By Stephen Baron
If you're in the same sort of haze I was, this might ring a bell: Remember that New Year's song “Auld Lang Syne” you only recently just dusted off? Burns penned that and, in fact, a town drunkard was his inspiration for that little tune.Burns is known to have used the rich cultural landscape of Scotland to further his poetry and songwriting, using catches of folk rhymes and old, inherited traditional music. But when the Bard is long gone, who will represent the people then?Thankfully, a great many have taken up the charge, and one such man is Ed Miller. A natural folk singer and a favorite for the upcoming Big Grey concert just over the Queens border at The Searing-Roslyn United Methodist Church in Albertson, L.I., Miller embodies all that Burns could ever achieve, embracing traditional Scottish songs and the familiar dialect that comes with it.Miller has traveled both the United States and his own homeland, not only performing at concerts but also as the helmsman of a music camp that gives instruction in the finer points of folk music. In addition, Miller also is a part of an extensive song tour in Scotland, which touches upon various historic sites – most likely including the places of interest that appealed to Burns. As Miller says, “You have to actually see the Scottish landscape to get a better image of what the songs really are saying.”Miller now lives in Texas, which is a kind of polar opposite when compared to the climate of Scotland. However, the traces of old folk songs are still alive and well, as exemplified by the fact that Miller is part of the Austin radio station KUT-FM's Folkways show. It is one of the most popular country music programs in the country and the longest running in Austin.Texas might seem a long ways off from Scotland, but in truth it isn't as culturally apart as one might expect. “Texas is more liberal, much like Scotland. Burns was like that – he was a hero to the Scottish people because he was open-minded,” Miller says. “Likewise, he was admired by Russians in his time, for his patriotism – and in America, for his image of the common man.”Miller returns to New York for the Big Grey festival at The Searing-Roslyn United Methodist Church honoring Scotland's tradition every winter. The Big Grey holds a concert every second Saturday, October through May. Specializing in Irish traditional music and seeing as how the culture is so close to Scotland's, Miller is right on his home turf. In fact, he has become a sort of icon for the entire Big Grey scene. Of course, the mascot happens to be a tabby cat – inspired by a real feline by the name of Walter, who supposedly sat in on the early concert performances.It was by chance that Miller decided to stay in the United States after spotting an ad for classes at the University of Texas. He decided to travel to the country and finish his education here. Not at all feeling out of place, Miller says “in the beginning, we all emigrated from the same places – the Scot-Irish from the United Kingdom to settle here.” And, of course, he adds that the general accent in Texas is no more a differing factor in speaking than the common southern Scottish highlands, or the easy speech that surrounds Burns' work.Miller says that it “isn't winter without a trip to Long Island.” Consequently, it would not truly be a celebration of Scot-Irish heritage without Miller himself at the front, ready to step into the shoes of the Bard himself.Reach editorial intern Stephen Baron by e-mail at QGuide@gmail.com or by phone at 718-229-0300 ext. 141.
