Dr Paul Anderson MBE and Shona Donaldson take us on a musical journey across the North East of Scotland with a special focus on the rich traditions of Strathdee.
Paul Anderson is one of the finest Scots fiddlers of his generation. Born and brought up in Tarland he has played and promoted Scottish fiddle music all over the world and performs regularly on TV and radio. In the tradition of many of Scotland's great fiddlers he is a composer of some repute, having written over 700 pieces in the Scots style. He is an Honorary Fellow of the University of Aberdeen and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Music from Robert Gordon University of Aberdeen in 2021. Paul was also awarded an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours in the same year. His most recent album was inspired by the island of lona and was first published as a book and CD with poems about the island by Irish poet Francy Devine and paintings by notable artist John Lowrie Morrison.
Award winning Scots Singer Shona Donaldson is one of Scotland's leading tradition bearers. A fiddler and singer, she grew up in Huntly, Aberdeenshire and was surrounded by music and song from a young age. Shona is a former winner of the MG Alba Scots Singer of the Year and to date is the only woman to win the Bothy Ballad Champion of Champions competition. She particularly enjoys singing and teaching local Aberdeenshire songs in Doric and is a sought-after tutor. An able performer, she has sung at many events from folk clubs to concert halls around the world.