studio which is just along the road to work with the talented Giles who only seemed marginally suprised when I arrived with the harp I might not have mentioned

With Roberto safely back on Italian soil I headed to Paisley to chat to to the Mill Girls about our project. We are planning to take the song I was commissioned to write by Weaving Musical Threads and the poetry book on the road! I sat in on rehearsal and it is coming together very nicely. I have popped a video of the Mill Girls song sung on the anniversary in the Thread Museum for you to peruse at your leisure. Please let me know what you think. This has been my longest post for a while…… I might go and lie down with a cup of tea Hope you’re well and see you soon

x

https://docs.google.com/a/createpaisley.org.uk/file/d/0B2tjVhGkLypRcy10T2hIRUZfQms/edit?pli=1

xxxx

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I have had a jam packed couple of months. The song I was commissioned to write by Weaving Musical Threads for the poetry anthology ‘The Mill Girls’ was launched at the Paisley Thread Museum last month. This was the first actual commission that I had accepted and I really was thrilled with the result. In the midst of a very interesting project plans began to form for taking the poetry and the music on the road so hopefully I will have more news on that soon. If you know of any book festivals/ music festivals that might enjoy some poetry, singing based around the Paisley Mills please drop me a line!

I was on BBC Lancaster radio with the very lovely Sally Naden, I’ve supported Bruce MacGregor in the Green Note in London town and I’ve helped out on a project against racism. It has been pretty busy. I am currently planning for Sardinia where i am heading with the lovely Outi Smith to visit the fantastic Roberto Diane to do a bit of recording. We spent a week in my flat getting cabin fever, laying down demos for this and hopefully we will have something to share soon.

Oh and Christmas…. I nearly forgot! Managed to finish all my shopping to day and planning a night out in the Glasgow with my good friend (and mad fiddler) Miss Jen MacNeill. Heading home for the WHOLE festive period on the 24th and I cannot wait!

Wishing a great one to you and yours

x

ps I might post a wee video from the Kilbarchan gig on Christmas day if any one would like to see it
xxx

I have been keeping a little bit of a low profile in London organising new projects, a couple of gigs and getting ready for a brief foray North!

The first gig I had was in the bohemian surroundings of the Green Notes Cafe. This vegan cafe in Camden is very chilled out and cosy . I was delighted to be reunited with Mr Oscar Cainer who co-produced my first EP. Despite me having been in London and him having been in Scotland we had missed each other repeatedly so it was a real pleasure to finally get a wee catch up. I had some good friends in attendance and we had a laid back evening.
My next gig was at Somerset house which was amazing and slightly hilarious. Our taxi pulled up at the gates to be told it couldn’t go any further and we would need to unload here by a kevin Cosner esqu figure who kept talking into his chest and pressing his ear piece into his head. He queried why we would need to get any closer to the venue (very nicely!) and then nodded sagely when we produced a keyboard, keyboard stand, clarsach and guitar (before all my paraphernalia) . My wee brother was over visiting so I persuaded him into playing keys. It was great fun and the whole evening was very interesting. Lorenzo Zucco was launching his book and the results were impressive

I am hoping to get a few demos recorded in collaboration with a couple of brilliant musicians but more of that anon. I’m quite excited bout this and about another small project I hope to get underway when I am next in Scotland.

This all brings me back to my next Scottish appearance-

I can’t wait for this. It is my first public commission and I’m looking forward to have people hearing it

I am straight back on the train to support Bruce MacGregor’s Trio at the Green Note on Monday the 5th.
Things happening, keeping busy, good times

Hope all is well with yourselves

A
x

I have just landed back in London after a short but busy visit to Scotland. I arrived on Friday past and had time for a brief practice with the talented Outi Smith before our gig supporting the Long Notes at Glasgow’s Oran Mor on Saturday night. This gig was brilliant fun. We managed to persuade a hardcore of twenty or so folk to fill the floor with stories of my unauthorised crowd surfing ….. The place was just warming up as we handed over to the Long Notes. It was lovely to see them all again and hear them play. Tom Oakes was standing in for Alex their normal guitarist and fair to say he played brilliantly.
Next on the agenda was the Old Library in Kilbarchan- great venue , amazing staff and a fantastic evening.I was very lucky to be be joined by Outi Smith and Mike Vass. Having such talented musicians beside you always makes a gig so much more fun (not to mention easier!)

