Harpist and singer Heather Downie was introduced to Scottish music by the late Martyn Bennett at the age of nine and has been involved in music ever since. Graduating from the RSAMD with a first class honours degree, Heather went on to achieve distinction in her postgraduate diploma in performance studies. No stranger to performing Heather was a Young Traditional Musician of the Year finalist in 2015. She teaches at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and plays with the band Top Floor Taviers. She has toured across Europe and America and is the Co-founder of Harp Bazaar teaching and promoting group work for the harp.
In her debut album; Nae Sweets For Shy Bairns, Heather holds nothing back in her fresh, feisty approach to her harp playing. The album features self-penned tunes and songs such as the dark ‘Stalky Nightmare’ and rhythmic ‘William The Conqueror’ as well as a gentler sound in ‘Under The Stars’ which features a soundscape created from a field recording on a recent trip to Europe. Heather also honours the traditional with her arrangement of ‘Neil Gow’s Lament For The Death Of His Second Wife’ and her ‘harp take’ of Piobaireachd with Donald MacLeod’s ‘Field Of Gold’. The album also features percussion and guitar from Tia Files and guest vocals from producer Corrina Hewat.
The album launch is on 28th January 2018 at Celtic Connections in Piping Centre. The album will be toured nationwide in June 2018
Artist’s website: www.heatherdownie.co.uk
Heather with the Top Floor Taivers – ‘Captain Ward’:
You must be logged in to post a comment.