Folk on Foot Matthew Bannister

This entire series is a balm for the modern age. A reminder of why artists do what they do. Thank you Matthew for these incredible conversations. I look forward to every new release!!

Wow...there’s very few words that come to mind that could do justice to the character of Duncan Chisholm, but this podcast interview with him at Sandwood Bay in the far Northwest of Scotland will give you a peak inside his creative process, patience, presence, and love of nature and how he opens himself up as a conduit for inspiration to flow from the physical realm to the emotional and spiritual realm and back again. I don’t have to tell anyone about his talent as a fiddle player. It only takes about 4 or 5 notes and you hear the tone, the vibrato, the emotion and perfect intonation of his playing and it sets your mind on a relaxing journey to wherever the music will take you. I’ve been listening to Duncan’s music for years and I was absolutely thrilled to listen to this podcast. The stories he tells, from his favourite poet to the viking history of Sandwood Bay will hold your interest steady from start to finish. The best thing about Scottish Folk Music (aside from the obvious beauty) is the rich, rich history behind it all. So much has happened in such a small country in the last 1200 years and I personally think that this wonderful, dynamic, and sometimes even brutal history has played a major role in how the music has evolved. Whether it’s a triumphant pipe tune celebrating a hero, or a sad lament commemorating a terrible event and the scars it left, Scotland’s past has definitely had a special role to play in shaping the sound of her Traditional Music. Duncan Chisholm is a master at soundscaping a story and he has an absolutely unbending integrity and character in his playing. He paints quite a picture with his violin, and that’s exactly what he did with his latest album Sandwood. What masterpiece, what an artist, what a person. Not much more I can say...listen to this episode and then go buy Duncan Chisholm’s music!!!

All The Best,

Zac

This is great! It is a lot of fun to hear the stories and live performances accompanied by the ambient sounds of the locations that inspire them. Very unique and very enjoyable. A must listen for any folk fan.