At the moment I am working on solo stuff (solo clarsach/electroharp/harp) and working with a band called The Outside Track (www.theoutsidetrack.com)
Influences
Michael Rooney, Catriona Mackay, Karine Polwart, Laoise Kelly, North Cregg, Corrina Hewat, Patsy Seddon, Mary MacMaster, Simon Thoumire, Ingrid Henderson,
Sounds Like
mainly traditional Scottish and Irish material but a lot of it has been given a fairly modern twist. Best just to listen and see
Ailie Robertson is a musician in the broadest sense: composer, arranger, teacher, improviser and harp virtuoso. “Her synthesis of Irish, Scottish and contemporary harping technique into an individual style represents the realization of otherwise unimagined possibilities for the Celtic harp” (Niall Keegan, 2006).
Ailie grew up in Edinburgh, Scotland, and was immersed in the harp world from an early age. Through her piano and clarsach lessons she developed a love for both classical and traditional music, and in 2005 gained a 1st-class MA in Irish Music Performance from the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance.
Although just 23 years old, she already has some of the most impressive credentials in the Scottish harp world. A 4-time National Mod Gold Medalist, she was also a finalist in the BBC Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2008, 1st prizewinner at the inaugural London Harp Competition, and best overall musician at the Edinburgh Competition Festival. She has represented Commun na Clarsach for Scotland at the Pan Celtic Festival in Ireland, and in 2005 she was awarded a scholarship from the ESU in recognition of her 'virtuosic clarsach playing', and was a winner of the St Albans New Roots award. She played in the Scottish Harp Orchestra, Na Clarsairean for many years, performing with them at two World Harp Congresses - in Seattle and Prague.
Since graduating in 2006, Ailie has been going from strength to strength as a professional musician and has steadily gained recognition as a performer and composer. She works as a soloist for Yehudi Menuhin’s Live Music Now! programme, and has given recitals at events all over Scotland, including performing for HRH the Queen, and being invited to give a private concert to the Lord High Commissioner and his distinguished guests. She has played alongside many great Irish and Scottish musicians and has supported BBC award winner Karine Polwart. Notable festival appearances include Sidmouth, Cornwall, Whitby, The Edinburgh International Harp Festival, St Albans and many others.
Ailie is currently pursuing her interest in composition further and she has been commissioned to write a piece for the forthcoming Distil showcase in October 07.
When she is not in the studio or on the road, Ailie is a much sought after teacher around the UK and Ireland. She has taught at various festivals, was co-founder and director of the highly successful Borders Harp Weekend and tutors regularly for Feisean nan Gaidheal, as well as teaching privately and in several schools.
She has just released her first album with her band The Outside Track on the Bedspring Music label, which has been described as “the most exciting music, let alone folk music…in years”, and hopes to release her debut solo album in 2008.
Hi Ailie, my brain wasn't working when I sent you the email. We have already met. I was at your Cd launch with Mary Macmaster and indeed now own one fo your CDs. Thanks for the words of support, this project is very dear to my heart. All the best. Jo (KOMPOSIT)
Well..it is but a recent discovery but boy, am I LOFFING it!?! Tis SO mighty cool..so many brilliant bands on here..Hope to see you in Uist on the 31st if I'm not dying of sleep deprivation from 5 shift..GAH! How's form? x
Thanks so much for the add, Ailie! I do indeed like your music :) Your cd is definitely on my "must get" list. Have a great tour with The Outside Track this summer!
Thanks so much for sending me the CD - it's looking and sounding beautiful, such a fantastically modern feel. Love those hand claps!!! The harp works so brilliantly in that band setting - with all that fantastic percussion too.
Looking forward to getting the CD - got Corrina's yesterday! Fab!! And WCA ordered some equipment today as we are fairly sure we will get the grant! And if we don't .... well I'll just have to do a fundraiser! We need it anyway!
See you soon - great video of you at your launch. Must dig out Spirits and have another go at it!
It'll only take about 9 months and hopefully I will be able to use all my prior knowledge!! If I can control a class of 13 year olds ..... Or take a rehearsal with 40 kids ..... even if they do want to be there!!
That's brilliant! :) I'll be sending you a friend request from Wetherby Festival MySpace too, I think your music would go down brilliantly here at coming festivals - people love harp music round here, it would be great to give them harp with band Ailie-style! xx
