Idle Beggars are a Contemporary & Traditional Acoustic duo formed by Martin Boland and Ian Robertson in May 2006.
Martin and Ian, both as solo artists host regular sessions in the Royal Oak, Infirmary Street, Edinburgh.
Martin is a singer songwriter who has performed both as a soloist and with various bands over the last......too many years to say!!
Ian returned to the music scene just over two and a half years ago after not actively playing for some 15 years.
Although Idle Beggars are mainly a duo they have other musicians that they can call upon to go out as a band.
Martin appeared on a CD called "Companions" it features three songs each by six songwriters; Tom Fairnie, Arthur Wilson, Mark Barnett, Martin Boland, Mike Dillon and Kenny Vass and they have all now produced solo CDs. Martin launched his CD in 2005 called "Dreams in Blue".
Although not really known as a songwriter, Ian has been putting together some material to be included on his debut CD "Solitary Man" due to be launched late this year.
PRACTICE TO DECEIVE - Written by Martin and appears on Beggarman as well as his solo album. - Could this be a song about Infidelity??
SOLITARY MAN - Written by Ian this song is dedicated to Cosmo, an Italian who used to live on the streets of Edinburgh. He was not a beggar but a proud man who just decided that the streets were his life.
STEP IT OUT MARY- A song based around a childrens skipping rhyme from Ireland
JOCK STEWART - A Travellers song from the North of Scotland
REVIEW by The GARDEN SESSIONS - www.gardensessions.co.uk
Concert at the Royal Oak, Edinburgh - 27th May
Review by Tom Harland
The Idle Beggar's One Foot In The Grave Tour was unleashed on Tuesday night to a group of hardcore Martin Boland and Ian Robertson fans downstairs at the Royal Oak. Folk-guru and former Garden Sessions featured artist - Boland's rich voice and intuitive finger picking style drove the evening, adding soaring harmonies to Robertson's renditions of classics such as Simon & Garfunkel's 'Only Living Boy In New York', 'Black Is The Colour' and 'The Jolly Beggar Reel'.
Augmenting 'The Beggars' were slide guitarist Bruce Hogg and bassist Billy Craib who added depth and finesse to the sound. Hogg and Craig both doubled as excellent supporting acts during Martin's cigarette/oxygen breaks. Though, the support was pretty much overshadowed by an abrasive performance of 'The Long Grey Line' by a sitern weilding and well lubricated Alan Hunter (former Garden Sessions featured artist). Hunter lightened the evening by providing an impromptu running commentary on some of the songs, to Boland's light hearted chagrin.
Overall, a great testimony to the talent regularly on show for free at Scotland's premier folk venue - The Royal Oak in Edinburgh.
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