Steve's Blog
Shooglenifty are back at The Rogue! Come see us at VFMF too
Wednesday July 17, 2024

Well, folks, it's our final concert until our Autumn Season kicks off on September 6th and we have a real blockbuster for you! Scots band Shooglenifty have been serving up the hottest and wildest Highland fiddle music for over two decades, but we haven't seen them on the left coast for over 16 years. We are so thrilled to bring them back after all this time. They started their Canadian tour at Hugh's Room in Toronto last week, where legendary Scottish guitarist and longtime Ontario resident Tony McManuswas absolutely gushing with praise for their performance (see above photo, which Tony took at the gig.). Then they flew into Winnipeg for western Canada's oldest folk festival. They are in Edmonton's Festival Place on Wednesday and then they come back to play for you at The Rogue this Thursday! They wind up their tour at Harrison Festival of the Arts and the Islands Folk Festival in Duncan over the weekend.

This is a really exciting lineup! Eilidh Shaw is a powerhouse and an inventive and exciting fiddle player. Like her predecessor in the Shoogs, the late Angus Grant, she received her basic training from Angus' father Aengus. She is the sister of Capercaillie's Donald Shaw, who now runs the amazing Celtic Connections festival in Glasgow every January. Founding Shoogs Malcolm Crosbie (guitar) and James MacKintosh (drums - to my mind, undoubtedly the finest trap-kit drummer in Celtic music) still drive the band's compelling sound. Ciaran Ryanrecently joined them to replace Gary Finlayson on banjo. Gary has retired from touring altogether. Ciaran also excels on mandolin, so, he pulls double duty, filling in for Ewan MacPherson, who played on their most recent albums. Singer Kaela Rowan joined the band a decade ago and adds some wonderfully ethereal vocals to their unique mix. She is a fabulous recording artist in her own right, specializing in Gaelic song, and also singing beautifully in English. On this tour Emma Smith has joined the band on the bass that underpins everything in Shooglenifty's own special genre - Acid Croft!

We have a few tickets left for sale on our website, and there will also be some available at the door if you're still undecided. If you can't possibly make it to the hall to see this amazing band, we urge you to at least take advantage of our Watch At Home option. This show will be talked about for years. It also coincides with the Canadian release of their most recent album, Acid Croft Vol.9, so there should be a few copies on sale at the gig.

As a special bonus raffle prize we have been given a couple of pairs of tickets for a very rare concert with Galician piping superstar Carlos Nunez and his fine band, on October 14th at Port Coquitlam's Riverside Community Church. Big thanks to Celtic Performing Arts, who have generously donated these tickets.

2. The Rogue is coming to Jericho Beach Park for the Vancouver Folk Music Festival!

We hope you are coming to this incredible event on the weekend. While you're cruising between the South Stage and the West Stage along the path that crosses the wooden footbridge, we hope you will stop by The Rogue Folk Club tent, on the right hand / east side, backing onto the pond. 

We will have some unique gifts to give away, and lots of information about the concerts we have lined up for the next few months. We also hope to have some jam sessions at the tent, and interviews with performers, plus I will be broadcasting The Saturday Edge On Folk LIVE from the Rogue tent on Saturday from 8am to noon!

If you're not able to attend on Saturday, you can hear the show on www.citr.ca and 101.9fm in Vancouver (on the wireless!) There will be music by performers at this weekend's festival, as well as festivals in Harrison Hot Springs, Duncan, Mission, Canmore and Edmonton over the summer. Plus lots of new releases and old favourites. I hope you will tune me in and turn me on - and come along to say "Hi" if you're in the park early. Cheers!