Phil Cunningham’s Christmas Songbook goes online
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PHIL Cunningham will be performing two online shows this December.
To bring on the Christmas cheer after what has been a tough year for everyone, the Phil Cunningham Christmas Songbook team have come together to record two online Christmas concerts.
Tickets are now on sale for the premieres taking place on Saturday, December 19 and Wednesday, December 23. Once the premieres have aired, both concerts will still be available to buy and watch right up until December 27, ensuring it can be the perfect background to the whole festive season.
Book tickets here
When Phil and the Christmas Songbook band realised that the usual shows weren’t going to able to go ahead in their usual format this year, and recognising that the concert has been an essential part of people’s festive season for the last 14 years, they put their heads as close together as restrictions would allow and came up with a plan to keep the festive cheer alive.
The cast was assembled in full, a safe venue was sourced (big enough to safely hold a film crew to capture the magic) and the music began. The joy of playing together after all this time was hard to hide and they sang and played their hearts out for six hours. From that day’s recording, they have assembled two live one hour shows.
Anyone who’s ever attended a Christmas Songbook knows it is an exceptional night of heart-warming entertainment from some of Scotland’s best-known and best-loved musicians and this year’s online concert will be no different with the annual star-studded line-up having gathered together once again to ensure they don’t lose any of that special Christmas spark. With the inimitable Phil Cunningham leading the evening alongside Eddi Reader, Karen Matheson, John McCusker, Kris Drever, Ian Carr and Kevin McGuire.
Bursting with jovial anecdotes, an unfaltering mix of modern and traditional music alongside exquisite musicianship, the Christmas Songbook is undoubtedly the perfect way for the whole family to get into the festive spirit this Christmas.
Phil Cunningham said: “We were all devastated when the realisation came that we wouldn’t be able to tour the Christmas Songbook this year, it has become such a huge part of all of our festive seasons! As soon as the idea came to me to record an online concert, I knew only the best was going to be good enough, so I jumped on the phone to my old friend John Smith (one of the best live TV directors anywhere) and we came up with a plan to get things underway to record two top-quality shows!
“Although we’re sad not to be in your company this year, we are delighted to have been able to put these two concerts together and we hope you will enjoy singing along in the comfort of your own home. We will be thinking of you and raising a glass to you wherever you are in the world! Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and here’s to a better New Year!”
Phil’s Cunningham’s Christmas Songbook Volume 1 will be premiered on Saturday, December 19 at 7pm.
Volume 2 will be premiered on Wednesday, December 23 at 7pm. Once the premieres have been aired, individuals can buy both concerts and watch them as many times as you like right up until December 27.
Tickets are available to buy here https://myplayer.uk/philschristmassongbook
The line-up includes:
- Phil Cunningham is a superb and innovative instrumentalist. He is well known as the witty musical partner of the great Shetland fiddler, Aly Bain. Also widely recognised from his television and radio presenting, he has been involved in some of the seminal programmes that have enabled Scottish music to walk tall, a true ambassador for traditional music.
- Eddi Reader has celebrated a career spanning over 3 decades and has effortlessly developed into one of popular music’s most thrilling and affecting performers. With an MBE for outstanding contributions to the arts, 3 BRIT awards, a #1 single and 8 critically acclaimed solo albums, Eddi is considered to be “one of Scotland’s greatest national treasures” (The Scotsman).
- Karen Matheson OBE was once described by the late, great Sean Connery as having “a throat surely touched by the hand of God”. Karen is recognised the world over as the haunting lead vocalist of Celtic supergroup, Capercaillie and one of "the finest Gaelic singers alive today" (Billboard Magazine). Her new album Still Time is set for release in Feb 2021.
- BBC Radio 2 Folk Singer of the Year 2017 Kris Drever is part of the backbone of today’s contemporary roots scene. The Orcadian singer and guitarist is widely admired as a solo artist, collaborator, and member of folk superstars Lau.
- Multi-instrumentalist John McCusker is one of Scotland’s most accomplished and versatile musicians in any genre, having worked with artists as diverse as Mark Knopfler, Teenage Fanclub and Billy Connolly. To celebrate his 30th anniversary as a professional musician, John is set to release ‘A Best Of’ album in 2021, featuring tracks from the last three decades.
- Ian Carr is world renowned for his original and eclectic approach to traditional music guitar. He has established an instantly recognisable sound that has influenced countless musicians. Forging his own path with his own musical projects such as Swåp and Timber, Carr has also worked collaboratively with musicians such as Kathryn Tickell and Kate Rusby, among many others.
- Kevin McGuire is a highly sought-after double bassist who has performed with the likes of Karine Polwart and Kate Rusby.