Carol Smith of CSF music had worked her fingers to the bone planning for this gig and that it was a sell out is a tribute to her hard work. We had lights, cameras and of course an American manager Dann Moss made his way from LA via London to stage manage the whole event which was great . I learned a lot. I was also very lucky to have an excellent photographer in the form of Renato Ve. A talented gentleman who’s name you should keep an eye out for. The pictures peppered through out this post are all his handy work.

I have a few exciting projects in the pipeline at the moment. Weaving Musical Threads have commissioned me to write a song to compliment an anthology of poetry they are putting together and I will be visiting Paisley for the launch of this in early November. There are also various recording works, tour plans (suggestions welcome!) and secret (!) talks ongoing

I had a great time up the road and looking ahead to the next couple of weeks in London they look pretty good too!

Hope this finds you all well. Take care
A
x

ps
wee reminder re the maiing list annamacdonaldmusic.com
Any suggestions for gig venues? annamacdonaldmusic.com

oh and thanks to everyone who came to the Old Library- lovely to see you

I also had the chance to do a wee bit recording when I was home. Drew McCulloch of Creative Solutions had myself and Outi Smith in tormenting him for a few days. These songs are all new and I wanted to get down some rough cuts so I could think about the next step……. Having root canal treatment during this time made for interesting recording sessions Thankfully Drew and Outi are both very understanding people…… ;D

Back to London now to get ready for various happenings. I’m back to Scotland to support the Long Notes on the 6th Oct at Oran Mor (very excited ) and then I have a gig in a lovely intimate setting in Kilbarchan. This is special for a few reasons. The old library in Kilbarchan is isn’t far from where I grew up so I hope to see some faces from those days and I am organising it with the help of Carol Smith who as well as being a local lass runs cfs music , a local company. I will have my manager Mr Dann Moss in attendance and will be showing him some Scottish hospitality! It would be great to see as many folk as possible so if you fancy a ticket for this…….

Old Kilbarchan Library

please see the attached poster for details .:)
Right… I better get off- This case won’t pack its self !

bye for now
Anna
x

ps wee reminder that if you would like to be added to my monthly mailing list just drop me an email to annamacdonaldmusic.com . I promise not to send you loads of stuff

My piece de resistance was when I decided I needed my Clarsach up with me as well……… A Clarsach is perhaps, a little over a meter tall wooden harp which in itself is not heavy in short bursts of carrying but it would sink you pretty quickly if you fell into the Clyde (at no point was this an issue!).
I decided the sleeper was the only way to travel and quickly gave up the idea of the tube. Taxi to Euston- amused taxi driver as I exited with my hold all over one shoulder, clarsach over the other, guitar in one hand and wheelie case in the other. My turning circle was MASSIVE. The lift up to the platform was almost the undoing of me. Never has pressing the button been such an act of contorsion . I nearly over balanced and fell onto the poor wee old lady who had managed to squeeze in with me, something I am sure she regretted
The trip to the departures board was slow but the relief when I got there immense. I was now a light colour of tomato and feeling as if I had run a half marathon. The arduous unslinging of all my bags was immediately followed by the platform announcement and I started ducking n diving under all the straps so as get on the train asap. It is only about hundred meters from the boards to the train and despite London’s reputation I was offered help around 6 time- can’t say exactly because the lack of O2 in my brain made counting impossible by the end, it might have been one man who I saw six of ;D
In keeping with the mantra I thanks these chivalrous gents but declined their kind offers. I was aware my balance might not take a sudden change in circumstances! Next time I decide to bring another instrument with me on a journey rest assured it will be a piccolo. Hopefully see a few of you during my travels
cheeri
A
xxx

ps I am starting a mailing list if you would like to be added please let me know at annamacdonaldmusic@hotmail.com . Just a monthly news letter – I promise not to bombard you