I have done orchestrations for the Nick Drake celebration Prom at The Albert Hall on July 24th 2024 with Jules Buckley and the BBC Symphony Orchestra. My songs were Northern Sky which Scott Matthews is singing and Things Behind The Sun sung by Olivia Chaney
I have written an orchestral arrangement of Dirty Old Town for Peggy Seeger and the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra based in Salford, the town the song was written about. We recorded it on May 28th 2024 and it will be broadcast on various BBC radio shows in mid June
In February 2024 Cherry Records released a definitive 7 CD box set: Religion, Revolution & Railways for my old band The Dream Academy
https://www.cherryred.co.uk/the-dream-academy-religion-revolution-railways-7cd-box-set
January 26th 2024 concert at The Glasgow Concert Hall I did 4 orchestral arrangements for Paul Buchanan with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra for their 50th anniversary show
On October 13th 2023 I was Musical Director on Both Sides Now, a concert in Cardiff Millenium Hall with the Wales National Orchestra for the Llais Festival. It was a tribute to Joni Mitchell and her arranger Vince Mendoza with guest singers, Laura Mvula, Charlotte Church, Georgia Ruth, Eska and Olivia Chaney https://www.wmc.org.uk/en/llais/events/both-sides-now-celebrating-joni-mitchell
On October 13th 2023 I was Musical Director on Both Sides Now, a concert in Cardiff Millenium Hall with the Wales National Orchestra for the Llais Festival. It was a tribute to Joni Mitchell and her arranger Vince Mendoza with guest singers, Laura Mvula, Charlotte Church, Georgia Ruth, Eska and Olivia Chaney https://www.wmc.org.uk/en/llais/events/both-sides-now-celebrating-joni-mitchell
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In August 2023 I worked with my old pal Boris Grebenshikov on an orchestral arrangement for his song Minsk Pinsk and Severodvinsk, his ‘Epitaph for the Soviet world’, an extraordinary song over 7 minutes long, featuring The St. Petersburg Boys choir and Serbian gypsy singers Golda Amirova and Olga Sergeeva. The orchestra was recorded with the Scottish Session Orchestra at Clockwork Sessions in Glasgow
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Early 2023, Neill and I wrote the incidental music for Fanny: The Other Mendelssohn (MercuryStudios/Universal), a feature documentary about Felix Mendelssohn’s sister who was a brilliant pianist and composer in her own right. It is a feature doc. directed by Sheila Hayman, who is Fanny’s descendant. released on Dartmouth Pictures in October 2023.
Myself, Neill and Calum MacColl have written the music for Harry Enfield’s comedy documentary spoof/love letter for the BBC’s centenary Love Box In Your Living Room. First airing on October 27th 2022
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Playing and Music Directing with Neill MacColl on March 5th 2022 at The Barbican, London. A multi-artist event curated by Chris Difford. Songs In The Key Of London 2https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2022/event/songs-in-the-key-of-london
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Very pleased to be taking part as pianist in this tribute to Nanci Griffiths in Glasgow January 25th 2022Celtic Connections https://www.celticconnections.com/event/1/scotland-sings-nanci-griffith————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Been doing some orchestral string arranging up in Scotland for the amazing singer Kim Carnie and also playing and arranging with a great group of Scottish musicians for a new Phil Cunningham project: The Narrow Sea, The Farther Shore. BBC iPLayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m00144tf/the-narrow-sea-the-farther-shore-with-phil-cunningham-series-1-episode-2
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On December 3rd 2021 Kathryn Williams’s and Carol Anne Duffy’s Christmas album Midnight Chorus came out. I’m playing piano, oboe and Cor anglais on it. It was produced by Neill MacColl. The launch was live and streamed at The Green Note on December 6th 2021
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In October 2021 I wrote an orchestral arrangement for I'll Always leave The Light On, a really great song of Kris Drever's from his 2020 album Where the World is Thin. It is written from the point of view of the moon looking down at the Earth and has a lovely folk tune weaving through it. It is featured at the end of this new BBC documentary Changing Landscapes (at 51:30) and played by the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m00118tc/changing-landscapes
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Peggy Seeger’s new album First Farewell came out on April 9th 2021. It is a family affair with only herself, her two sons Neill and Calum and me co-writing and playing on it. It has had an incredible response with stunning reviews: https://peggyseeger.bandcamp.com/album/first-farewell-2?fbclid=IwAR1u5ARwgxuYskh3aZeQs3Yds7AHtuwg7anqiuSsr2evcyZ5rpF7LQSR0wM
https://www.folkradio.co.uk/2021/05/peggy-seeger-first-farewell/
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On March 21st 2021 myself and Neill MacColl, with a new piece/video we have made together, are in the lineup for An Afternoon of Curious Music on March 2- a virtual music festival featuring new material, video and conversation with Curious Music artists. Tickets and more info here: https://outermost.stream/collections/an-afternoon-of-curious-music
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Working On The Frontline is a song written by myself and Neill MacColl for frontline NHS workers. It was released on September 15th 2020. Written and recorded in Lockdown, the words and sentiments come directly from nurses’ accounts of their experiences in Covid-19 wards and was written to give them a voice and to show solidarity. Sung by Jessie Buckley and featuring nurse Hannah Grace Deller it was recorded by Jessie and the Leonards:
Credits: Jessie Buckley - Vocals Margo Buchanan - Backing Vocals Hayley Cramer - Drums and Percussion Hannah Grace Deller - Spoken Word Mattie Foulds - Percussion Neill MacColl - Guitar Sian Monaghan - Drums and Percussion Ben Nicholls - Bass Stuart Nisbet - Lapsteel Kate St. John - Keyboards and Backing Vocals
It is the first single from Chris Difford’s Songclub album and all proceeds go to the (Royal College of Nursing) RCN Foundation COVID-19 Support Fund. Available to buy on all platforms:
https://slinky.to/WorkingOnTheFrontline
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I have written a new song called No Goodbyes that was released by Curious Records as part of their Curiosa 2/BLM project on July 5th 2020. Recorded at home during lockdown, it is a tribute to a dear friend of mine who died of Covid-19. It is also for anyone who has lost someone without being able to say goodbye. The beautiful piano was played by Steve Hamilton and sent from Scotland. Mixed by Neill MacColl. Proceeds go to the NAACP Legal Defence and Education Fund.
https://mailchi.mp/08b7425ba5f8/curiosa-2blm-track-2-no-goodbyes-by-kate-st-john?e=d922d9cb69
“Proud to join the lineup for An Afternoon of Curious Music on March 21! Tickets are on sale now at outermost.stream”
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Just before Lockdown in March 2020 I played oboe and sang with Bombay Bicycle Club on a reworking of their song ‘I Can Hardly Speak’ in Abbey Road Studios. Here is a little film about it and a link to the track
https://www.facebook.com/bombaybicycleclub/videos/597237440999876/
https://bombaybicycleclub.lnk.to/SpotifySinglesIN
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