Findlay Napier wrote California after the first visit to the Real Bothy. The song was inspired by a picture of a Bothy called California. 

California V4 - Findlay Napier

Inspired by a conversation in the Real Bothy exhibition in Glenrothes.

Ian went down the Rothes Pit with his dad aged 13. They were the only ones down there. They changed the light bulbs in the machine hall. Just the two of them at the top of a crane. Health and Safety be damned!

Down The Rothes Colliery. Findlay Napier.

Inspired by writing on the wall of the bothy about Coffin Roads. Various myths and legends about the Coffin (or Corpse) Roads have been incorporated into the song.

A 'sex changed' version of Jenny Burn Tail. I've made this one to be sung from a woman's point of view. It's a kind of Jolene type song except in this case Jolene is a magical light that predicts someones death.

Jenny Burn Tail V4: Findlay Napier

There are many references to the brutality of the Lochgelly Belt in the Real Bothy... and the display model which is about four feet long.

This is sung from the point of view of a sadistic teacher and incorporates a couple of stories told to me by teachers.

The Lochgelly Belt: Findlay Napier

The 100% Real Bothy project invites the public to engage with artwork and animation, and to share their own stories and life experiences within the ‘Bothy’ installation space, created by three artists.  

100% Real Bothy Project is being extended to include a new traditional music element and develop a tour of new work inspired by the Bothy Stories gathered in communities across Fife. 

Bothy Ballads has commissioned three songwriters (Findlay Napier, Mairi Campbell and Dave Francis) to create new traditional style songs inspired by these tales which will be toured round 10 festivals and venues across Fife by the songwriters and house band throughout 2014 and early 2015. In addition a songbook of the songs and illustrations related to the Bothy Ballads and 100% Real Bothy Projects will be created. See the Fife Cultural Trust website for more details of 100% Real Bothy Project. http://realbothy.wordpress.com/

A Glow Arts and Fife Cultural Trust partnership with support from Creative Scotland. 


The Real Bothy

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