The first tune "McGoldrick's" was written by Michael McGoldrick, and the second tune "Cavers of Kirkcudbright" was written by Mike Vass. Arrangement by Ben Robertson.

Filmed by @PeterSimmonds.Simmo7ts

This is song I first heard sung by a friend at a Christmas house party several years ago. I then found the Christy Moore version, listened to the original recording by The Handsome Family, and much later discovered that it was recorded by Phoebe Bridgers on her Christmas EP "So Much Wine". It's a tragic but beautiful song which I've wanted to record for a while. My arrangement uses the tuning CGCGCE, which is very similar to the tuning I used for last Christmas's video - Snow Falls in CGCGCD. There's just something about C tunings that feel festive to me!

A lovely tune written by Ian Stephenson. Featuring the wonderful Awen Blandford of the Bethlehem Casuals, the Rowan Trio, and many other ensembles. Hope you enjoy!

Filmed by @PeterSimmonds.Simmo7ts

Farewell to the Gold - Written by Paul Metsers Amidst this chaos currently unfolding, Ben and I had a gig cancelled that we were supposed to be doing together. This was the song we had planned for the 'encore', so we thought we would record a collaboration video of it and share it with those who had bought tickets. It's a good chorus song, so singing along IS encouraged!!

Filmed by @PeterSimmonds.Simmo7ts

Filmed by @PeterSimmonds.Simmo7ts

This is a set of two tunes - the first, Drakskeppet, is composed by Mikael Marin from the popular Swedish folk band Väsen. The second is a traditional Swedish tune called Lill-Mats Polska (Little Mats Polska) which I heard from the folk rock band Garmarna on their self titled album. Performed at Chester Folk Festival 2023, and recorded by @PeterSimmonds.Simmo7ts

The Crow on the Cradle was written by Sydney Carter during the height of cold war tensions. In this video I'm performing the Phil Beer/Show of Hands arrangement, which features one verse of Find the Cost of Freedom by Crosby, Stills & Nash at the very end. It's such a good arrangement I didn't want to change it for no reason! Performed at Chester Folk Festival 2023, filmed by @PeterSimmonds.Simmo7ts

This is a lovely tune written by Joan McDonald Boes, a Cape Breton musician and composer. I first heard it in a session in Ullapool played by Mairearad Green back in October 2019, and arranged it for guitar as soon as I got home! This is a live video from a concert in November 2021, "A Trilogy of Folk", organised by Chester Folk Festival (https://www.chesterfolk.org.uk). The concert line-up was myself, Phoebe Rees (https://phoeberees.co.uk), and Kate McCullough (https://www.katemccullough.co.uk). Thanks Fluff Smith and Chris Lee for the video!

A cover of King of Bohemia, one of my favourite Richard Thompson songs. Performed at Chester Folk Festival 2023, and filmed by @PeterSimmonds.Simmo7ts

Kirkwaltzen (translates as Church Waltz) is a traditional Swedish waltz which I heard from the playing of Bev Whelan during an online Zoom tune session in the midst of the covid-19 pandemic. Performed at Chester Folk Festival 2023, and filmed by @PeterSimmonds.Simmo7ts

Here's a little set of tunes me and Phoebe Rees (www.phoeberees.co.uk) have been working on recently. The first tune, The Ship in Full Sail, is a jig I've known most of my life from a Full House recording on their album Spaciously Deceptive. The second, The Pattern Day, is a tune I heard only recently, recorded by Daimh on The Hebridean Sessions. And finally the last tune, The Ashplant, is just one of those melodies that pops up in sessions everywhere, no idea where I first heard it! Thanks to Phoebe Rees for her fabulous fiddle playing in this collaboration, it was a pleasure! My website: www.benrobertsonmusic.co.uk My facebook page: www.facebook.com/BenRobertsonMusic Phoebe's website: www.phoeberees.co.uk Phoebe's facebook page: www.facebook.com/PhoebeReesMusic

Fluff Smith very kindly offered this tune of hers for me to arrange on guitar. Originally written for fiddle, Fluff composed the tune to convey her feelings about leaving Glastonbury festival. It's a beautiful tune, and I'm very happy to be playing it.

Yesterday me and the fantastic Phoebe Rees ( https://phoeberees.co.uk/ ) debuted our latest collaboration at The Raven Folk Club Online. Here it is in case you missed it! It's a set of two tunes - Tingler's Jig, and a reel called Morgawr. If you listen on speakers/headphones with good bass/low end, you'll hear my octave pedal and stomp pedal coming in throughout the piece. Visit my website: www.benrobertsonmusic.co.uk and on facebook: www.facebook.com/BenRobertsonMusic