Shirley Barr may be late to the table, but her recently discovered passion for compelling songwriting and performance shows she’s earned her place. Working as the marketing manager at Universal Hall, her life was already immersed in live music. However, lockdown saw her signing up for an online songwriting course tutored by Boo Hewerdine and Findlay Napier. She hasn’t stopped writing since.
Over the next three years she taught herself to play tenor guitar, ukulele and shruti box. Using these, sampled loops and field recordings, she creates songs which are quirky, insightful, and sumptuously layered, melding beautiful melodies with novel lyrics to create soundscapes that leave you wanting more.
This show will celebrate the launch of her debut 6-track EP, Begin Began Begun engineered and produced by Ewan MacPherson at the recording studio here at Universal Hall.
Shirley is delighted to have the incredible Beth Porter opening with a solo set on the night. Beth will be joining Shirley for the second half of the evening as part of the band, also featuring the sterling musicians, Ewan MacPherson, Jamie MacRae, Ben Please, and Maria Quinn.
“What a fabulous record by Shirley and the matching video! Beautiful.” Mike Scott (The Waterboys)
“Shirley’s songwriting is intricate and understated. Her delivery is gentle and genuine, her sense of musicianship makes it hard to believe she has only been in the business for a relatively short time.” Ewan MacPherson (Hushman, Salt House, Shooglenifty)
“Shirley is a cool new voice on the roots side of the Scottish music scene. Bound for greatness I’d say!” Mattie Foulds (Caribou Recording)
As a multi-instrumentalist, collaborator, composer and songwriter, Beth Porter has a passion for creating, an ear for listening, and a pure, unaffected voice that delivers beautifully original, understated yet powerful songs. Imagine Joanna Newsome goes to Nashville and writes a song with Anne Briggs and David Byrne from Talking Heads. She is a member of The Bookshop Band, Spell Songs (Karine Polwart, Julie Fowlis, Kris Drever) and Red Carousel string quartet. Beth’s cello can be heard on hundreds of recordings, including the Oscar Nominated, and British Animation Award winning film score Robin Robin (Aardman/Netflix) which she composed with Ben Please.
£7 General Admission | £5 Concessions
* We are offering a free carer/companion ticket for any disabled or wheelchair-user audience members throughout our shows this season. Please note that it is helpful if this is booked in advance via the WeGotTickets website, so that we can ensure that there is adequate accessible seating reserved on the day/night of the event.
Wheelchair access, or entry for people with a disability is available from the side entrance, by the Phoenix Café.
Tickets for our Autumn 2024 events can also be purchased in person at the Phoenix Shop, Findhorn.