Cahalen Morrison & Eli West

24 November 2011 (19:30 - 22:30)

A new old time duo from Seattle

Cahalen Morrison & Eli West

 

‘This is music that the world needs’ says Tim O’Brien

 

Two musicians who have won a huge amount of praise on this side of the Atlantic since releasing their debut album here, arrive in Scotland this month for their first ever tour here.

When people talk about the music of Cahalen Morrison and Eli West, terms such as gorgeous, amazing, gentle, lush, sophisticated, soulful, organic and earthy get bandied around. Cahalen, from New Mexico, is a multi-instrumentalist who is equally at home playing fingerstyle guitar, lap slide, mandolin and clawhammer banjo. Before they met and sharing the same authenticity and outlook, Eli, from Seattle, had also been a busy multi-instrumentalist, sitting in at times with the likes of Michelle Shocked and members of the Wailin’ Jennys and Crooked Still.

When they released their stunning debut album, The Holy Coming of The Storm it created an instantaneous reaction on both sides of the Atlantic. Bob Harris invited them into the studio to record a session for his BBC Radio 2 show, saying their music was “quite extraordinary”, and Mary Ann Kennedy also has them in for her World on 3 show on BBC Radio 3.

A film crew from BBC Alba will also be shadowing them to make a “homecoming” documentary on Cahalen who will be making the pilgrimage back to the Isle of Lewis where his Great-Grandfather was a well-respected Gaelic poet and had work published before emigrating to America at the end of the 19^th century.

Reviewers here have praised their “old-time music styled for the 21^st century”.

BBC world music specialist Verity Sharp featured them several times on her show, The Late Junction, and describes their playing is “impeccable”. Tim O’Brien, who is highly-regarded himself on the Americana circuit and well-known for his appearances on The Transatlantic Sessions, is another fan and commenting on their album, said: "This is music that the world needs!"

 

 

This is what some others had to say:

 

"Thrilling" - The List

“A major new talent” - Maverick magazine

 “Outstanding” - fRoots magazine

“Thoughtful, gentle, intricate and deep” - Songlines