New Song and Video - Remembering the Fallen.

 

 

Jimi Features In New Book About Edinburgh.

 A picture of Jimi on his old 'chopper' motorcycle features in a new book about Edinburgh in the 1970s and 1980s.

Just one minor issue - the image was captured in 1993!

"Fun to learn a pic of my old 'chopper' motorcycle and myself feature in a new book about life in Edinburgh in the 1970s and 80s" said Jimi.

 

"Only one small, wee problem. The pic was taken in 1993, not 1988"

 

The summer of 1993 was the first and only year Jimi ever busked with his 'chop'.

The bike was destroyed in a serious road accident shortly afterwards.

"Looks like an interesting book, though" added Jimi.

" It features some fascinating images captured by photographer Douglas Corrance. I hope the rest of his pics are dated correctly."

Slainte!

https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/history/gallery/incredible-images-edinburgh-1970s-1980s-27862113

 

 

A few pics of Jimi's motorcycle adventures around Scotland this year.

 Jimi's Suzuki Bandit 1200cc motorcycle passed its annual MOT test with flying colours on September 25, much to Jimi's relief.

Just incase you don't know, the MOT test is an annual test of vehicle safety, roadworthiness and exhaust emissions required in the United Kingdom for most vehicles over three years old. Jimi's Bandit. a GSF 1200 SK5 model is almost 20 years old.

"A couple of minor issues were needing resolved before the bike was ready but nothing a few hours on the tools over the weekend couldn't fix" said Jimi.

Almost 5,000 miles have been added to the clock since Jimi brought the Bandit back onto the road in early April after a winter re-build and  service. 

Jimi wishes he'd had time to cover more miles, and visit more friends, but a busy year of overseas gigs and musical tours in far-flung, fascinating places meant it was not to be. Maybe next year.

"Hopefully we still have a few weeks of decent biking conditions before the weather changes" added Jimi.

"I have a lot happening musically in October, November and December but it would be nice to manage at least one or two nights beside a campfire in the Highlands before the year is out"

Happy trails folks,

Slainte! 

'The Festival of Ancient Cities' in Ryazan, Central Russia. Glad to be there!

It was an absolute honour to be invited to perform at the 'Festival of Ancient Cities' in the city of Ryazan, central Russia, during the last weekend in August.
Other artists and bands appearing included performers from South America, France, Turkey, African, China, the Middle East, Caucasus nations, Russia and more. Great to be there and grand to meet up with so many good people and friends. 

It was a real privilege to be introduced as 'Jimi McRae, piper from the ancient Celtic citadel of Dunedin' (Dunedin is, of course, the old Gaelic name for Edinburgh)
In surviving historical accounts, the first written mention of Edinburgh is actually in Welsh, not Gaelic, as Din Eidyn, meaning the hillfort of Eidyn. The city features prominently in the epic Welsh poem 'Y Gododdin' written sometime between the 5th and 7th Century AD.
The Gaelicization of the name into Dunedin came a bit later. However, I was (and still am) extremely happy and proud to be associated with it.
 

Perhaps the singular personal highlight of the trip was a visit to the remains of 'Old Ryazan', some 50km east of modern Ryazan.
Old Ryazan was besieged and completely razed to the ground during the first Mongol invasion in 1237. The entire population was slaughtered after resisting and refusing to submit to Mongol rule. The city was subsequently moved to its present location and officially named as Ryazan by order of Catherine the Great in 1778. Currently less than 10 per cent of Old Ryazan has been properly excavated.
It was great to meet the chief archeologist responsible for studying Old Ryazan and later also admire first hand some of the incredible artifacts unearthed by his team which were on show at an excellent museum in modern Ryazan.
 

As stated before, In the current international situation I do understand that my visits to Russia may be seen as controversial. However I firmly believe that music, personal contact and reminders of our shared humanity can be a force for good in troubled times. I am no politician. I am a piper and musician. In my younger years I studied the Eastern Front campaign of WW2. (The Great Patriotic War as it is called in Russia) Throughout my entire adult life I have been aware of the enormous sacrifice made by ordinary Russian people in the struggle to defeat Nazism in Europe. I regard it as an honour and privilege to be able to visit Russia in my 'late middle age' and to say 'thank you' in person.
 

The citizens of Ryazan region turned out in great numbers to support our shows. I had an absolutely brilliant time making many new friends. Once again the Russian people were just lovely. We were all made to feel so welcome and I shook hands everywhere, wore my kilt proudly, wandered the streets freely and never once felt threatened or intimidated. 

Have to say that, yet again, I never saw anyone resembling an 'Orc' either. (sic) Everyone looked fit and healthy, the younger generation especially so.. The shops were full and everywhere you looked construction projects were forging ahead, often seven day a week.
Another immensely enjoyable visit to Russia. Hopefully I will be back for many more.
Slainte Mhor!