Blue Rose Code / Eddie Reader / Hamish Stuart

14th August 2018

Edinburgh Queens Hall

What exactly is Caledonian Soul?

That is the conundrum Ross (Blue Rose Code) Wilson and his friends and guests intended to, at least partially, attempt to elucidate this evening.  The phrase has its roots in the early 1970s, The Caledonia Soul Orchestra being the name Van Morrison gave to his backing band at the time.  The name inspired, so Johnny Rogan's 1984 biography of The Man records, from Van's slightly fanciful assertion that American gospel and, hence, soul music could trace its roots to the folk songs brought to America by 18th and 19th century Scottish immigrants.  I have heard wilder tales in my time.

Such a lineage could perhaps help explain the fact a number of this evening's performers' links to soul (Caledonian or otherwise) could best be described as tenuous.  Eddi Reader, after her pop-star phase had, with the new millenium, settled into the traditional folk genre, as had her hubby former Trashcan Sinatra John Douglas.  Julie Fowlis is another renowned folkie, who generally performs in Gaelic whilst, whatever pigeon-holes one may wish to attempt to force the eccentric Duke Special into, Soul would not be one of them.

Fortunately what the evening did possess was former Average White Band guitarist and vocalist Hamish Stuart; a chap with Soul in Spades (if such a term exists).

And Fine Fun was had by all.

Although I was touch surprised no Hue and Cry, Wet Wet Wet nor Deacon Blue tunes were invited to the party.

Mr & Mrs Eddi Reader

Konrad Wiszniewski

Hamish Stuart

Duke Special

Eddi boning up on lyrics.  I saw a lot of this.

Ross Wilson

Wrenne, slightly disappointingly, never got an opportunity to show her talents -
she being restricted to backing vocals.

Julie Fowlis

Duke Special banging his drum durring A Girl Like You

This is Caledonian Soul

Set list
Song Title (original artist) performed by:

Iron Sky (Paulo Nutini) performed by Blue Rose Code
Walking on Broken Glass (Annie Lennox) performed by Blue Rose Code
Saturday Night (The Blue Nile) performed by Eddi Reader 
Wild Mountainside (Eddi Reader) performed by Eddi Reader & John Douglas
No More Days (Hamish Stuart) performed by Hamish Stuart
Crazy Love (Van Morrison) performed by Blue Rose Code
Silent Drums (Blue Rose Code) performed by Blue Rose Code & Hamish Stuart
No Continuing City (Duke Special) performed by Duke Special
I Don't Want to Know (John Martyn) performed by all

Interval

Downtown Lights (The Blue Nile) performed by Blue Rose Code
Somewhere in My Heart (Aztec Camera) performed by Julie Fowlis
I Just Don't Think I'll Ever Get Over You (Colin Hay) performed by Julie Fowlis
A Girl Like You (Edwyn Collins) performed by Duke Special
In Capitals (Trashcan Sinatras) performed by John Douglas
Perfect (Fairground Attraction) performed by Eddi Reader
My Father's Son (Conner Reeves) performed by Hamish Stuart
Edina/Sunshine on Leith (Blue Rose Code/The Proclaimers) performed by Blue Rose Code
Rocks (Primal Scream) performed by all

Encore
Grateful (Blue Rose Code) performed by all
Pick Up The Pieces (Average White Band) performed by all