Over 27th-29th June 2025, The Vault Arts Centre hosts the 2nd annual Jazz, Funk, Soul Festival which, this year, features the incredible Fraser Fifield’s Secret Path Trio, The Allan McKeown Trio and The Groove Sermon!
The festival opens on Friday 27th June 2025 with Fraser Fifield’s Secret Path Trio.
The low whistle is a simple instrument that in the hands of Fraser Fifield can deliver infinite, deeply felt personal expression. In the company of two of Scotland’s most adventurous and experienced musicians, Paul Harrison (Wurlitzer piano) and Tom Bancroft (drums), it is simply thrilling!
Most often associated with Scottish and Irish traditional music, in Secret Path Trio the low whistle assumes the role of lead instrument voicing bold, fearlessly searching melodies in the company of two of Scotland’s most adventurous and experienced musicians, Paul Harrison (Wurlitzer piano) and Tom Bancroft (drums).
Fraser Fifield has enjoyed a 30-year career at the forefront of the Scottish folk and traditional music scene as a member of various bands (Old Blind Dogs, Salsa Celtica, Hidden Orchestra), as a session player for many others, (Capercaillie, Karen Matheson, Donnie Munro, Afro Celts…) and as leader of his own groups. He has produced 11 studio recordings between 2001 and 2024, all featuring his original writing style and performance on low whistle, bagpipes and saxophone. Folk Radio wrote, “to call a musician’s work ‘unique’ is a bold statement. However, if any musicians come close, then Fraser Fifield would be among them”.
Growing up in North East Scotland, Fifield studied Highland bagpiping with local instructors who imparted a lasting love and fascination for that music and its lore. Balancing tradition with an explorative attitude more associated with jazz musicians has been a feature of Fifield’s music since the early 1990s. Nominated as instrumentalist of year, composer of the year and a recipient of an ‘Ignition’ award for innovation in traditional music, Fifield’s virtuosic low whistle playing, in particular, has pushed the apparent limits of this simple instrument leading to fascinating international meetings with Sabir Khan (sarangi – Mumbai), Walther Castro (bandoneon- Buenos Aries), Balkanopolis (Belgrade), Zakir Hussain (Distant Kin project), Knut Reiersrud/Ale Moller (Scandinavia – ‘Celtic Roots’ project) and others.
Fraser is currently Traditional Artist in Residence at the School of Scottish Studies, Edinburgh University. Secret Path Trio, with top Scottish jazz players, Paul Harrison and Tom Bancroft, was born from the album recording of the same name which was released in June 23.
“You could reasonably enough claim that what whistler Fraser Fifield, keyboardist Paul Harrison and drummer Tom Bancroft have combined to deliver on Secret Path is unique.” (www.marlbank.net)
“Rarely has the low whistle sounded as thrilling.” (Songlines)
On Saturday 28th June we are delighted to be welcoming The Allan McKeown Trio.
The Allan McKeown Trio is a hammond organ based group playing the classic blues infused soul-jazz of the 50s and 60s. They have a broad repertoire of material from jazz standards and hard bop groovers to funky RnB and soul classics. Featuring Allan McKeown on guitar, Huw Rees on Hammond Organ and Greg Irons on Drums.
On Sunday 29th June, the festival closes with The Groove Sermon! 5 hours of outstanding original vinyl from the very best DJs in Scotland; soul, funk and jazz vinyl session with the Disciples of Soul.
Tickets are available online at www.thevaultartscentre.co.uk, and you can save and catch all 3 shows for just £20.00 with a Weekend Pass!
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