“Authentic and assured, warm and inspiring, Kith And Kin beautifully blends traditional and contemporary influences in a marvellous example of all that is best about Scots music and song, integrating myriad strands to produce memorable and well-crafted songs. Two highly accomplished and polished musicians, with many years of experience, combine flawlessly, each seamlessly complimenting the others skills with beautiful harmonies provided by the other. The melodic and sensual tones of the cello weave hypnotically throughout the album… an ideal fit for the songs” ~ Living Tradition
“What an unexpected wonderful concert! By the third song I couldn’t fathom how I might ever again listen to Guitar without Cello leading. Linsey Aitken is a treasure in her use of the Cello, and the ‘melding’ they accomplish with their new compositions as well as traditional tunes. Their show is filled with Scots culture, how it rubs off in their travels as a people, and the culture brought home from abroad. The information about the songs and tunes before each performance made this more like, old friends invited to a party in my living room. These performers show that Scots Celtic Music is still alive, not just a repeat of old tunes we’ve heard our life over. Live the new music, while living within the old traditions. Thank you for the preservation, as well as fresh new creations in your musical culture.” ~ Don Quixote’s California USA
“Warm hearted and sufficed with a sense of people and place. Seasoned vocals accompanied by brisk cello.. in contrast wistful, atmospheric, and straight from the heart.” ~ Scotsman
“A large number of original songs well worth getting to know, richly detailed instrumental backdrops, and some truly excellent musicianship to savour. Good honest craftsmanship characterises Ken’s writing. Linsey’s the star for me; not only is her singing exceptional and her cello playing superbly charismatic, but she’s also responsible for penning four contrasted instrumental compositions. Gorgeous, atmosphere-laden, and there’ll ne’er be a dry eye in the house after that, I’m sure.” ~ Fatea Magazine
“Together they deliver an album of passion and honesty. Descriptive and meaningful songs and music – sit back, listen and enjoy.” ~ Scottish Memories
The new CD has now been launched and a great success.
Radio play UK wide and three live Radio interviews with us so far.
On Celtic Music Radio ‘Kith and Kin’ has been made album of the week this week, with one track being played very hour.
We also were privileged to be invited into the studio for a one hour chat and interview about our music and the making of the album.
Here is a link if you would like to hear the interview and program.
http://podcast.canstream.co.uk/celticmusic/index.php?id=13598
Reviews to date on Amazon have been very positive indeed :-
‘This album manages to be as soulful as traditional folk and yet contemporary! Timeless! A truly enchanting album and one to treasure always
What a beautifully refreshing album, wonderful melodies and uplifting songs – could not recommend more.
We will definitely be hearing more from these two in the future. If you haven’t already listened to this – what are you waiting for?!
Stunning music…. heart warming and vibrant…’
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New Web Site :
Welcome to our new web site, we hope you enjoy, have a look around and let us know what you think!
CD purchase and Downloads of individual tracks are now available.
New CD:
We are also delighted to confirm the release of our new 14 track CD ‘Kith & Kin’ later this month.
Recorded at the wonderful ‘Watercolour Music‘ in the Scottish Highlands, with Nick Turner and Mary Ann Kennedy, with additional fiddle parts recorded at Mesa Studios in San Francisco USA, it has been an epic journey and we are absolutely delighted with the result.
We are also joined on the album by stunning musicians and great friends – Stevie Lawrence on bouzouki and percussion, Frank Lee on melodeon, Andy Shanks on guitar and backing vocals, Nick Turner on backing vocals, and by outstanding fiddler from California Howard Booster of the San Francisco Scottish Fiddlers.
USA West Coast Tour
We are also delighted to confirm that we will be doing a three week tour of concerts later this year on the US West Coast. A series of great concerts and venues !
As part of that tour we have been booked to play a concert on the Balclutha square rigger in San Francisco Bay. The Balclutha is a three mast square rigger originally built in Connels shipyard on the river Clyde in Scotland in 1886, so a great thrill for us.
The fabulous Freight and Salvage in San Francisco have also agreed a date with us for a concert there, and we have invited a contingent from the San Francisco Scottish Fiddlers to join us for that evening which will be great.
In addition we have a series of additional concert bookings, together with a number of house concerts, and other dates in different venues including a double header concert with singer/songwriter ex-pat Scot Peter Daldry originally from Clydebank in Scotland.
We have also discovered a little town south of San Francisco called Ben Lomond next to a recreational area named Loch Lomond, near to where we will be playing – a home from home for sure !
More information and news to be added shortly, and we hope to meet you somewhere along the way over the coming months. You will find all our contact details on the ‘Contact’ page here and we would really like to hear from you.
Linsey & Ken
Since last October we have completed a number of great gigs in and around Scotland and the UK.
Over the winter we have been recording our new CD at Watercolour Music studios at Ardgour in the Scottish Highlands.
A truly sensational location and fantastic studio. Produced by Nick Turner and Mary Ann Kennedy, with additional fiddle parts recorded in San Francisco by the truly wonderful fiddler Howard Booster.
Other guest musicians are the amazing Melodeonist Frank Lee from Brampton in England, the inimitable Stevie Lawrence with percussion and bouzouki, and our musical amigo singer/songwriter Andy Shanks from St Cyrus in the North east of Scotland.
All sounding just great, and due for release late spring this year.
In the meantime we have a number of private and other gigs round Scotland, whilst organising our touring schedule for later in the year, including a three weeks tour of Northern California.
All in all, great music, great people, old and new friends.
We hope to meet up with you along the way this year.
August 2013
After a few months of gigs in Scotland and overseas, and writing new songs and instrumentals, we are now looking forward to a busy few months ahead.
We have just returned from four weeks in Italy, including the wonderful town of Barga, ‘the most Scottish town in Italy’ www.barganews.com
Kilmartin house Museum, Kilmartin, Mid Argyll, Scotland 14th September www.kilmartin.org
Dunfermline Folk Club, Fife, Scotland 4th December www.dunfermlinefolkclub.co.uk
We hope you can join us along the way !