Global ambassadors for Shetland, Fiddlers’ Bid are internationally respected as leading exponents of their unique musical heritage and rich fiddle tradition. A dynamic, four-fiddle front line joins with a powerhouse of piano, bass, guitar and Scottish harp in stunning virtuosity. Since their formation in 1991, Fiddlers’ Bid have astounded audiences all over the world with their expressive, high energy music and performances. Two members of the band, Chris Stout and Catriona McKay, are no strangers to Celtic Colours fans, and we’re happy to have them back and to welcome the rest of the crew along with them.
Tag Archives | Scottish artists
Joel Sanderson
Joel Sanderson was brought up in central Scotland in a small town where his father made stringed instruments. One of a family of six children who all play music, they had a family string quartet for many years. He has performed on cello and double bass with Arabic, Jewish and Hungarian musicians who live in Edinburgh, as well as Scottish and English songwriters and musicians. Acknowledging no boundaries in the world of music, Joel is a fascinating and entertaining musician and performer. We are happy to welcome him to Celtic Colours as he performs with Sarah McFadyen.
Kathleen MacInnes
Kathleen MacInnes was born and brought up on South Uist in a Gaelic speaking home, and has enjoyed an interesting career in television, as an actress, presenter and singer. Kathleen has been a regular guest on music programmes such as MacTV’s “Bard nan Orain”, BBC’s award-winning series “Aig Cridhe ar Ciuil” and Mike Alexander’s “Columba Sessions” where she sang alongside leading Scottish and Irish singers and musicians. Kathleen also took part in the concert “Flower of The West”, a tribute to Runrig brothers Calum and Ruaraidh MacDonald and Blas, as the support singer to Van Morrison.
Nuala Kennedy
Nuala Kennedy is an Irish singer and flute player with hauntingly beautiful vocals, adventurous instrumentation, and an eclectic mix of influences. Her singing and flute playing springs from the traditional music of Ireland and Scotland, and from the fathomless realms of her own imagination. A consummate performer with a buoyant personality, her music has been described as unique, evocative, and soul-satisfying. Nuala grew up in Dundalk, Co. Louth, on the East coast of Ireland, a musical area steeped in mythology with long historical links to Scotland. The combination of the best influences of the two cultures, Scottish and Irish, is what has made Nuala the artist she is today.
Sarah McFadyen
Sarah McFadyen hails from Hoy, one of the Orkney Islands in the north of Scotland. A fiddle player, she first came to Cape Breton to attend the Gaelic College at St. Ann’s in 1995 where she met up with Otis Tomas, Paul MacDonald and Paul Cranford. She was back in 2004 performing at Celtic Colours with Harem Scarem and as part of The Unusual Suspects. Back in Scotland, Sarah plays with Sandy Wright and the Toxic Cowboys and for Scottish ceilidh dancing with The Squashy Bag Dance Band. In 2008, Sarah returned to Cape Breton to collect a fiddle Otis made for her. She is coming back this year to perform alongside Tomas, MacDonald and Cranford, and to be an apprentice to Otis and make her own fiddle.
The Outside Track
A stunning synthesis of virtuosity and energy, The Outside Track’s marriage of Canadian, Scottish and Irish music and song has been rapturously received around the world. Hailing from Scotland, Ireland, Cape Breton and Vancouver, its five members–Norah Rendell, Mairi Rankin, Lily Neill, Fiona Black, and Cillian O’Dalaigh–are united by a love of traditional music and a commitment to creating new music on its foundation. Using fiddle, accordion, harp, guitar, flute, step-dance and vocals these five virtuosos blend boundless energy with unmistakable joie de vivre.
Cathy Ann MacPhee
Cathy Ann MacPhee is regarded as one of the greatest of all living Scots Gaelic singers. At a time when the survival of the language itself is in danger, she remains a bright light of Gaelic music and culture. Cathy Ann has released four CDs on the Greentrax label and teaches Gaelic songs internationally; she has toured with two Scottish theatre troupes and given concerts in the UK, Europe, the US and Canada, where she now resides.
Battlefield Band
Founded by a group of friends in 1969 and named after the “Battlefield” area of Glasgow, The Battlefield Band have now been touring and performing throughout the world for over forty years, playing to audiences in Europe, Australia and New Zealand, Asia, the Middle East and Canada, as well as more than 60 cities annually in the United States. Over the years new members have brought with them new ideas, music, instruments, attitudes and influences, leading to continued creativity, freshness and enthusiasm. The new line-up sees young multi-instrumentalist Ewen Henderson, join Mike Katz, Alasdair White, and Sean O’Donnell.
Festival Partner
Video Memories
Celtic Colours Merchandise
