SHINE are a trio of three of Scotland’s best-known voices and two of the world’s finest harp players who will be finishing their latest UK tour at The Sage Gateshead on December 20.

The band combines Corrina Hewat, Mary Macmaster and Alyth McCormack’s distinctive voices with two electro-harps, playing hauntingly timeless yet arrestingly modern arrangements of traditional, contemporary and original material. Recent gigs include award-nominated venue Douglas’s House in Edinburgh, a beautiful Here Come the Girls night sharing the stage with another all-girl band, The Shee, and a gig at last year’s Celtic Connections.

A new five-track EP Fire & Frost to coincide with next month's tour. It contains versions of songs and arrangements they have been working on most recently. There is also a new studio album to be released next year.

Steeped in the traditions of Scotland (Alyth from the Hebrides, Corrina from the Highlands and Mary from the Lowlands) all are known for their fresh, creative approach whether performing traditional Gaelic and Scottish songs, contemporary covers or original material.

Brought together in 1998, they released their highly-acclaimed debut album Sugarcane in 2001, toured throughout the UK and Europe and then, in 2004, focused on other projects.

After a ten-year break which (among many other things) has seen Mary recording and performing with Sting and continued Poozies’ success; Corrina forming and fronting the power house Scottish supergroup The Unusual Suspects and Alyth moving to Ireland joining The Chieftains and touring the world, a fortunate series of collaborations brought the girls back together. They shone at their re-union show at Celtic Connections last year and are now happily reformed and excited to

be playing together again.

Corrina Hewat is one of the leading harp players in the world today. Born in Edinburgh and growing up in the highlands of Scotland, she was immersed in the traditional and folk music scenes from an early age. She has a degree in Jazz and Contemporary Music from the City of Leeds College of Music and is in demand as a player, composer, arranger and teacher. Corrina is also blessed with a stunning individual voice, which resonates with years of soaking up Scotland's musical tradition, while exploring contemporary elements and jazz.

Mary Macmaster has become one of the most innovative players of the metal-strung harp in the world and is a fine singer of Gaelic and Scottish songs. She began her career as half of the harp duo Sileas with Patsy Seddon, whom she met while studying Scottish History and Gaelic at the University of Edinburgh and went on to become a founder member of the highly popular band The Poozies with whom she still plays.

Alyth McCormack is from The Hebrides off the northwest coast of Scotland She grew up immersed in the vibrant oral and musical tradition and culture of these islands. Alyth expanded on her traditional background by studying classical singing and drama at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. She tours extensively around Europe, the Americas and the Far East with acts such as Paddy Moloney and The Chieftains, Trace Adkins, Ry Cooder and her own band and has also performed worldwide with various symphony orchestras.

* Box Office: sagegateshead.com/event/shine or 0191-4334661. Sage 2, Sage Gateshead, St, Mary's Square, Gateshead Quays, Gateshead, NE8 2 JR. 8.30pm