Roaring into the Highlands are big, high-energy band the Treacherous Orchestra, writes Susan Welsh
There’s often a jostle for space at The Ironworks in Inverness, particularly when there’s a band on that gets the audience dancing, but this weekend it’s on the stage itself that there will be a bit of a squish, when the impressive 12-piece folk big band The Treacherous Orchestra step into the spotlight.
It has been said before, and is worth repeating, that the line-up of musicians who form the orchestra reads like a who’s who of the latest generation of Scottish traditional-based music, and together they’re breathing new life into the genre.
Already well known to each other through Glasgow’s dynamic session circuit, the nucleus of the band was formed at the inaugural Sound of Rum festival in 2005, and, over subsequent gatherings, evolved into the top band that’s touring today. So far, life’s been pretty good for The Treacherous Orchestra, who were nominated for Best Group at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2013, played in front of a huge crowd at the BBC Radio 2 concert held in Hyde Park, and also played in Glasgow at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
The band’s members are all seasoned musicians who hail from the length and breadth of Scotland – plus two from Ireland – and together the represent the leading edge of the country’s ongoing folk revival.
Having grown up under the influence of such pioneering fusion acts as Shooglenifty, Martyn Bennett and Wolfstone, they draw on deep traditional roots and the full gamut of contemporary influences, interweaving these strands in a repertoire consisting almost entirely of original tunes.
Along with boundless youthful energy, they bring to bear a vast range of experience from other innovative Scottish outfits, featuring past or current members of Croft No. Five, Salsa Celtica, the Peatbog Faeries, Session A9, Old Blind Dogs, Box Club and Back of the Moon, among others.
Making up the ensemble are Ross Ainsliem, bagpipes and whistle, Ali Hutton, bagpipes and whistle, Kevin O’Neill, flute and whistle, John Somerville, accordion, Éamonn Coyne, banjo and tenor guitar, Adam Sutherland, fiddle, Innes Watson, fiddle, Barry Reid, electric and acoustic guitars, Duncan Lyall, double bass and bass guitar, Martin O’Neill, bodhrán, and, last but not least, Fraser Stone on drums.
Together they forge an irresistibly danceable sound that might just make space on The Ironworks dance floor pretty tight, too, when they play there this Sunday, November 9.
Doors open at 7.30pm. Contact: 08717894173. The band can also be seen at the Universal Hall, Findhorn, on Monday, November 10, at 7.30pm, when they make their debut there, although many of the musicians have played there previously with other bands. Contact: 01309 690110.