event details

The Burns Unit with Drever, McCusker & Woomble

Friday 16th January 2009, 7.30pm

ABC

A talent-packed night of top-class contemporary songwriting, embodying the fruitful cross-genre energies of Scotland’s current music scene. Drawing its members from the folk, pop, rock and dance music spheres, The Burns Unit was born out of the 2006 Song House project, an annual collaborative retreat run by the Burnsong organisation.

The Scottish line-up of Karine Polwart, King Creosote, Emma Pollock, Future Pilot AKA, MC Soom T and Kim Edgar, plus Canadians Michael Johnston and Mattie Foulds, discovered an immediate creative chemistry that was vividly in evidence at their initial gigs. Tonight marks their official launch as an ongoing band project, immediately prior to recording their debut album.

Folk stars Kris Drever and John McCusker, with Idlewild vocalist Roddy Woomble, displayed a similar spirit of adventure in teaming up to co-write the songs on their highly-praised new trio release, Before the Ruin, a potently melodic, richly atmospheric blend of roots and rock influences.

Over 14s only, under 16s with an adult.