Moishes Bagel’s music consists of driving klezmer grooves, rootsy Scottish folk and tango stylings, classical virtuosity and power, inspired Latin jazz flavours; all brilliantly complemented by a richly unique percussion sound that includes Indian tabla and Middle Eastern darabuka. Equally at home in concert halls, village halls and on festival stages – the Bagels have all the right ingredients to make an evening special. In the 15 years they have been together, the Bagels have developed an instant musical chemistry that captivates audiences with its highly original, deeply involving sound – rooted in folk traditions of the world.

This fearless 5-piece emphatically puts the ‘class’ into ‘unclassifiable’ The Scotsman

£14/£12 concs/£10 U16s

To buy tickets online (10% booking fee) click here

To see a video of the band click here

The Scottish Chamber Orchestra is back with its annual (and usually sold-out) concert.  The Orchestra’s superb principal Cellist Philip Higham is soloist in Tchaikovsky’s Rococo Variations – a work that tips its hat to the eighteenth century, but is utterly Romantic at heart. The opening of Mozart’s ‘Paris’ Symphony is one of the grandest, most thrilling sounds, with Mozart making use of clarinets for the first time in a symphony. Conductor Philipp von Steinaecker continues the genial high spirits and passion in Haydn’s final Symphony, written when the composer was staying in London.

Programme:

MOZART Symphony No 31 ‘Paris’

TCHAIKOVSKY Variations on a Rococo Theme

HAYDN Symphony No 104 ‘London’

£17 full, £15 concs, £6 Disabled/U26s/Unemployed

To buy tickets online click here

Aly and Phil have become a national institution with their incomparable mastery of fiddle and accordion. They bring their traditional music excellence to this very welcome return to the Universal Hall. Individually they pursue other ventures in performance, television and education but it is when they get together that they truly shine with their finely honed musical skills and hilarious banter. Book early!  

£18/£16 concs/£14 U16s

To book online tickets (10% booking fee) click here

To see a video of Aly and Phil click here

Dougie MacLean is Scotland’s pre-eminent singer-songwriter and a national musical treasure” (SingOut USA) who has developed a unique blend of lyrical, ‘roots based’ songwriting and instrumental composition. He is internationally renowned for his song ‘Caledonia’, music for ‘Last of the Mohicans’ and countless inspired performances. His songs have been covered by Paolo Nutini, Amy MacDonald, Ronan Keating, Mary Black, Frankie Miller, Cara Dillon, Kathy Mattea and many other top performers. He has received two prestigious Tartan Clef Awards, a place in the Scottish Music Hall of Fame, a Lifetime Achievement Award from BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards and an OBE! Book early!

£18/£16 concs/£14 U16’s

To book tickets online (10% booking fee) click here

To see a video of Dougie click here

The legendary, multi-award winning Old Blind Dogs bounded into their 25th anniversary year with a cracking new album Room with a View. With a line-up from the world of Scottish folk music that is approaching superstar status, the band creates a sound which stands at the forefront of the Scottish roots music revival.  ‘Room with a View… could well be a contender for Scottish album of the year.’  Folk World  

£15/£13 concs/£11 U16’s

To buy tickets online (10% booking fee) click here

To watch a video of the band click here

Taking inspiration from their roots in the Irish and English traditions, Flook have an enviable trademark sound, weaving and spinning traditionally rooted tunes over precise acoustic grooves, with a rare blend of fiery technical brilliance, delicate ensemble interaction and a bold, adventurous musical imagination.  Twenty-four years after their first gig together, Flook continue to inspire and enchant audiences of all ages. With their new album ‘Ancora’ out in 2019, it’s plain to see that Flook, with their roots firmly anchored in the tradition, are holding fast to their reputation as major musical innovators.

“Four brilliant musicians. Four times as much brilliant music”  Time Out

£15/£13 concs/£11 U16’s

To buy tickets online (10% booking fee) click here

To see a video of the band click here

Making a hugely welcome return to the Universal Hall, Kakatsitsi have established themselves as one of the leading African drumming groups, renowned for the quality of their singing and their accessible, funky, danceable drumming grooves. For this performance they will be collaborating with Mbilou who is an Nganga – healer, musician and dancer from the Bwiti traditional religion of the forest regions of equatorial Africa, modern day Gabon. Bwiti is an ancient shamanic tradition, originally practised solely by the forest peoples of the central African rainforest. See below for details of associated workshops.

£16/£14 concs/£12 U16’s

To buy tickets online (10% booking fee) click here

To see a video of the artists click here

Workshops (all workshops are pay on the door and all are on Sunday 15th Sept)

Universal Hall  Auditorium, 12.30 – 5pm  Ghanaian Drumming for people with some experience. £30.

Universal Hall Dance/Drama Studio 12.30 – 2.30pm Ga and Bwiti chanting. £15.

Universal Hall Dance/Drama Studio 3 – 5pm Bwiti  Dance. £15.

Dancing Green behind Universal Hall 7.30pm Outdoor open participatory event with workshop participants. Free to all.

Nominated ‘Musician of the Year’ – BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2018 – Martin is known as a guitarist of formidable talent. Equally at home playing English traditional folk, American folk and blues and his own compositions, he is consistently named as one of the very finest fingerstyle guitar players in the world. Listed in Gibson Guitars’ Top 30 Acoustic Guitarists of all time, Martin is also acclaimed as a brilliant slide guitar player, and a fine banjo-picker to boot. His solo shows bear witness to an artist at the very top of his game.

“His clarity of playing is just amazing.” Jackson Browne

£14/£12 concs/£10 U16’s

To buy online tickets (10% booking fee) click here

A video of Martin is here

Based on the Isle of Skye, the Peatbog Faeries bring Celtic Dance music into the 21st century by incorporating many influences which take them from traditional jigs and reels through jazz, hip hop, reggae and more. From the moment they take to the stage, the mood is set for a no-nonsense feel-good atmosphere – each number sounding like an encore itself. They tease unlikely combinations from the familiarity of instruments such as fiddle and highland pipes – blending with techno rhythms and soaring sounds and take this to another plane. The Peatbogs have released seven studio albums, have played to audiences all over the world, and won the award for ‘Best Live Act’ at the prestigious Scottish Traditional Music Awards.  Please note: there may be loud music in this event and there will be dancing.

 “Powerful melodies …pumped out with a smart degree of techno attitude…”  The Scotsman

£16/£14 concs/£12 U16’s

To buy tickets online (10% booking fee) click here

To see a video of the Peatbogs click here