Just saw the New School production of Angela Ness’s Five go hungry on Kirrin Island at the Birnam Institute, and what a show this is! Lashings of rock’n'roll, high jinks and subversion, with a great cast and a wonderful minimalist set by Maddy Amos. This matinée performance saw a packed hall with standing-room only for late arrivals and went down a storm.

I hear that another performance is planned for tomorrow evening, but as there’s nothing to be found regarding this production on the Birnam Institute website, I’m hoping that producer Angela Ness will fill us in with further details.

Please catch tomorrow evening’s performance if you can. I guarantee it will put a smile on your face.

… as you will have guessed, is the Dunkeld Bridge (before it existed a wee chap kept a swimming cow on the north bank and charged the south-bound drovers a penny to lead their coos across the river). But Telford’s Crossing is also the name of the new band put together by local fiddler and Niel Gow impersonator Pete Clark – and their Birnam debut is next Wednesday 11th May at 8.00pm in the Baronial Hall at the Birnam Hotel. Entry £5 on the door. Come if you can! Telford’s Crossing consists of Pete Clark and Jennifer Knussen on fiddles, Erik Knussen on double bass, Jack Evans on guitars, Gregor Lowrey on accordion and me, Jamie Jauncey, on piano. www.telfordscrossing.com

Most of you will know that Gordon McNeill-Wilkie passed away peacefully on the morning of 23rd March. There was a get-together up at Lethendy on Sunday 17th April, which was well attended. Many of the people gathered there to celebrate his life were still in a state of shock, and I think I have to include myself amongst them. I do realise, though, that Gordon is still with us in spirit.

Here’s that wonderful poem he left us with:

One

Eons ago we forged this tryst
At a different place in time

Knowing that love would always unite us
Two beings of light entwined

Two halves of one, both finding the joy
That only soul love can define

The links in a chain that can never be broken
By darkness, nor death, nor all time

Gordon McNeill-Wilkie

Last night Phil and I attended a concert by Orkestra Del Sol at the Birnam Institute. They played two sets that cheered the hearts of the assembled crowd, many of whom were already fans having seen the band perform elsewhere. There was dancing, singing (“Oy!”) and a lot of smiling faces as Orkestra Del Sol displayed their amazing musical skills whilst treating us all to endless visual gags and running jokes. They are practically a circus act!

Next weekend Orkestra Del Sol are performing at the School of Art, Glasgow (Fri 15th April) and at the Liquid Room, Edinburgh (Sat 16th April). They will also be appearing at Strathmore Arts Festival (stART) in Blaigowrie on Saturday 4th June, running workshops, parading in the streets and, of course, rocking the rafters in concert. Catch them if you can!

Photography: Genie Dee