" Strangers in this Country" The Scottish-American Ballad and Song Connection Sara Grey + Anne Neilson + Jack Beck
Scots and Ulster Scots have emigrated in such numbers that no other European Nation has ever lost such a high proportion of it's people. In the early days these were men and women who left behind them a homeland rich in the oral tradition of song and ballad singing; an inheritance which they carried with them wherever they went. Their legacy is apparent to this day. Sara Grey, Anne Neilson and Jack Beck are traditional singers from both sides of the Atlantic who have come together in their dedication to their respective traditional heritages. Their aim is to present a lively, entertaining and informative evening showing the connections between North American and Scottish traditional songs. In October 1997 Sara, Anne and Jack gave an excellent workshop presentation for the Traditional Music and Song Association of Scotland. It proved so successful that they were asked to present it at the prestigious Celtic Connections Festival in Glasgow in January 1998. Following on from that they have been booked by a variety of festivals and organisations on both sides of the Atlantic. Sara Grey is a fine American singer, banjo player and song collector, who is immersed in the song traditions of both sides of the Atlantic. She lived in Scotland for 28 years, during which time she also travelled extensively through the U.S. and Canada, performing and participating in workshops and summer-schools. During this time she became very aware of how easy it is for people to become insular in their appreciation of music and how important it is for people to see that as songs travelled they became part of U.S. culture too. Her passionate interest is to maintain and strengthen the links between Celtic and American culture. Anne Neilson is a former pupil of Norman Buchan, first began singing in 1959 and is now recognized as one Scotland's foremost traditional singers. Her pre-eminence in performing the songs of North-east Scotland led to her singing in the first performance ever of traditional music and song at the Edinburgh International Arts Festival. She is known both as a solo singer, and as a member of 'Stramash'. Jack Beck is a singer, guitarist and founder member of the 'Howff' folk club in Dunfermline in 1961- later co-founding the acclaimed group 'Heritage'. He broadcasts a regular programme on 'Heartland fm' radio in Scotland, which is exchanged with 'WETS fm' in East Tennessee.