WE are always delighted to report on the activities of Yes groups across the country, but every so often an individual pops up who is deserving of publicity for his or her efforts to boost the independence movement.

One such is a renowned figure on the Scottish folk music scene, Donald Black, who is an ardent believer in independence as well as one of the greatest of all Scottish Celtic harmonica players.

Now he’s combining his two great passions by organising a Concert For Independence which will take place in the Oran Mor in Glasgow on Thursday, June 20, at 7.30pm – tickets priced £12 from the ticketweb website or by phoning 08444 771000.

Black told The National: “I have wanted to do something musical for the cause of independence for some time, so I am hoping to raise money to help the SNP in their fight for Scotland to be an independent country.”

The Donald Black Band will headline the show. The band is a very compact three-piece lineup with Màrtainn Skene on accordion and keyboard and Donnie Mackenzie on acoustic guitar, joining Black in their unique musical interpretations.

Special guests on the night include Eric Grant, Claire Gullen, Catriona Laird, Alison Lamonby, Calum MacColl, Norman Mackinnon and Martin Pottinger.

If you have not heard of Donald Black and his music, then you have been missing something special.

As one review put it: “Black hails from Benderloch in Argyll and Bute. He received his first harmonica at the tender age of four.

“His roots are firmly steeped in the West of Scotland Pipe and Gaelic tradition but his repertoire extends well beyond this to embrace the idioms of Ireland, Shetland Isles, Nova Scotia Canada and mainstream Scotland.

“Donald is totally self-taught with his own unique style and mastery and has played a very significant part in the harmonica having been given a new respect and acceptance with aficionados, professionals and reviewers taking it seriously as a significant part of the Scottish traditional music scene.

“Using mainly the tremolo and 10-hole diatonic harmonica as lead instrument, his live performances of thoroughly challenging jigs, reels, marches, hornpipes, strathspeys and emotionally charged slow airs/laments have delighted audiences in his native Scotland, as well as England, Italy, Germany, Lithuania, Denmark, Russia and the USA.

“Donald has recorded five albums to considerable acclaim; one of them being a joint venture with the highly respected multi-instrumentalist Malcolm Jones of Scottish Celtic rock band Runrig – see www.donald-black.com/albums/reviews – and is mentioned in four books on the instrument.”

Why not make a date for the Oran Mor on June 20 to hear him?