Rachel Groves, with Gregory Black

Stockbridge Church, 3/07/2026

 Rachel Groves, with Gregory Black

 As people drifted in for this lunchtime concert in the spacious Stockbridge Church, the sight of a full drum kit on the stage they might have immediately led to thoughts about the balance of sound and sonic space, given that the main instrument on the bill was the clarsach, the Celtic lever-harp not known for its volume. However, the opening pair of reels set the audience’s mind at rest, as Gregory Black’s deft percussive contribution proved to be a perfect, albeit unexpected foil. A meditative piece, ‘Mr Ballantine’s’, was coloured by judiciously chosen cymbal splashes and a gentle pulse from the bodhran. Next up were a Gaelic air and a lively Irish reel which settled into a relaxed groove supported by an inventive bassline as Groves exploited the full range of the harp.

The emphasis of the set was on instrumental music although Groves contributed one song, the well-known ‘Bonnie Ship the Diamond’, a nod to her Aberdeenshire upbringing. She should sing more. One area she is certainly covering is composition as she demonstrated with two movements from a piece for harp and string trio, inspired by that oasis, Dr Neil’s Garden in Duddingston. This might best be described as a ‘prentice piece’, however, a later piece, a lively, inventive homage to a favourite Mary Oliver poem proved more successful.

The standout number for me was ‘Hector the Hero’, Scott Skinner’s classic tribute to the ill-starred Victorian war hero, Sir Hector Macdonald. The arrangement featured some nice, crunchy harmonies which created a slightly unsettling mood, perhaps reflecting Macdonald’s troubled life.

This was a well-balanced concert, showing no little technical skill and plenty of musicality from both players. I came away with the thought that Rachel Groves, the current BBC Young Traditional Musician of the Year, is a serious artist in the early stages of revealing her creative powers.