Sprangeen

This group of seven Edinburgh-based musicians was formed in 1982 for a special festival (Women Live in Scotland), and stayed together for another two years, when they recorded their only record for Springthyme. I think sprangeen is a type of seaweed, but I'm not entirely sure!

The two clarsach players, Mary MacMaster and Patsy Seddon, went on to form a duo - - and also teemd up with two others to form The Poozies. Fiddler Rosa Michaelson later formed The Loose Moose Ceilidh Band. Any other information would be gratefully received (email me).

Records:

Sprangeen: Sprangeen (Springthyme SPR 1013, 1984)

Side One: Sally Hunter (Nath Gow)/Off She Goes/Lads of Dunse; Miss Sine Flemington (Alan Bruford)/The Ale Is Dear; In Dispraise of Whisky/The Favourite Dram; Alasdair MacColla; O'Carolan's Draught (Turlough O'Carolan); Gypsey's Warning/Flora MacDonald/Sweet Molly
Side Two: Miss Shepherd (Skinner)/Jenny Nettles/Mrs Macleod of Raasay; Braes of Strathblane/Sgian Dubh/Hills of Glenorchy; Lovely Molly; Braigh Loch Iall/Miss Lyall/Loch Leven Castle; Ciamar a Ni Mi An Dannsa Direach/Paddy's Leather Breeches/Atholl Highlanders

All tracks traditional except where indicated

Kathleen King (double bass, fiddle); Marta McGlynn (concertina); Mary MacMaster (clarsach, whistle, temple bells, vocals); Rosa Michaelson (fiddle, triangle, duck-call); Val Peek (fiddle); Patsy Seddon (clarsach, fiddle, vocals); Ann Ward (concertina, flute)

Freedom Come All Ye (Wilkie House Records WHR001, 1985)
with Mirk, Iain Mackintosh, Hamish Henderson, Margaret Bennet, The McAlmans, Davy Steel, and Dougie MacLean

Side One: Side Two:

This LP was the Scottish folk scene's effort to aid suffering in Ethiopia

The Loose Moose Ceilidh Band (Lomoco Records, CD001, 1992)

Bessie MacKinnon (MacKinnon)/The Theif of Lochaber/Minnie Hynd (MacLean)/Donnie MacGregor (McPherson); Breton Medley/Ronan Sicar's Jig (Sicar); Caledonian Laddie; McHugh's/King's Favourite/Hadden's Gift; The Poppy Leaf/Alexander's Hornpipe/The Golden Eagle; Star Dust (McNally)/Timewarp (McNally); John McColl's March to Kilbowie Cottage (Lawrie)/Jessie Henderson (Pitkeathly); My Tocher's the Jewel/Why Can't We Get Along? (Charnes); Slanty Gart; Chez Seychelles; Angus Sutherland (Williamson)/John Rechnagel's Fancy (MacDonald)/Maggie's Pancakes (Morrison); The Staple Project (McNally)/Martha's Vineyard (McNally)/The Pisa Project (McNally)/

All tracks traditional except where indicated

Colin Allison (acoustic, electric and bass guitars); Jim Leighton (accordion, synthesisers); Dave McNally (Smallpipes, Highland pipes, whistles, wind synthesiser); Rosa Michaelson (fiddle, triangle); Angus Wares (mandolins, acoustic guitar, tiple)