In August of last year they were making some great sounds in Aristo’s (article here), this week the couple from Scotland, Linsey Aitken and Ken Campbell were once again back in the city and once again their particular sound was heard in Barga Vecchia as they gave a series of impromptu “mini- concerts” in five different locations through out the city.
Why five different locations ? The Scottish cellist and guitarist were being photographed for images to be included on their latest CD which is due for release shortly and instead of a set piece photo shoot where the musicians hold their instruments and look intensely into the middle distance they decided that the best way to get their message across was to do what comes naturally – play some music.
Palazzo Pancrazi, Piazza Angelio and the Duomo were of course picked as suitable locations plus one or two of the lesser known side roads and then to finish the day, a 45 minute concert outside Aristo’s bar in Piazza Salvi.
The CD is in the final stages of being mixed down at Watercolour Music – a music production company and recording studio complex in the West Highlands of Scotland, owned and run by producer and songwriter Nick Turner and his wife, musician and broadcaster Mary Ann Kennedy (their site is here) but many of the songs where composed and written right here in Barga .
One is even titled ” Departing song of Angelio” and includes passages from the tune “La Regina di Piazza Angelio” composed by Hamish Moore, the piper and small pipes maker who was Artist in Residence here in Barga back in 2008 and who along with Ken Campbell organised the hugely successful Scottish concert in the Teatro dei Differenti that year (article here)
As you can hear in the short interview recorded outside the Duomo this afternoon, Barga holds a special place in both musicians hearts and continues to draw them back over and over again.
Linsey Aitken
A highly regarded ‘cellist, pianist and vocalist crossing genres from classical to folk. Trained on ‘cello and piano at the RSAMD, she has performed professionally all over the UK from the Royal Albert Hall to the sands of Calgary Bay in Mull.
Collaborating regularly with composer Alan Craig, flautist/composer Louise Burnet, member of classical trio ‘Trois Femmes’ and various quartets.
Founding member of folk band ‘The Cross Borders Band’ she played and sang her way round Scotland, the Edinburgh Festival and other international festivals before joining ‘The Ideal Band’, and subsequently touring with Ken Campbell as a duo.
Ken Campbell
Scottish singer/songwriter with a well established pedigree over 25 years, with five albums to date, festivals, concerts, TV and radio throughout Europe and beyond. Starting with Glasgow band “Molindinar”, then a much commended duo with Chris Miller [‘Pipers Maggot’ – Topic Records, London]
He then established the highly successful “Ideal Band” following in the footsteps of Glasgow’s “Bob Smith’s Ideal Band” of the 1930’s.
He subsequently toured with Cauld Wind Piper Hamish Moore, recorded two solo albums [“Going Solo” – Fellside & “Hand Pict” – Watercolour] whilst also working with ‘cellist/singer Wendy Weatherby, Stevie Lawrence [Rallion/Red Hot Chilli Pipers/Iron Horse] and Blair Cowan [Lloyd Cole and the Commotions] before re-forming ‘The Ideal Band’ in 2009, and subsequently touring with Linsey Aitken as a duo.