Carolan hears that acclaimed celtic guitarist Tim Edey is performing at nearby Southwell and so sprints over to meet him. Tim is an award-winning multi-instrumentalist, singer and composer who has toured and recorded with the Chrieftens, Christie Moore, Sharon Shannon, Natalie MacMaster, Altan, Capercaillie, Brendan Power, Michael McGoldrick, Session A9, Wolfstone, Lunasa and Mary Black  to name but a few. If this isn’t enough, he was also named BBC Radio Two’s Musician of the Year in 2012. You can find out more about Tim’s music at his website.

We’ve seen Tim at big festivals and have been wowed by the things he can do with a guitar, including some incredibly nifty shifts of capo position in the middle of tunes – blink and you’ll miss them. It’s marvellous to now see his technique close up in an intimate venue, especially as we’re sitting right in the middle of the front row.

At the soundcheck, Tim plays a beautiful rendition of  ‘Give Me Your Hand’ (‘Tabhair dom do Lámh’ in Irish)on Carolan, a tune widely attributed to harper Ruaidri Dáll Ó Catháin who like Carolan, was blind and who probably lived a few decades before him. Blind Rory, as he was known, travelled around Northern Ireland and to Scotland too where he is believed to have composed this tune in honour of an unknown lady. To our great delight, Tim offers to play the the tune on the Carolan guitar during his performance. We’re most definitely up for this. So here it is, preceded by a beautiful air on the whistle.

Tim is joined for the evening by collaborator Ben Trott another highly talented acoustic guitarist and also a recent  member of the legendary Albion Band. Ben kindly gives us a rendition of Bert Jansch’s ‘Angie’ after the gig. A great choice. Thanks Ben.

If this wasn’t enough, Tim introduces us to young Benammi Swift who has come along to see the gig. He’s a talented youngster and one to watch for in the future. Benammi plays us his own composition – Atlantic Highway – which has been inspired by one of Tim’s sets. Find our more at his website.