Altsounds - Under One Sky - Tour and New Album

Under One Sky is an hour-long vocal and instrumental suite by the Scottish multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer John McCusker, performed by a dozen of Britain’s finest musicians including Roddy Woomble and Graham Coxon.

Originally a joint commission by the PRS Foundation, the Scottish Arts Council and the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, Under One Sky sets out to explore and interweave the many different traditions, genres and influences at work across today’s dynamic UK folk scene. Bringing together an array of established and emerging talent from both sides of the Border, McCusker’s hand-picked ensemble includes Blur co-founder Graham Coxon , Idlewild vocalist Roddy Woomble and acclaimed Gaelic songstress Julie Fowlis. Revered balladeer John Tams and rising star Jim Causley also feature among the singers.

McCusker himself heads a crème-de-la-crème instrumental line-up of Andy Cutting (diatonic accordion), Ian Carr (guitar), Emma Reid (fiddle), Iain MacDonald (bagpipes/whistles/flute), Ewen Vernal (bass) and James Mackintosh (percussion). Within McCusker’s compositional framework, each musician has been encouraged to contribute to the music’s development and arrangements, infusing them with a vibrant collaborative spirit.

“When I started putting Under One Sky together the idea was to do two gigs, one at Celtic Connections and the other at Cambridge Folk Festival. It was such a magical experience though, that after the second gig I knew really wanted to work with these amazing folks again,” McCusker says. “Every musician strives to keep doing exciting things, musically, and to play with great people to keep them inspired. Getting to collaborate with these musicians has been the highlight of my musical career so far, and we’re all totally chuffed to be taking it on tour.”

Tour details are as follows....

November / December 2008

25/Nov/2008 Fruitmarket Candleriggs, Glasgow 0141 353 8000
27/Nov/2008 Aberdeen Music Hall Union St, Aberdeen, Scotland 01224 641122
28/Nov/2008 Perth Concert Hall Mill St, Perth, Scotland 01738 621031
29/Nov/2008 Ironworks 122b Academy St, Inverness, Scotland 0871 789 4173
01/Dec/2008 Pocklington Arts Centre, Market Place, Pocklington, N. Yorkshire 01759 301547
02/Dec/2008 The Lowry Pier 8, Salford Quays, Manchester 0161 876 2000
04/Dec/2008 The Sage, St Mary's Square, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear 0191 443 4661
05/Dec/2008 The Playhouse Alnwick, Northumberland 01665 510785
06/Dec/2008 Queen Elizabeth Hall South Bank Centre, London 0871 663 2500
07/Dec/2008 The Albert Hall North Circus St, off Derby Road, Nottingham 01159 500 411
08/Dec/2008 The Queens Hall Clerk St, Edinburgh, Scotland 0131 668 2019