Ed Miller (Special Event)

Originally from Edinburgh, Scotland, ED MILLER has been based in Austin, Texas for the 2nd half of his life. He is one of the finest singing products of the Scottish folk revival, having progressed from folk clubs and bars in Edinburgh to being in great demand throughout North America. At the University of Texas, he completed a Ph.D. in Folklore in the 1980s; but has since graduated to taking his songs, stories and droll humor to festivals, clubs, concerts, Highland Games and schools all over the country. When in Austin, he hosts the ?Folkways? show on KUT-FM, a program that has become required listening for Central Texas folk music lovers. In recent years, he has expanded his activities into leading music-oriented tours of his native land; and he has also established a reputation as a fine teacher at events like the Swannanoa Gathering in N.C., Alasdair Fraser?s Valley of the Moon Fiddle Camp, and the Rocky Mountain Fiddle Camp. In his classes, Miller puts the Scottish folksong revival in perspective, following the whole process from traditional source singers to contemporary songwriters to show how this revival has been crucial in the flowering of Scottish cultural identity. ?Learn about Scotland through song? is his basic theme.In the summer of 2003, he was honored by being selected to be a presenter and performer at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the Mall in Washington DC, where Scotland was the featured country, and where over a million people got a taste of his homeland. If you are looking for nostalgic, Brigadoonish schlock, this is not your man; but if you like good songs sung well, with a healthy mixture of realism and humor, don?t miss this wonderful singer. Miller?s repertoire covers the whole spectrum of Scottish folksong, from old ballads and Robert Burns songs to the more recent compositions of 20th century songwriters, from Adam McNaughtan to Brian McNeill. He has 7 CD?s to his credit, including the most recent and highly-acclaimed ?Never Frae My Mind? All these recordings exemplify his skill in picking good songs, and showcase a voice ?as strong and satisfying as a good single malt whisky.? Be prepared to join in the choruses !