Cremation of Sam McGee
Sat 9 Feb, 8pm
£16 /£14
There are strange things done in the midnight sun
By the men who moil for gold;
The Arctic trails have their secret tales
That would make your blood run cold;
The Northern Lights have seen queer sights,
But the queerest they ever did see
Was the night on the marge of Lake Lebarge
I cremated Sam McGee.
A brilliantly atmospheric travelogue in music, words and pictures, Christine Hanson’s Sam McGee presentation celebrates both the Scottish birthplace of Yukon poet Robert W. Service and his greatest creation, the irascible, ill-fated and fascinating Sam McGee.
The first half of the evening features a showcase of the individual and collective talents of the Sam McGee ensemble, featuring some of Scotland’s finest traditional musicians drawn from top bands including Blazin’ Fiddles, Shooglenifty and Session A9, culminating with the unique, gravel-voiced Michael Marra fronting the full, eight strong band.
Narrated with conspicuous relish by Michael Marra and with the celebrated Canadian artist Ted Harrison’s beautiful Arctic icescapes projected as a backdrop, The Cremation of Sam McGee is a chilling, enthralling and entertaining work whose music opens a window on deeper themes of friendship, promises made and eventual rebirth.
Michael Marra – Narrator/ Vocals/Multi-instrumentalist
Rick Taylor – Trombone
Kevin Murray – Guitar/Mandolin
Bruce MacGregor - Fiddle
Kevin McGuire – Double Bass
Brian McAlpine – Piano/Accordion
James MackIntosh – Percussion
