THE COACH HOUSE lineup 2025
The Coach House was one of four venues in Scotland on the shortlist for the Sunday Herald Culture Awards Venue Of The Year 2018, and it’s easy to see why. Great sound; unbeatable atmosphere; a massive wood-burner - what more do you need? Oh aye…music!
The Coach House serves as a concert and session space.
During Friday afternoon (4-6), Saturday (12 - 6) and Sunday (1-5) there will be a variety of performances from acts such as Kurlew (Fri), Jennifer Reid, Yeah!, Cairn Chorus, Matthew Cook, Pete Garnett, Wendy Stewart and her harp students, Murron and Olivia, and more. The programme will contain details of days and times.
Evening concerts run as follows:
7 - 8 pm and 9 - 10 pm
Following the last live act, The Coach House will become a World Music session space.
friday 9th May 7-8pm
Ollie rigg & wattie lees
Wattie Lees and Ollie Rigg bridge a generation and broaden the piping tradition in Scotland. Originally hailing from Stranraer and Moniaive respectively, their roots go back to the early nineties, when Ollie’s mother divorced and took her two boys to live with Wattie on Islay. Although the new family didn’t last, the kinship between Wattie and Ollie remained strong; with much common ground in traditional music. Wattie would later provide support for Ollie’s first set of ‘cauld wind’ border pipes; and later his first full-set of uilleann pipes, made by Dave Williams in 1984.
Their debut ‘Underarmed’ album demonstrates their rich sound and exciting taste in traditional and contemporary folk tunes. The duo will be joined by Tom Smith, who will be guesting on Mandola and vocals. These guys expertly balance driving reels with cheery hornpipes; rolling jigs with heartfelt slow-airs and songs.
Friday 9th May 9-10PM
Described by Folk Radio UK as ‘weaving an especially compelling magic’, and ‘showing British acoustic music in its best possible light’, Northumbrian duo The Brothers Gillespie make music that is animated by lyrical songwriting, fine fingerstyle guitar playing, multi-instrumental musicianship and ‘the glorious tones of their blood harmony’ (Sam Lee).
Brothers James and Sam found their sound growing up in the fells and valleys of Northumberland, their songs often describing relationships with wild places and the experience of finding oneself in a world alive with soul.
The brothers have travelled far and wide with their music and have played at Cambridge and Sidmouth Folk Festivals and opened for Lankum and Sam Lee.
“Not since the minimal chamber folk of Simon And Garfunkel has two voices and an acoustic guitar sounded so absolutely perfect.” FATEA
saturday 10th May 7-8pm
Burd Ellen is a project featuring Debbie Armour (Alasdair Roberts, Green Ribbons) and Gayle Brogan (Pefkin, Electroscope). The group uses traditional song to explore and evoke dark landscapes and deep stories. Innovative instrumentation, drone and sound-wash support detailed vocal work to create a unique sonic atmosphere. They are twice featured in The Guardian’s Folk Albums of the Year, in 2020 and 2022.
“The most innovative duo in folk” - Folk Radio UK. (Best Albums of 2020 & 2022)
“Magnificent” - 8/10, Uncut Magazine
“One of the finest folk explorers” - The Wire Magazine
“Wonderful!” - Cerys Matthews, BBC Radio 6 Music
“Dripping with strangeness and unease” - The Guardian (Top 10 Folk Albums 2020 & 2022)
saturday 10th May 9-10pm
The voices of Con’tylia, accompanied by the strings of a Cretan laouto, guitars and hand drums, aim to explore the wonders of Greek folk music ranging from ambient and passionate ballads to Greek island dances, delving into decades of Greek Trad, Minor Asian scales and unique rhythms, merging them with a touch of jazz vocals and improvisations. The four member piece, sing solos, duets and quartets, to create polyphonic melodies and vocal interactions, with rhythms and melodies that resemble no others.