Donald McNeill @donaldmcneill - Tumblr Blog

Playing Belladrum today, 3.30 in the VIP area, if you’d like to join me

#belladrum #tartan heart festival #2018

Heuchter Teuchters on course

Ferry tickets at the ready, Granny Gaelic, Auntie Doric (and.... the man, frae Glesga) are Stornoway-bound next week to spread some hit & run culture at the #Hebridean #Celtic #Festival.

Bang up to date traditional songs, stories and nonsense.

See you there!

#Heb-Celt #2018 #Stornoway

A Scotsman walks into a bar...

....in Amsterdam, with 2 Irishmen.

That’ll be me for 3 nights with Martyn Travis & Peter Curran at Mulligan’s on Amstel 100 again 22nd-24th February.

Spotted a TripAdvisor review of Mulligan’s today. Speaks of....

“bad tempered and not very talented musicians”.

Can’t have been us, we’re never bad tempered!

Tonight? Not quite.....

I’m afraid Funky Pants isn’t backing this guy at The Comm in Thurso....

Funky Pants is backing this guy instead....

Late ‘til later

Funk & fun

No crooning, no jumpers and no Christmas numbers.

#andymusicuk #donaldtunes #funkypants #live music #Thurso #funk #original music #covers

Stroma

Spent some studio time yesterday with storyteller Alexandria Patience recording excepts from her new stage piece, working title “Stroma”.

Based on several traditional stories, it’s a one-actor play for which I’m creating music.

We’re making a short video in the hope of attracting creative partners to develop this work.

#storytelling #Alexandria Patience #donaldtunes #original music #new #work #stage #play

We're back!

Another appearance on keys with Alice and The Coolers at this great venue in Tain coming up next weekend.

#live music #Tain #highland #funkypants #keyboards

And next, it’s....

...backing Andy Williamson most weekends somewhere in Thurso for several weekends to come, and tomorrow night we’re at Mr C’s emporium for a cocktail of melody, music and mayhem designed to titillate your terpsichorean tendencies into action.

I’ve also been working on music for a play, February promises some European musical shenanigans with Martyn Travis and there’ll be a serious “research” trip to Nashville (OK, so I’m going on holiday to watch some class music) but I’ll keep you posted here as the adventures unfold.

Meanwhile, forget hibernation, get your dancing boots on and let’s get some funky boogie action happening!

#Mr C's #Thurso #live music #andymusicuk #funky #live #andy williamson #pop #blues #funk #original #covers

Funky’s Friday Frolics...

Tonight,

With...

#live music #tonight #Thurso #funkypants

It’s All Over Now

This year’s Portskerra International Storytelling Festival ended with a full ceilidh evening in Thurso last weekend.

In keeping with the One World theme of the 2017 Scottish International Storytelling Festival, there was Scottish, Irish and Appalachian music.....

Gaelic song, from the ladies and soloists of Melvich Gaelic Choir....

young local singer/songwriter Keisha Sutherland....

Highland dancing from students of Mina Mackay....

Brian MacLeod presented excerpts from his book recording the stories of immigrants to Scotland and we had songs from his wife Irene...

Our special international guest this year was the charming Maja Bumberak from Budapest, telling Hungarian folk tales, singing and playing recorder and guitar.

I accompanied festival organizer Alex Patience while she told traditional tales from the north coast of Scotland.

Old bonds were renewed and new ones made.

As always, it was a feast of delights and friendship and who knows what next year will bring!

#Portskerra International Storytelling Festival #storytelling #traditional #scottish #Thurso #Melvich #StoryCeilidh #Maja Bumberak #Alexandria Patience

International Stoytelling Ceilidh

Tonight's finale of the 2017 Portskerra Inrernational Storytelling Festival is at the Park Hotel, Thurso.

Maja Bumberàk from Budapest sings and tells Hungarian tales (in English).

Alexandria Patience will be accompanied by Donald McNeill whilst she tells traditional Scottish stories.

Members of local folk band Clapshot and Melvich Ladies Gaelic Choir will also perform and young Thurso singer/songwriter Keisha Sutherland will make her first appearance at this festival.