The Duplets are Fraya Thomsen and Gillian Fleetwood, a Scottish harp and song duet from the Highlands. This spring they excitedly embark on their first national tour in anticipation of their album release this winter.

Fraya and Gillian met in Inverness where they were trained in the skills of harpistry by internationally acclaimed harpist, singer and composer Corrina Hewat. After a sell-out performance together at the Edinburgh International Harp Festival, they officially formed as The Duplets. They recently performed at Celtic Connections as part of a live Radio broadcast, and warmed up for Mary Ann Kennedy & Bruce Molsky and The Klezmatics at The Festival Club.

Fraya gained a BA in Scottish Music from the RSAMD and is an accomplished composer and performer. She performed her “Suite for Poppa” to international acclaim in Ljubljana, Slovenia at the World Saxophone Congress. She has also composed for the RSAMD’s performance of 12th night. Before The Duplets she performed with Cloud 9 and played with Fiona Hunter (Malinky) at Celtic Connections and Celtic Colours in Nova Scotia.

Gillian studied at the National Centre for Excellence in Traditional Music and went on to gain a BA (Hons) in Applied music at the University of Strathclyde. With Monobronto she support Michael McGoldrick at Celtic Connections. She also sings and plays with Glasgow based group The State Broadcasters.

They are both also members of Inverness based group Abagail Grey.

The Duplets music and style resists easy categorisation: influences include Savourna Stevenson, Shine, Blazin’ Fiddles and you might even hear a bit of Bob Marley. Explosive and hauntingly emotive by turns, their highly contemporary arrangements are underpinned by a healthy respect for the Scottish musical tradition whether revamping long buried traditional gems or performing their own bedazzling intricate compositions.
They invite you to join them for an evening of happy harmonious harping. Please see dates below:

The Duplets
Launch Tour Dates 2007

March
Wed. 28th Edinburgh Edinburgh Folk Club 7.30pm
Fri. 30th Glasgow Partick Folk Club

April
Sun. 1st Dunkeld & Birnam Birnam House Hotel TBC
Thurs. 5th Kingussie Talla Nan Ross 8pm
Fri. 6th Lossiemouth The Warehouse Theatre 8pm
Sat. 7th Findhorn Universal Hall 8pm
Mon. 9th Inverness La Tortilla Asesina 8pm
Tue. 10th Arisaig Astley Hall 7.30pm
Wed. 11th Fort William The Lime Tree Galleries, 8pm
Wed. 18th Glasgow University of Strathclyde,
Department of Creative & Aesthetic Studies
(Workshop. Open to the public) 2pm
Fri 13th Drumnadrochit Glen Urquhart Public Hall 8pm
Fri. 20th Aberdeen The Lemon Tree 1pm

May
Wed. 9th Inverness Beltane Festival, St Michael’s Church 7.30pm
Sat. 12th Isle of Rum Concert and Workshop, Sound of Rum Festival (sold out)
Sat. 26th Farr Farr Village Hall 8pm (Support for Dougie MacLean)

June
Mon. 11th Plockton Plockton Village Hall 8pm
Mon. 11th Plockton National Centre for Excellence in Traditional Music (workshop)

July
4th and 5th Orkney Isles Workshop and Concert TBC

August
20th Edinburgh Royal Oak, Edinburgh Fringe

September
23rd Edinburgh The Wee Folk Club