We are very excited to announce that we will be celebrating the launch of our brand new album ‘Over Burns and Braes’ in Brisbane on 20th March with our good friends, cloudstreet. They’ll also be launching their new album ‘Clouded House’, so it’ll be double the fun! We look forward to sharing some fabulous music with you. Tickets can be booked at www.trybooking.com/kkdq
Author Archives: Donald McKay
“Over Burns and Braes”
The album was recorded, mixed and mastered by Pix Vane Mason at Pix Records and contains a mix of traditional arrangements, a few of Rebecca’s original songs and one of our favourites by Judy Small.
• Maggie Lauder
• Hey Ca’ Thro’
• Jamie Raeburn’s Farewell
• Sky of the Southern Cross
• Braes of Balquither
• Sailaway Lullaby
• Battle of Sherramuir
• Highland Harry
• Ca’ the Yowes
• Pre-Marital, Presently-Packing, Post-Production Blues
• Rest Your Head
You can preview this album and purchase a digital download at wrightandmckay.bandcamp.com
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We’re going to New Zealand!
In a couple of days we’ll be hopping on a plane and heading for Wellington on our first trip to New Zealand. We can’t wait! Even if you can’t make it yourselves, invite your kiwi friends to come say Kia Ora 🙂
Bonny Scotland
After almost 3 years away, we excitedly returned to Scotland in November for a wee tour, and to spend time with much-missed family and friends. We had a very enjoyable time visiting folk clubs in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Houston, Leith, Stirling, Falkirk and Glenfarg, and had the rare opportunity to play in the 13th century Rothesay Castle and the Marquis of Bute’s Marble Chapel. We celebrated birthdays and Christmas with family in Kilmacolm and danced in the new year with our friends in Killin. We saw the beautifully breathtaking Kelpies in Falkirk and lost our breath climbing up to the windy heights of the Wallace Monument in Stirling. We also spent a lovely few days in Ireland and England, making music and conversation. And now we are back in Brisbane, eating our own weight in mangoes, courtesy of an overabundant tree in our front yard.
We’re not yet sure what this year holds for us (do we ever?!) but we’re hoping to record our second album in the not-too-distant future. We also plan to go to the beach a little more often, starting this weekend. We’ll keep you posted, but in the meantime, here are a few happy snaps we took on our travels. We hope 2015 brings you joy.
The Kelpies – Falkirk
At the Kelpies – Falkirk
The Kelpies – Falkirk
Donald at Rothesay Castle
Picnic at Kilmichael Chapel, Isle of Bute
Atop the Wallace Monument, Stirling
Wallace Monument – Stirling
Donald building the Wallace Monument
The Wallace Monument, Stirling
‘Joys that never weary’ Scotland tour
We’ve just returned home from another beautiful Dorrigo Folk & Bluegrass Festival, where a highlight was inviting the audience to ‘gie it laldie’ to a bunch of Scottish songs and sea shanties. All that singing, along with the ceilidh we ran with the Ceilidh Clan, has certainly put us in the mood for our upcoming trip to Scotland, which is now only 3 weeks away! On our wee tour we’ll be visiting folk clubs including The Star in Glasgow, Falkirk, Stirling, Houston, Edinburgh and Leith and a St Andrew’s function at the Rothesay Castle. All the details can be found on our gigs page. We’re really looking forward to catching up with our friends and family on the other side of the world and rugging up in our winter woolies. Spread the word and come say hello, as it may be another few years until we get back again – Scotland is a long way from the antipodes!
May and beyond
May is almost over and the rest of the year is filling up. We are currently putting together a small tour of Folk Clubs in Scotland for our trip home in November to January 2015. We are looking forward to that and details can be found on our Gigs page. However, there are plenty of events on the lead up to November. We will be playing Mark Cryle as the Civil Union at the Redhill Folk Clubs “Kitchen-Aid Concert” on the 25th May. Then on the weekend of June 7th we will be in Townsville for the Palm Creek Festival, where we will not only be performing as our duo but with The Jiggles and no doubt appearing as special guests with our friends The Wish List and Cloudstreet. Further on in the year we will be at the BUG, The Maleny Celtic Winterschool, Folk Redlands and the Dorrigo Folk & Bluegrass Festival. Lots to look forward to, so please keep tuned.
Wintermoon 2014
We are just returned from another wonderful Wintermoon Festival. This year we attended the festival as volunteers, however, this did not prevent us from being musically busy. We were in high demand on stage as guest artists with various friends (old and new) including: David Flower, Jodi Martin, Nadia Sunde, Round Mountain Girls and Sunas, to name just a few.
When we weren’t on stage we were enjoying socialising with friends around the site, at the creek and in the Chai House; where the music flowed around the fireside each evening untill the wee small hours of the morning. It was once again a most beautiful and uplifting experience. A big ‘thank you’ to everyone who made it possible.
Highland Celtic Celebration
We’re heading to Ormiston house today, Sunday 30th March, for a day celebrating all the Scottish and Irish heritage of the house. We shall be playing our traditional Scottish repertoire at 12.50 and 2.10pm on the veranda. See the Ormiston House website for further details on what else is happening during the afternoon of the Highland Celtic Celebration.
Hopefully the rain will stay away.
Look forward to seeing you there.
Acoustics after five: Rebecca Wright and Donald McKay
Join us at the Brisbane Square Library for an hour of free music in the relaxed surrounding of the Library from 5.30pm.
This is another edition of the “acoustics after five”, one of Brisbane City Councils free mucis performances at the Brisbane Square Library.
Brisbane Folk History Project fundraiser
We are looking forward to Sunday 9th March when we will be joining The Company, Cloudstreet and 3 Miles from Texas at the Brisbane Folk History Project fundraiser extravaganza.
The Brisbane Folk History Project is dedicated to the recording and preservation of the history of the Brisbane folk music scene and the fundraiser which will be held from 3pm at the Newfarm Bowls Club, will highlight some of the Brisbanes musical talent and provide others the opportunity to play along at the session from 7pm. See our Gigs page for further details.
It will be a great night, see you there!
