family band & more--professional & lively... performances/lessons/workshops/schools
updated 5/11/08
Join our email list (be sure to let us know where you're located). Seasonal emails include info about shows, special announcements such as when our new CD is coming out, and about our summer camps. See video clip from 2005--
The fresh & exciting dance and music of Highland Soles are rooted in the traditions of Scotland and Cape Breton, with a good dose of innovation. Dancer Laura Scott ("a showstopper"--Boston Globe) and fiddler Ed Pearlman (one of America's top fiddlers in the Scottish style) are joined by virtuoso family members on mandolin, piano, fiddle, and dance. Laura & Ed have worked with many of today's top Celtic artists over the past 25 years.
Based in Maine, the band presents high-flying Highland dance, hard-hitting Cape Breton stepdance, feisty Scottish Highland folk dances and new choreographies with compelling music, both traditional and original.
Available for concerts, functions, festivals, dances, demonstrations, schools.
Questions about performances or workshops? Use our response form or email us--we look forward to hearing from you!
Click to enlarge--Sat. May 24 -- Ed & Neil's new CD release in Portland
Click to enlarge--June 7 Highland Soles show at the Saco River Grange in Bar Mills, Maine
Ed at Center for Cultural Exchange; click to see larger image.
"Good luck with the release of the new CD...Boston Hospitality is one of most beautiful Scottish music recordings I have
(and that is saying something as I have a *lot*). --D.Walden 3/18/08
"That alone was worth the price of admission." Audience member after Highland Soles show, Maine Highland Games, 8/18/07.
"It was magic." Louise Dunphy, Celtic radio DJ, Northampton Mass. after Ed & Neil's show at Iron Horse basement 8/9/07
"I just returned from fiddle camp in Tennessee. I was struck by how much more I knew about the fiddle and about music in general than the other campers who had been playing for a similar period of time. I attribute much of that to your teaching. Practice rules, but it helps to have good tutelage." Jack McG.
"Highland Soles participated in our physical activity day...their presence was a huge hit! Laura wore traditional dress and her accomplished skills were wonderful for everyone to observe. Adding to the beauty of the experience was the music provided by Ed on his fiddle. The music got the kids in the true spirit of the dance and they were exercising without even realizing it!" Bernadette Papi, Kaler elementary school, 4/07.
"Spectacular!" "That was a real class act." "Best show I've seen for a long time." "Laura is a true dancer in every sense of the word." --some comments from 11/18/06 show.
Our 6/10/06 concert was selected by the New York Times as the only weekend music event listed for the Portland area in the Friday "Datebook," a page which recommends selected events in Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Boston, Providence, Hartford and Portland.
"Everyone was very impressed with Ed - both his teaching and his playing - and he certainly taught me more about how to use a bow in 20 minutes than I was able to teach myself in 5 years." student at Blazin in Beauly, Scotland 10/05
"There's one word for what you & your family do: spectacular." 5/21/05 concert
"You blew us away, on so many levels." 3/17/05 concert
"You are all a joy to hear and watch! Such a variety & combination of talents is amazing. We are so happy to have been a part of the enthusiastic audience. Thank you for a wonderful evening." --P. & K. Hannah 3-17-05
Laura Scott is a "spectacularly nimble and graceful performer" (Washington Post); "a showstopper . . . enchanting, graceful and high-twirling" (Boston Globe)
About Ed's solo album Boston Hospitality: "milestone album for the Boston Celtic community" (Boston Globe), "precious artistic jewel" (TACTalk).
"The hit of the Scottish evening was Portland's HIGHLAND SOLES, whose impeccable traditional musicianship and genial stage presence, allied to thrilling dance numbers (and dizzying costume changes!) brought the audience to its feet." (The Franklin Journal)
---Ed has invented a very cool device for all fiddlers to figure out the right fingering in all keys. It's called the Finger Finder --now available through Shar Music.
Private lessons available any time at Buckdancers and the Portland Conservatory. Also view Ed's teaching website.
Beginning Fiddle class -- for those who haven't touched a fiddle/violin. Wednesdays, 5:15pm.
Advanced Beginners -- continuing from beginning class or for those who have played a bit of fiddle/violin before. Tuesdays, 6:45pm.
Tune Learning & Sessions -- for all instruments & ages (intermediate/advanced levels). Learn a tune each time, build a repertoire with others. Wednesdays, 6:45pm.
Tunes for Teens -- intermediate/advanced ages 11-17.
Tunes for Kids -- advanced beginners ages 7-12.
DANCE CLASSES For info about joining classes, contact Laura using our response form below. Classes at Portland New Church and Willaston West Church--you can join classes throughout the year.
Class for 4- and 5-year-olds
Beginning and Intermediate Highland
Cape Breton Stepdance all ages
Teen Social Dances -- a blast & a workout for teens, with lively music! Six-week sessions.
Spring--CD release concerts (Neil & Ed) at Iron Horse, Downeast Folk Festival, Hooker-Dunham Theater with Jerry Holland; Boston Highland Ball (Boston Hospitality), Chocolate Church and Lewiston concerts for ME Fiddle Camp. Winter 2008--Ed & Neil gigs at Blue, Dogfish, Conservatory solo concert at Woodfords Church, Two Echo in Brunswick; Highland Soles at DEFFA in performance, and Laura step dance workshop; Highland Soles Burns dinner, Hampstead NH, Burns celebration at North Star in Portland, school programs at Levey Day School.
