Acclaimed Scottish fiddle group RANT, made up of four of the country’s finest fiddle players, will take their third album The Portage out on tour as they head to venues across Scotland this April.
The Portage was recorded over four days in the renowned Mackintosh Queen’s Cross in Glasgow – the only church in the world to be designed by architect, artist and designer Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
This special space was the ideal setting to capture what RANT do best – showcasing the rich resonance of their four fiddles in various tunings, textures and layers in a stark, honest recording.
The musicians – two from the Shetland Islands and two from the Highlands – will now take this sophisticated, authentic performance to Scottish audiences at seven intimate gigs this spring.
Audiences can expect to hear RANT’s iconic sound, which is both rich and lush, yet retains all of the bite and spark synonymous with Scottish fiddle playing.
Using just their fiddles, Bethany Reid, Jenna Reid, Lauren MacColl and Anna Massie will weave a tapestry of melodies both old and new from across Scotland and Scandinavia.
Lauren said: ‘Recording The Portage in such a special, tranquil location, rooted in the undeniable artistic style and importance of Charles Rennie Mackintosh was an unforgettable experience that allowed us to capture our sound in a really focussed, natural way.
‘Earlier this year, we returned to that room to play Celtic Connections and we’re now planning on taking the same magic that was created at The Mackintosh to venues across Scotland.
‘We have been playing and honing our sound together for several years now and our live set reflects our love for a wide range of material each member brings, along with the stories which lie behind the music. We look forward to putting on an unforgettable night for people, from the Borders up to the Islands.”
Since the release of their debut album RANT in 2013 which won them critical acclaim in the form of a Herald Angel Award for outstanding performance across all the Edinburgh Festivals, the band have made major festival and concert appearances across the UK, Ireland and Scandinavia. They provided strings for Julie Fowlis’ Gach Sguel album, and their music has been used for both BBC and ITV national television programmes.
Known for their work as soloists and with various bands, this album and tour a celebration of the instrument they all have a passion for.
For more information visit: https://www.rantfiddles.com
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