IT was that time of year once again – time for Scottish fiddler Aly Bain and Dobro legend, America’s Jerry Douglas, to bring their troupe of merry musicians from BBC4’s TV series to town.

What a night it turned out to be. In total 17 artists were involved; musicians and vocalists, and with, on occasions, four fiddles and two mandolins going the sound could not be bettered.

Bain and Douglas, who did the bulk of presentation, shared not only the music but also wonderful camaraderie built between the acts. Each vocal artist lent something different, including Julie Fowlis sharing her Gaelic upbringing and singer-songwriter Shawn Colvin digging deep into her wonderful insights on life.

The lead line-up changed every song or two or, as the case with the players, mandolin was swopped for fiddle or visa versa by O’Brien.

Russ Barenberg, Michael McGoldrick, Phil Cunningham, Danny Thompson, Donald Shaw, John McCusker, James Mackintosh and energetic rhythm guitarist John Doyle likewise performed tirelessly.

Viewed by fans and artists alike as one of their highlights of the year the music flowed, unabated, as fiddles, mandolins, banjo, guitars, upright bass, percussion, pipes, flute, whistle and keyboards filled this fine venue and supported vocalists.

Other vocalists involved were aspiring acts Sara Jarosz (US) and Kris Drever (Scotland) plus stalwarts Darrell Scott, Tim O’Brien and die-in-the wool Upstate New York traditionalist Bruce Molsky.

Highlights included powerful opening piece Waitin’ For The Federales, Douglas solo to kick off the second half of the show, Molsky’s duet with multitalented Jarosz and the pairing of O’Brien and Scott. It just goes on, the music provided was nothing less than timeless.

Maurice Hope