Scottish all-female trad band The Poozies play their 'Trad-Punk' music live at Kitchen Garden Cafe.
The Poozies play Kitchen Garden Cafe on Thursday 5 November, their first Birmingham date in a while. They're a Scottish all-female trad band formed in 1990, and they've spent more than three decades at the forefront of the wave that shook up traditional Scots and Gaelic music back in the nineties. They've toured worldwide and built their name on eclectic material, unusual arrangements and striking vocal harmonies, with founding member Mary Macmaster's electro-harp anchoring the sound alongside twin fiddles and guitar.
The line-up for the night brings that core together: Macmaster on electro-harp, Eilidh Shaw and Sarah McFadyen on twin fiddles, and Mike Bryan on guitar. In 2023 they added rhythm maestro Donald Hay on drums, and critics have dubbed the resulting sound 'Trad-Punk' — a mischievous mix of musical mayhem and spellbinding instrumentals. Sue Wilson of Celtic Connections described them as 'alive with dynamic gear changes, tempos, moods and winsome catchiness', while Jon Bennet of folking.com called them 'unencumbered by conventional folk idioms'.
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It's a long-running outfit, and that history comes through in the set. The electro-harp gives the whole thing a distinct edge, and the twin fiddles provide the melodic lift, all held together by the rhythm section. Between the vocal harmonies and the instrumental runs, it's a wide-ranging night that doesn't stick to one gear. The Kitchen Garden Cafe is at 17 York Rd, and the music starts at 7:30 PM; tickets are £24.20.
