Fair Witness is a new collaboration between Edinburgh's Suzanne Adam and Sandy Butler. The duo were runners-up at this year's 'Danny Kyle Award' competition (Celtic Connections festival in Glasgow), and at T in the Park's 'T-Break' competition. Their sound blends open-tuned melodious folk with the energy of acoustic rock, featuring pure yet high-powered vocals and fiddle from Suzanne and rhythmic, inventive guitar and bass from Sandy.
Why do they do it? Music is great. It enlivens, relaxes, inspires and gets us in touch with deeper parts of ourselves than we usually access in our day-to-day existence. There are some bands and individuals out there making wonderful sounds, playing and singing on a higher level than most ordinary folks. There are also a plethora of mediocre tunesters who 'get by' and see their questionable creativity as merely a route to success, money or adulation. Where does Fair Witness fit in? While being neither superhuman or mediocre (they hope!), Sandy and Suzanne are passionate about good, honest music that is finely crafted and has something to say about their experience of life. Their songs spring from frustration, love, painful and joyful experiences: both their own and those of people they come into contact with. Though not always recognisably 'folk' in style, the folk music ethos of community, sharing and social/political comment is part of the Fair Witness philosophy - they are keen to avoid a monochrome songwriting repertoire of personal ills and love gone wrong! Opening up the spiritual dimension of life through music is also something they aspire to - not as a 'religious' or exclusive exercise, but as an acknowledgement of the part of humanity that is more than mind or body. As a relatively new outfit, Fair Witness are keen to get YOUR feedback and comments on the songs and what you are up to. Click here to get in touch! They look forward to hearing from you. |
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Son of singer-songwriter Steve Butler, (vocalist with Virgin-signed band ‘Lies Damned Lies’), Sandy was born in Bristol and raised in Edinburgh. Having played instruments from the age of 9 and surrounded by the likes of Ricky Ross, Iain Archer, Juliet Turner and other Sticky Music label artists as he grew up, it was no surprise when Sandy made his debut recordings by the age of 15 with progressive rock band ‘God’s Beard’. Butler went on to be first guitarist for Edinburgh Schools Rock Ensemble (E.S.R.E) 2001 - 2004 and first Double Bassist for Edinburgh Secondary Schools Orchestra (E.S.S.O) 2000 - 2003 including some hit performances at Edinburgh Usher Hall, Queens Hall and Liquid Room. Currently studying Sound Engineering and teaching guitar, at only 19 years old he plays with impressive maturity, allowing his background in experimental rock to add colour to his sensitive guitar technique.
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Suzanne was born in Edinburgh in 1978. Brought up in a musical family, listening and performing were part of life from an early age, and by the time she was fourteen Suzanne was regularly singing and playing violin for large audiences. After her Honours degree in Music at Edinburgh University, Suzanne continued her work as a freelance musician, and was employed by the Christian children’s charity Fischy Music, which works with primary school age children, using specially written songs to explore issues such as self-esteem and emotions. Suzanne also works as a violin teacher, performs internationally with some of Scotland’s top ceilidh bands, and is in demand as a vocalist and violinist for live and recording work in a range of styles, including folk, rock and classical. Recent projects include directing and singing for an album of Celtic meditative chants (featured on BBC Radio Four’s ‘Something Understood’ programme, 20th November 2005) and performing traditional Scottish music in the Sultanate of Oman.
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