NEIL ADAM AND JUDY TURNER - BIOGRAPHY
Judy started The Melbourne Scottish Fiddle Club in 1995. Here they are playing two of Judy's original tunes live at The Australian National Folk Festival, Canberra, 2018.
Neil introduces and sings his song 'Homecoming'
Neil sings The Lea Rig, a Burns song, with the Fiddle Club at Hawthorn Town Hall in Melbourne, Victoria, with Jess Foot playing Cor Anglais. String arrangement and fiddle solo by Judy.
BIOGRAPHY
Neil Adam and Judy Turner have been a force in the Australian folk world for 25 years. Before that, their histories included playing in seminal bands such as Silly Wizard in Scotland (N) and renowned Australian bands Captain Moonlight and Paradiddle (J). Over the years, they have performed in Australia, New Zealand and UK as a duo, established and for 20 years ran the ground breaking multi-award winning community ‘super-group’ The Melbourne Scottish Fiddle Club, made a dozen albums, and for some years led a family band. They have performed at many folk festivals across Australia. Their songs have featured on ABC National Radio, and they are included in Macca’s collection of his favourite tracks from 20 years of his show. (For non-Australian readers, Macca's 'Australia All Over' national radio show is Australia's biggest audience radio show). Recent ventures include more Fiddle Club CDs, a recording with The Homegrown Quartet of Judy's music, the publication of a book of her original tunes, and a compilation album called Collaborations, made up of 20 tracks from their extensive back catalogue together, made in collaboration with artists from Australia, UK and Spain.
The Robert Louis Stevenson Show first saw the light of day in 2014, and has been well received by audiences in Australia, New Zealand, Samoa and the U.K. at music venues, book festivals, libraries and other venues including Stevenson's homes in Samoa and Edinburgh. The show has toured in UK every year since 2014, most recently in a sell-out two week season at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2019. Neil and Judy also recently returned to Samoa to play at the 25th. anniversary celebrations of the opening of the Stevenson home Vailima as a museum.
DISCOGRAPHY
REVIEWS
“A highlight of the festival was the stunning and dynamic collaboration between master guitarist Neil Adam and fiddler extraordinaire Judy Turner… as a duo they held the audience spellbound.” Dave McFarlane, Coordinator Dandenong Ranges Music Festival
“People shouldn’t be allowed to be that good” Jamie McKew Director, Port Fairy Folk Festival
“Neil Adam sings like an angel and Judy Turner plays the fiddle like a demon” Verona Burgess, Canberra Times
"World class! Judy produces the most beautiful violin tone you are ever likely to hear. Neil has a unique DADGAD style and what a great player! I loved Neil's well crafted songs about everyday events and people he has met.” New Zealand Folk Review, after Canterbury Festival
"Neil Adam is a major Australian talent.. these lyrics have the concentration of fine poetry" Bruce Gillespie , The Melburnian
"Great music and great musicianship that stands up to any international comparison" Tykes News, UK folk music magazine
“A fabulous CD … faultless from beginning to end . . . consumate artistry . . .hair-raisingly powerful . . . an outstanding album” Infocus Magazine, Adelaide
“Intelligent songs and rich, lyrical fiddling” - Folk Roots Magazine, UK
“I was captivated by Neil’s singing style and his fresh view of…. Australian life… Judy provides subtle complimentary accompaniments and has contributed a lovely air… a soothing interlude in the midst of sometimes funny, sometimes hair raising story telling” Cornstalk Gazette, N.S.W.
“Performers on the edge of great things…..fine songwriting…this CD rewards the listener with musicianship and charm. We will doubtless hear more…..My Australian Album of the Year” Graham McDonald, Canberra Times about Telling Tales
TOURS
2019 . Edinburgh Fringe Season - sell-out : Samoa and New Zealand.
2018 New Zealand, Samoa, Scotland - Sing Me A Song
2017 U.K – Sing Me A Song
2015 Scotland - Melbourne Scottish Fiddle Club
2014 U.K.- Sing Me A Song
2012 Victoria – Melbourne Scottish Fiddle Club
2010 NSW - Melbourne Scottish Fiddle Club
2009 New Zealand – duo
2008 Tasmania - Melbourne Scottish Fiddle Club
2007 New Zealand – New Dogs Old Tricks
2005 New Zealand - Melbourne Scottish Fiddle Club
2003 New Zealand – trio
SHOWS– a selection from the many festivals, music venues, literary and book festivals, book shops, public libraries and museums.
A bit of history:
Neil sings his song 'Yellow Shoes' solo at Georgetown Festival, Tasmania in 1997
Apollo Bay Music Festival, Victoria, Australia
Benbecula Public Library, UK
Brunswick Music Festival, Victoria
Canterbury Folk Festival, New Zealand
Carlisle Book Festival, UK
Cygnet Folk Festival, Tasmania
Dandenong Ranges Music Festival, Victoria
Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Edinburgh
Fairbridge Folk Festival, West Australia
Georgetown Folk Festival, Tasmania
Geelong Celtic Festival, Victoria
Illawarra Folk Festival, NSW
Jamberoo (NSW) Folk Festival, NSW
Kiama Australian Music Festival, NSW
Major’s Creek Music Festival, ACT
Maldon Folk Festival, Victoria
Melbourne Folk Club, Victoria
Maleny Winter Celtic School, Queensland
National Celtic Festival, Victoria
National Folk Festival. ACT
Fairfield House Museum, Nelson, NZ
Newstead Live! Victoria
North Berwick Public Library, UK
Port Fairy Folk Festival, Victoria
Queenscliff Music Festival, Victoria
Ringwood Folk Club, Victoria
Scottish Storytelling Festival, Edinburgh
Scots Club, Christchurch, New Zealand
Stornaway Museum nan Eilean Uist & Barra, Lewis, UK
Entertainment at Australian Grand Prix
Te Awamutu Public Library. New Zealand
The Boite Music Club, Melbourne
Troubadour Music Festival, Victoria
Ulverston Coronation Hall, UK
Victor Harbour Folk Festival. South Australia
Vailima Stevenson Museum, Samoa
Wellington Folk Festival, New Zealand
Wellington Music Club, New Zealand
Whare Flat Folk Festival, New Zealand
Wigtown Book Festival, UK
Woodford Folk Festival, QLD
Collaboration with Chris Stone and Holly Downes, Newstead Music Festival
