WILDCAT TRADITIONAL MUSIC ASSOCIATION - MONTHLY NEWSLETTER No. 38.

15th February 2006

24th February, LYRA CELTICA. (Now a four piece band)
PENTLAND HOTEL, THURSO. 8:00PM
Also appearing will be approx. 10 Young Tradional Musicians from Thurso High School and support Norman Stewart.

THE BAND
The band features former BBC YTM of the year Lynn Tocker on accordian, the irrepressible Chuck Fleming (fiddle and mandolin)who has played within innumerable outfits and locations ranging from the JSD Band to the entire duration of a bus trip from Edinburgh to Galashiels. Also featured are Frank McGuire(Bodhran, whistle and percussion) and Mark Canning(guitar and vocals).

REVIEWS
"a mix of Northumbrian and Scottish as befits the make-up of the band. Quite a lot of their tunes were old favourites and familiar from the session scene, but there was also a fair selection of self-penned - a particular mention for the rather lovely Floating from Skerry written by Lynn. Accordionist Lynn Tocker and fiddler Chuck Fleming make up the front line supplemented with Frank MaGuire's percussion and bodhran (and a couple of songs) and the guitar work of the band's "quiet man" Mark Canning."

Norman Stewart, who delivers songs in a peaty West Highland voice, can be likened to a rare, flavoursome malt among the cooking whiskies. ...Stewart isn't simply a stylist. He establishes himself here as a Scottish songwriter in the upper bracket..."
ALASDAIR CLARK REVIEW