Kris Drever & Chris Stout with David Murphy & Ether Ensemble

Kris Drever and Chris Stout are Scottish roots icons and two of the most powerful contemporary voices to emerge in the last quarter century. Both hail from the Northern Isles (Kris from Orkney and Chris from Shetland) and represent the strength of those identities in their music. The wind whistles through the strings, the old stories whisper clear, and the rhythms wash against you. Kris is a multi-award-winning singer-songwriter, guitarist, and founder of Lau. Chris is a virtuoso violinist, viola player, composer, and founder member of Shetland band Fiddlers’ Bid. The pair began playing music together in 2019 and soon found a sound of great interest and emotional power. Here, they share the experience with Celtic Connections. Come and hear songs and tunes you know and some you don’t, shining through the unique prism of these two ‘one of a kind’ musicians

David Murphy takes the pedal steel guitar outside the confines of its traditional roots with frequent ventures into a range of genres, spanning Americana and folk to ambient, experimental music and film soundtracks and is best known for his work with artists such as The Lost Brothers, John Blek, Ordnance Survey, Arborist, The Delines, Willy Vlautin, M.Ward and Jolie Holland amongst others. Murphy’s live show presents these ancient Irish harp tunes and historic airs by O’Carolan, O’Riada et al in the 21st century, voiced by the mysterious and emotive sound of the pedal steel guitar and accompanied with his band Ether Ensemble: all-star musicians from across contemporary, modernclassical and traditional/folk worlds. Here the pedal steel ably takes its place alongside cello, violin, piano, harp and lush electronic textures and synths.