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By Elisabeth Altamirano-Smith | Community Columnist

On Nov. 10, famed Scottish folksingers and entertainers, Jim Malcolm and wife Susie, will present Songs from Scotland at Chestnut Creek Heritage Chapel in Verbena. The Malcolms are currently on tour in the United States and recently added Verbena to their list of venue destinations largely due to the acoustics and intimate atmosphere of Chestnut Creek Chapel.

The evening presentation of Songs from Scotland will be a collection of traditional Scottish and Celtic music and original works, sung in harmony with guitar, harmonicas and laughter. The program will last about two hours, with refreshments served during intermission.

With family roots in Perthshire and Strathclyde, Jim has been a professional musician since graduating from Edinburgh University. For eight years he was lead singer of the renowned and award-winning Scottish folk musical group, Old Blind Dogs. In recent years, he has seamlessly combined with Susie in recording classic folk favorites in which they perform together on tours.

Susie Malcolm is also an award-winning singer with a special knowledge of the musical traditions of Northeast Scotland. According to Seattle Folklore Society, she was the first woman to ever win a singing competition for Bothy Ballads and agricultural songs. Bothy ballads were songs sung by farm laborers in the northeast region of Scotland. “Bothies” are farm buildings in which unmarried laborers used to sleep. In the evening, bothy ballads were sung to entertain themselves.

“We are excited to additionally have wife, Susie join the show,” said event organizer Ola Taylor. “They are jokesters with tales and clean humor. I enjoy their music.”

Doors open at 6.30 p.m. with the show starting at 7:00 p.m. A suggested $20 donation will be collected at the door. Copies of albums will be available for purchase during intermission.

For reserved seating, please contact Taylor at 205-217-9466.

Chestnut Creek Heritage Chapel is located at 11975 County Road 24 East, Verbena.