Scottish singer to return for Port Townsend performance

By Kirk Boxleitner
Posted 9/18/24

 

 

Scottish songstress Iona Fyfe returns to the Rainshadow Recording concert series on Sunday, Sept. 22, having been thoroughly impressed by the venue during her local …

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Scottish singer to return for Port Townsend performance

Posted

 

 

Scottish songstress Iona Fyfe returns to the Rainshadow Recording concert series on Sunday, Sept. 22, having been thoroughly impressed by the venue during her local performance in 2022.

“It was so lovely and well-attended,” Fyfe said. “I remember taking the ferry to get to Port Townsend, and it reminded me of Scotland.”

Fyfe appreciated being able to perform in the pastoral rural setting of the Eaglemount Winery and Cidery, which hosts the Palindrome, because it felt like a quaint family farm to her, “in a beautiful part of the world,” where she could tell that the event organizers had “made a lot of effort” to ensure a pleasant evening for all involved.

For those who aren’t already familiar with her work, Fyfe promised an eclectic evening of Scottish song in a variety of styles, drawn from some sources that she suspects listeners might find surprising.

“I’ll be performing traditional Scottish ballads, of course,” Fyfe said. “But I’m also a fan of Nick Cave and Bob Dylan, and I’ll be performing their songs in Scottish, along with protest songs I’ve written myself, addressing what’s currently going on in the UK.”

Fyfe describes herself as a passionate supporter of the statutory recognition of the Scots language, having led a successful campaign to pressure Spotify into recognizing Scots, and add it to its list of languages.

Fyfe has also spoken on BBC News about the impacts of Brexit on live touring musicians.

Her debut album, “Away From My Window,” received critical acclaim and nationwide airplay on multiple BBC Radio programs. She will be performing solo at the Palindrome, which she believes affords her more intimacy with audiences, and she promised that her musical selections will feature “something for everyone,” including younger listeners.

Fyfe is particularly eager to perform a number of Appalachian folk tunes that she noted have roots in the Gaelic-speaking regions of Ireland and Scotland.

“Growing up in Aberdeen, I’ve always felt connected to the history and folklore of my own culture,” Fyfe said. “At the same time, I was raised on a lot of Woody Guthrie.”

Fyfe uses her songs to tell stories, so that she can pass on parts of her culture, not in a scholarly or didactic manner, but in ways that will move her listeners emotionally.

“I’d like to leave them learning something new, in an organic way that they’ll feel passionate about,” Fyfe said. “I’ve been happy to see younger listeners at my concerts seem genuinely engaged, because I want to recontextualize Scottish music for modern audiences.”

The last time Fyfe performed in Port Townsend, her tour was circumscribed by being on a one-year visa, but now that she’s on a three-year visa, she looks forward to performing in the United States as often as possible, especially because her American audiences have embraced the Scottish culture to which she’s treated them.

Fyfe’s Sept. 22 concert kicks off at 7:30 p.m. at 1893 S. Jacob Miller Rd. in Port Townsend, with tickets selling for $20 online or $25 at the door.