I’m delighted to announce that the new Rachel n’ Ron duo album élan will be released on the 19th of May 2023. Thanks to support from Creative Scotland we recorded once again with Scott Wood at Oak Ridge Studios a few months and after some mixing and after touches by Andrea Gobbi we will be releasing it into the world on …
Japan Tour 2023
Ron and I are so happy to announce that we are touring Japan at the end of May! We were meant to tour there in 2020, but well, we didn’t even get the chance to announce that before you-know-what happened. We will be touring and teaching workshops alongside the amazing Toshi Bodhran from 27th May until the 4th June. We’ve …
NEW – HARP at HOME LIVE 5th Nov 2022
SOMETHING NEW! For the first time I’m going to be hosting HARP at HOME LIVE – a full day of zoom workshops and events on Saturday the 5th of November. I really felt after 4 series of pre-recorded workshops it was time for some workshops where I got to interact with you all more, so I hope you’ll join me …
New album AND video
I’m so pleased to announce the launch of my new album with the Manx Gaelic singer Ruth Keggin. Funded by our wonderful Crowdfunders, Creative Scotland and the Isle of Man Arts Council we recorded it in the beautiful Erin Arts Centre, in the south of the Isle of Man in October 2021. We’ve had some wonderful reviews for it so …
Duo album with Manx Gaelic singer Ruth Keggin available for pre-order NOW!
A wee bit delayed because you-know-what but I’m so pleased (and relieved!) to announce that my new duo album with the amazing Manx Gaelic singer Ruth Keggin is available for pre-order NOW from the Shop page of this website. We launched a crowdfunder last year, so if you signed up for an album (or another reward) in this DON’T PANIC! …
Celtic Connections is on! Yay for in-person gigs!
Folks, we are SO relieved and so excited to let you know that our Celtic Connections in-person GLASGOW gig IS HAPPENING!! Harp n Guitar goodness yeehaaa! We’ll be performing alongside the amazing Iona Fyfe and her band in the Strathclyde Suite of the The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall and we would LOVE to see you there!! Buy your …
*NEW* HARP at HOME Series 4 online now
Series 4 of HARP at HOME – on the Road is online now!! A huge thanks to the Tasgadh Small Arts Fund for their grant allowing me to take this new series “on the road”. In series 4 I introduce you to some special guests in my pre-workshop ramble, giving you insight into my background as a Trad musician in Scotland, …
NEW HARP BOOK!
I’m thrilled to announce my new harp book – JOURNEY with the HARP: FROM HOME is now available now for purchase, both in hard-copy and PDF (instant download) formats. The book is really a result of being stuck at home for a year andmaking the most of having time to revisit old arrangements and finding joy in them and then …
FRONT COVER STAR!
I’m over the moon, and still rather in shock, to announce that I’m the cover star of this months Harp Column magazine!! #2021GoalsMet !! Harp Column is the world’s biggest harp magazine, and whilst it’s usually associated with the pedal harp, I just think it’s wonderful that they’ve chosen to feature several celtic harpists on it’s cover over recent …
NEW ALBUM – Crowdfunder – help us out!
I am SUPER excited to tell you that I am going to be recording a new album with the Manx Gaelic Singer Ruth Keggin! We’ve just launched a Crowdfunder to help fund the recording, and we’d love your support. In return for your pledge we have some wonderful rewards from you AND the crowdfunder is a little bit different as …
The Harp Chakra Podcast
I’m thrilled to be a guest on Jay Michaels “Opening the Harp Chakra” Podcast this week. He plays a few tracks from Ron and I’s album SPARKS and I have a wee blether with him… so nice to chat harp again! Check it out HERE
HARP at HOME Series 3 has begun!
I’m thrilled to tell you that Series 3 of HARP at HOME, my YouTube workshop series has begun. Workshops are free to view via the HARP at HOME tab on this website or via the YouTube channel YouTube.com/harpathome There’s a small £3 charge for the sheetmusic for each workshop, but this helps support me making the workshops, it’s really appreciated …
BBC Reflections at the Quay
I’ve been back filming for the BBC’s “Reflections at the Quay” Sunday morning show again, this time with Ron. It’s the third time I’ve contributed to this show during the pandemic and it’s been wonderful to be given the chance to play music again, even if it was just in front of the small crew at the studios. If you’re …
NOMINATED TUTOR OF THE YEAR 2020 🥳
WOW! I’ve been nominated TUTOR OF THE YEAR at theMG ALBA Scots Trad Awards 2020! You can vote for me HERE And read about my nomination (some Qs they asked me!) HERE It’s been a heck of a year but well this news has really brought a smile to my face. It’s honestly just kept me going being able to …
Blog – WE ACTUALLY HAD A LIVE GIG 👏
So finally, 6 months after our last show in Paeroa, New Zealand, Ron and I finally got to play a LIVE gig, in front of an (online) audience! We were so chuffed that Furness Tradition asked us to a show for them. It’s a festival I’ve played at before in Cumbria, but I knew they also put gigs on throughout …
Harp Ireland HARP DAY 2020 – download the music from the FREE mini workshop
If you took part in the HARP DAY 2020 mini “Carolan Sounds” workshop, as hosted by the amazing Harp Ireland, you can download the full arrangement for “Captain O’Kane” by Turlough O’Carolan by clicking HERE You can watch the workshop again HERE.
Fraser Shaw’s CAOIDH SANDY re-imagined by Rachel Hair
I’m so pleased to be able to share this video with you. I was privileged to have been allowed to work with this beautiful lament, Caoidh Sandy, written by the late Fraser Shaw in memory of his friend Sandy. I re-imaagined it as part of the Fraser Shaw Trust’s re-mix project. 10 musicians were given Fraser’s tunes and asked to …
HARP at HOME – Series 2 coming soon!
I’ve been bowled over with the lovely messages about how much people enjoyed my HARP at HOME online workshop series that I filmed before the summer. I’ve had nearly 5000 views of the workshops and well, that just makes me smile SO I’ve decided to film a 2nd series! The new series will be over 8-weeks and the workshops will …