Fall--Concert for Jerry Holland at BU, Boston; Boston Hospitality CD release party; Contra dance benefit for Portland Ballet; gig with singer Carolyn Currie.
Summer--Blue performance; Meet the Instruments music camp for kids; Ohio Scottish Arts School at Oberlin OH, Ed's 13th season, teaching this time with Carl MacKenzie and Mike Vass; Laura's Scottish dance camp; Ed with singer Carolyn Currie; Ed & Neil at Iron Horse basement venue; Highland Soles at ceilidh in central Maine; Highland Soles at Clan MacGillivray annual banquet; Ed teaches at Maine Fiddle Camp; Highland Soles at Maine Highland Games.
Spring--Portland Stage show of Laura Scott's Highland/modern choreographies; Highland Soles 5th annual show at Saco River Grange; Ed at Boston Scottish Fiddle Club; Chocolate Church and Franco-American Lewiston shows with Maine Fiddlers; Highland Soles school program near Worcester MA; Boston Scottish Fiddle Club workshops; Highland Soles performance and Laura Scott workshop at Downeast Folk Festival; Neil plays with Frank Ferrel at Blue; Ed & Neil at Franco-American Heritage Center in Lewiston for Maine Fiddlers concert; Laura & Lilly perform for Slowfood Fiddlefest; spring ceilidh.
Winter 2007--Burns dinner NH, Kaler school program South Portland, Gorham library program; judging/workshop/performance at NE Florida Scottish Games.
Fall-- Sold-out show at Dover-Foxcroft's new Center Theatre; pre-curtain lecture/demo before Leahy concert at Merrill Auditorium, Portland; Punkinfiddle festival; Ed & Neil play at Blue; Noonday concert with Scottish, jazz and international music; Ed played Scottish dance at Concord Scout House; Fiddle Club workshops and performance; Portland City Hall chanukah party; PCM holiday concert; Bates contra dance.
Summer-- August dance camp was great; Ed judged 31st US National Scottish Fiddle Championships; taught at Ohio Scottish Arts School for 12th summer, this time with Carl MacKenzie of Cape Breton and Anna-Wendy Stevenson of Scotland. Ed & Neil & Lilly perform at Blue. Fiddle camp for kids.
Spring--4th annual Highland Soles concert at Saco River Grange plays to full house; house concert in Brunswick, seniors concert, PCM faculty concert, Highland Soles spring ceilidh, Roaring Jelly 35th anniversary dance.
Winter 2006--Second annual St Pats concert by Highland Soles at St Lawrence Arts Center, Portland, followed by sold-out show for families. Burns celebration by Highland Soles and local poets, at Casco Bay Books/Coffee & Tea in the Old Port. Burns dinner performance in New Hampshire. Ed gave pre-curtain lecture before Natalie MacMaster's sold-out show at Merrill Auditorium, Portland. Ed guest leader and performer for March Boston Scottish Fiddle Club. Ed & Neil perform at Blue in Portland. Winter ceilidh.
2005-- Highland Soles shows at UMaine Farmington, St Lawrence Arts Center, Saco River Grange, Center for Cultural Exchange, Johnny D's (Boston), Cape Breton house parties; Ed taught & performed in Scotland at the Blazin Fiddles camp near Inverness; Noonday concert downtown Portland including Scottish, jazz, klezmer & Danish music; Laura performed with Angel Band at Saco River Grange; seasonal Highland Soles ceilidhs; Highland Soles performance/demo at Portland Public Libary; Boston Scottish Fiddle Club workshops & performances by Ed; performance at Portland City Hall chanukah party; Ed & Neil in Latin band for summer.
Laura Scott and Edward Scott Pearlman are experienced teachers and judges as well as performers.
Laura has performed with Natalie MacMaster, Alasdair Fraser, Battlefield Band, Joe Cormier, Tony Cuffe and many other great Celtic artists. As a teacher she is well grounded in tradition (member of the British Association of Teachers of Dancing, and on the Judges Panel of the Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing) but also loves to push the artistic envelope and meld Highland, Cape Breton step and Highland folk to reflect the vital pulse of Scottish music. She has presented school programs, and taught at dance and music camps such as Pinewoods, Valley of the Moon, Ashokan, and others, in addition to her own school.
Ed has performed many styles of music, but has specialized in Scottish/Cape Breton fiddling for 25 years. He directed the Boston Scottish Fiddle Club for 18 years, and has taught many workshops and lessons, including Maine Fiddle Camp and the Blazin Fiddles camp in Beauly, Scotland. He teaches fiddle in Portland Maine at the Portland Conservatory of Music and at Buckdancer's Choice; and has taught and coordinated a Scottish/Cape Breton fiddle course at the Ohio Scottish Arts School at Oberlin since 1995. He directed and performed in Boston's Celtic Festival at the Hatch Shell for 7 years, the Scottish Fiddle Rally in Boston for 15 years (CD available on Greentrax Recordings), judged many Scottish fiddle competitions (including four US Nationals) and led workshops throughout the USA and in Canada and Scotland. Ed has also played contra dances (directing Roaring Jelly for 3 years), swing jazz, classical concerts and pit orchestras, klezmer, Hungarian, and other dance music. He writes the music column for Scottish Life magazine.
