DAVID FERRARD
Born to a Scottish father and an American mother he was brought up on both sides of the Atlantic. His transatlantic roots can be clearly traced in his music, whether singing his own compositions or interpreting a traditional ballad or song by Robert Burns. David's songs tell stories about his and others' lives and are marked by a strong commitment to social justice and peace. An ability to get under the skin of different characters and to convey these stories in song has won him songwriting and performance competitions (Celtic Connections 2006, Burnsong 2007).

"A fine voice with a sweet and supple delivery" --The Scotsman
"A singer-songwriter attuned to the times" --Celtic Music Radio

• JAMES DURST, your musical host, will introduce the evening with a short opening set, together with his Calcutta-born wife, Madhumita Chakrabartti. James has quietly traversed the planet since 1965, performing for rapt audiences of all ages in 49 states and 45 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, Scandinavia, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, in Russia, Azerbaijan, Japan, Korea and most recently, several times in India and Israel. He draws from a rich and ever-evolving repertoire of distinctive original and collected songs in more than two dozen languages that reflect a global perspective and underscore the interconnectedness we share with all of life. Engaging each disparate audience in a participatory journey distilled from his travels, he brings us closer to our world and each other.  For more about James & his music visit www.JamesDurst.com.

“A talented entertainer of no little range and versatility. His sometimes funny, more often poignant songs of other lands were always fascinating. Their ultimate message of peace and understanding left a warm impression of this delightful artist.”—Don Anderson, Winnipeg Free Press