I have been to a variety of Burns Nights in my time – a dinner for four with Haggis and the full recitation by a Scotsman in a kilt, a Cambridge formal dinner themed for Burns, at least two events I can remember at which I played bass in scottish Ceilidh bands (no I'm not Scottish, but I do play good bass). Last night, however, I attended a Burns night celebration that was in a league of its own.

James MacMillan, composer and musician extraordinaire, curated a night of Scottish music in honour (more or less) of Robbie Burns, whose 250th anniversary it is this weekend. It was part of the UBS Soundscapes: Eclectica series, which is an attempt to cross the false but often impenetrable boundaries between classical music and modern folk. MacMillan is Scottish but very far from insular, and so his choice of performers unsurprisingly pushed the borders not only between classical and folk, but of Scottish sensibilities, which was all to the good in the resulting quality of edgy and surprising music. First we heard Chris Stout and Catriona McKay collaborating on a set of music that while it had its roots in Shetland, Ayrshire and the Borders, also drew influences from jazz, rock, impressionism and Scandinavian folk music, giving a completely fresh and adventurous slant to the familiar sounds of folk instruments.

Following this amazing duo came Salsa Celtica, which on paper sound like a migraine crossed with a nightmare – South American salsa music blended with banjo, tin whistle and bagpipes? (Surely this cannot be happening?) but in real life it absolutely works, a glorious and captivating blend, so much so that I almost forgot to run for the last train home…

Burns was mentioned often and affectionately, though pleasingly tongue-in-cheek. Gone was the stuffiness of tradition, which was all the more pleasant to encounter in a Church that has been gutted and reshaped into a fantastic music venue. "Come let us sing unto the Lord" has been repainted into the gothic arch through which you enter the venue. I did get the sense that while traditionalists might have baulked at a reclaimed Church, or a re-formed Burns night, if by some freak of time travel either Jesus or Robbie had been there, they would both have been dancing in the aisles.