Barga on new Scottish CD

The Celtic Music Radio Album of the Week commencing Saturday 13 September is the release of the new 14-track CD album ‘Kith & Kin’ by Linsey Aitken and Ken Campbell – listen to some tracks from the new CD here

Linsey Aitken & Ken Campbell. One of the best Songbooks in contemporary Scots acoustic music. Vocals, Cello, Guitar, Northumbrian Pipes, Piano, Laud. From Loch Lomond, Scotland. – source

This CD is, in effect, Linsey and Ken’s musical manifesto, a coming together of both their musical journeys, now combined into one together. Elements of their respective musical backgrounds in Traditional, Celtic, Classical, Contemporary music, you name it… not one genre or another. The songs and music are all about Kith and Kin, each with a Scottish connection and a tale to be told. Combining an unusual blend of instruments and pedigrees plus vocal harmony – self penned and traditional songs and tunes, encompassing a host of subjects, contemporary and historic, from Saint Columba to Dundee Whaling songs… Scot’s abroad, chorus songs and world events all with Scot’s related themes, all about people with wonderful stories to tell… source – and CD can be bought on line here

Linsey Aitken is a highly regarded cellist, pianist and vocalist encompassing many genres and styles from classical to traditional music.

Inspired by leading German cellist May Libersohn of the Scottish National Orchestra, she studied cello and piano under the personal tuition of leading international musicians cellist Anna Shuttleworth; harpsichord maestro Alan Cuckston and virtuoso pianist Gusztav Fenyo.

At Harrogate Arts School in North Yorkshire, Linsey studied Singing, Music and Performing Arts and then went on to complete a degree in cello and piano performance at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow alongside Scotland’s foremost lute player Rob McKillop, and Martin Bennet who became a legend in Scottish music before his untimely death.  Linsey was one of eight UK cellists invited to play at the London Royal School of Music Centenary Concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

In spring 2010 Linsey Aitken on cello and vocals joined Ken Campbell’s Ideal Band taking over from Seylan Baxter.  Subsequently Linsey and Ken commenced touring as a duo throughout UK, Europe and USA. In 2014 she created The Loch Lomond Ukulele Orchestra and took over as Musical Director of the Bb’s community choir.

Ken Campbell is a Scottish singer-songwriter with a well established pedigree over 30 years with five albums to date, festivals, concerts, television and radio performances throughout Europe and beyond.

Starting with Glasgow band Molendinar in 1980, Ken and Chris Miller performed at Lorient lnterceltic Festival in France.

In 2009, Ken got the ‘‘The ldeal Band’’ on the road again with a wealth of new songs.  The Northumbrian pipes were brought back in, more touring followed and an album was released on Fellside records and Dr John Barrow at Stoneyport Associates took them under his personal wing arranging concerts and tours.

In spring 2010 Linsey Aitken on cello and vocals joined Ken Campbell’s Ideal Band and a new six track CD and videos were released in January 2011.

Subsequently Linsey and Ken commenced touring as a duo with a new album Kith & Kin recorded at Watercolour Music studio in Scotland released in August 2014.

Kith and Kin noun [plural] ‘ones native land’ and ‘friends/neighbours/family’

Linsey Aitken – vocals, ‘cello, piano. – Ken Campbell – vocals, guitars, northumbrian pipes, laud.

Guest Musicians:
Andy Shanks – guitar, dobro, backing vocals
Frank Lee – melodeons
Howard Booster – 5 string fiddles
Nick Turner – backing vocals
Stevie Lawrence – bouzouki, guitar, percussion

Front Cover painting ‘Tree of Life’ – Keane. Original Oil painting, depicting one of two hundred stone carvings that date back to Roman times which decorate the Bell Tower of the Duomo in the town of Barga in Tuscany ’The most Scottish town in Italy’

Production – Nick Turner, Mary Ann Kennedy, Linsey Aitken, Ken Campbell
Engineering – Nick Turner
Recorded – Watercolour Music, Scotland/Mesa Recording, San Francisco
Mastered – Watercolour Music
Photography/Artwork/Design – Archie MacFarlane