10th Jul 2012
LET THE HAAR STUMBLE IN ON TRUMP GOLF LINKS
Today, July 10th 2012, as the nation’s press and political dignitaries assemble for the official opening of the controversial Trump International Golf Links in Aberdeenshire (minus Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond, who has, apparently, been snubbed!), not everyone will be hoping for a cloud break in this most dreich of Scottish summers.
I open my forthcoming new album Traces (released August 13th, 2012) with a song called Cover Your Eyes, a meditative and poignant "protest" of sorts against Trump's executive golf development. It imagines a kind of meteorological retribution where environmental justice, political sense and human decency have otherwise totally failed. And the (all too familiar these days) North Sea haar is the protagonist.
The tide still ebbs and flows where the Ythan meets the ocean
Not even God himself could stop the northerlies from blowing
You can tear these dunes asunder, pound this wonder into dust
With your cruel hands and crooked hearts,
Laden with list and expensive lies
But the haar will stumble in to cover your eyes
The haar will stumble in
Cover Your Eyes – Karine Polwart/Steven Polwart
I wrote Cover Your Eyes in response to You’ve Been Trumped, Anthony Baxter’s critically acclaimed documentary expose of the coastal golf course development, which screens this month at cinemas across Scotland and the wider UK to coincide with the official opening of the new Trump International course.
I was outraged by the film on so many levels. Trump’s claim to have preserved and improved the dynamic dune
system on which the course is built by “stabilising” it is, to me, the worst kind of
human disregard for our natural environment. Utter hubris.
The Trump International Development encompasses the Balmedie Dune System, which was hitherto a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and is now lost forever.
But it’s the personal stories of the local Menie Estate residents caught at the heart of the golf links development, told with respect and wit in Anthony Baxter's film, which inspired me most. I wanted to offer a gesture of support to the dignified local people who’ve refused to be intimidated or bought out by the Trump Corporation, and to make a statement that their stories, memories, and deep personal connections with the place they call home really do matter in twenty first century Scotland.
Cover Your
Eyes struck such a chord with You’ve
Been Trumped director Anthony Baxter that it’s now been incorporated into
the end credits of the film itself.
You’ve Been Trumped screens this week in the home of golf itself, St Andrews (New Picture House) and today I'm hoping the mist and rain holds out on the exposed Aberdeenshire coast and the North Sea itself shows Mr Trump exactly who’s boss.
21st Jun 2013
SOLAS FESTIVAL
Solas Festival
The Bield At Blackruthven
Tibbermore
Perth
PH1 1PY
WEB:
www.solasfestival.co.uk/2013/02/headliner-karine-polwart/
23rd Jun 2013
THE INSIDER FESTIVAL
The Insider Festival
Inshriach
Aviemore
Scotland
WEB:
http://www.insiderfestival.com
29th Jun 2013
ISLE OF GIGHA MUSIC FESTIVAL
GIGHA VILLAGE HALL, Hebrides
PHONE: 01583 505160
WEB:
www.gigha.org.uk
12th Jul 2013
ELY FOLK FESTIVAL
Ely, Cambridgeshire.
WEB:
www.elyfolkfestival.co.uk/2013artistPage.asp?nid=6724
13th Jul 2013
ELY FOLK FESTIVAL
Ely, Cambridgeshire
WEB:
www.elyfolkfestival.co.uk/2013artistPage.asp?nid=6724
20th Jul 2013
HEBRIDEAN CELTIC FESTIVAL
Heb Celt Festival
Stornoway
Isle Of Lewis
Scotland
WEB:
www.hebceltfest.com/festival/artists/karine.php
16th Aug 2013
STOWED OUT 2013
Stow
Near Edinburgh
WEB:
http://www.soundout.org.uk/stowed-out-2013/tickets/
17th Aug 2013
EDINBURGH QUEENS HALL** FRINGE SHOW**
85-89 Clerk St
Edinburgh
EH8 9JG
PHONE: 0131 668 2019
WEB:
www.edfringe.com/whats-on/music/karine-polwart
24th Aug 2013
PURBECK FOLK FESTIVAL
Langton Matravers
near Swanage
BH19 3DU
PHONE: 023 8071 1818
WEB:
www.purbeckfolk.co.uk/index.html
25th Aug 2013
FOLKEAST FESTIVAL
Woodbridge
Suffolk
WEB:
www.folkeast.co.uk/karine-polwart/
21st Sep 2013
PIPEFEST - LANCASTER - Solo Gig
Lancaster University Chaplaincy Centre
PHONE: 01524 414 043
WEB:
www.imageacoustic.com/index.php/pipefest-2013/
12th Oct 2013
LONDON ST JAMES CHURCH
St James Church
157 Piccadilly
London
W1J 9LL
PHONE: 020 7734 4511
WEB:
www.sjp.org.uk/index.html
13th Oct 2013
KESWICK
Theatre By The Lake
Lakeside
Keswick
Cumbria
CA12 5DJ
PHONE: 017687 74411
WEB:
http://www.theatrebythelake.com/production/10746/2013-Karine-Polwart
18th Oct 2013
LERWICK THE MAREEL
The Mareel
Lerwick
Shetland
ZE1 0WQ
PHONE: 01595 745555
WEB:
www.mareel.org/listen/events/karine-polwart/#.UZ32F7-1L8t
25th Oct 2013
PERTHSHIRE AMBER FESTIVAL
Caledonia Hall
Edradour Distillery
Pitlochry
PHONE: 01350 724261
WEB:
www.perthshireamber.com/index.php/tickets/buy/evening-concerts/friday-25th-october-caledonia-hall-detail
26th Oct 2013
PERTHSHIRE AMBER FESTIVAL
Wee Festival Hall
Upstairs at Amber Central
Dunkeld
PHONE: 01350 724 261
WEB:
www.perthshireamber.com/index.php/tickets/buy/workshops-talks-demos/saturday-26th-october-come-and-enjoy-the-songmakers-detail
27th Oct 2013
PERTHSHIRE AMBER FESTIVAL
Castle Menzies
Weem
Aberfeldy
PH15 2JD
PHONE: 01350 724261
WEB:
www.perthshireamber.com/index.php/tickets/buy/amber-afternoon-concerts/sunday-27th-october-castle-menzies-detail
7th Nov 2013
EXETER PHOENIX
Exeter Phoenix
Bradninch Place
Gandy Street
Exeter
Devon
EX4 3LS
PHONE: 01392 667080
WEB:
www.exeterphoenix.org.uk/events/karine-polwart/
8th Nov 2013
GLOUCESTER GUILDHALL
23 Eastgate Street
Gloucester
GL1 1NS
PHONE: 01452 503 050
WEB:
www.gloucester.gov.uk/Freetime/Guildhall/listings/music/KarinePolwart.aspx