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Scotsman
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
BBC ALBA to broadcast Skerryvore's landmark 20th anniversary Floors Castle concert
Recorded at the stunning Floors Castle in Kelso, Scottish Borders, BBC ALBA's Skerryvore aig Caisteal Floors captures the energy and emotion of a night that brought together over 6,000 fans from across the world, with a stellar line-up of trad music stars. Special guests included Trail West and Nathan Carter, who helped set the stage for a rousing headline performance from Skerryvore, marking two decades of unforgettable tracks. The band were also joined by guest performances from Valtos and The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Pipes and Drums. The exclusive broadcast airs on BBC ALBA and BBC iPlayer this Saturday (7 June), with presenter Megan MacLellan sharing backstage interviews and music highlights with some of the band's best-loved songs including Scottish anthem, Take My Hand. Formed on Tiree, Skerryvore's original line-up has grown from island roots into an internationally acclaimed act, with a unique blend of traditional folk, rock and pop. With seven studio albums and a global touring reputation, this anniversary concert represents a milestone in their remarkable journey. Skerryvore front man, Alec Dalglish, commented: 'Celebrating our 20th anniversary in front of fans from all over the world was quite honestly up there as the best night of our lives. There's no feeling in the world like hearing more than 6,000 people singing every lyric back to you – the night will stay with me for a long, long time. Floors Castle made for such a stunning background for this celebration, there was a real sense of occasion that felt fitting to mark two decades together. It's fantastic to have the story of this milestone captured and shared on BBC ALBA – we would encourage anyone who wants to relive it all or those that weren't able to join us to tune in and experience a slice of the magic of Skerryvore XX.' Calum McConnell, Commissioning Executive at BBC ALBA, said: 'Skerryvore are one of Scotland's biggest trad music success stories. Over two decades, they have played a string of sell out shows across the USA, Canada, Australia and Europe, reimagining traditional folk music to break into the mainstream, garnering fans around the world. 'Although we've featured Skerryvore on BBC ALBA programming at Belladrum and Hoolie in the Hydro, we've not had the chance to film one of their headline performances, so it is incredibly special to be showcasing their anniversary concert to viewers. Fans that missed out on a ticket, or those who simply want to relive the magic all over again, can tune into BBC ALBA or BBC iPlayer this Saturday, with added behind the scenes stories.' Catch all the highlights from Skerryvore aig Caisteal Floors on BBC ALBA and BBC iPlayer on Saturday 7 June at 9pm (in Gaelic with English subtitles). Watch live or on demand: 1 . Contributed BBC ALBA Skerryvore aig Caisteal Floors Photo: Submitted Photo Sales 2 . Contributed BBC ALBA Skerryvore aig Caisteal Floors Photo: Submitted Photo Sales 3 . Contributed BBC ALBA Skerryvore aig Caisteal Floors presenter Megan MacLellan Photo: Submitted Photo Sales 4 . Contributed BBC ALBA Skerryvore aig Caisteal Floors Photo: Submitted Photo Sales
The National
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The National
Review: 7000 at Floors Castle for Skerryvore's 20-year epic show
The band who has produced seven studio albums, toured four continent tours, won Scotland's Live Act of the Year three times and spread their unique fusion of folk, trad, pop and rock to a global audience did not disappoint with their celebrations. This wasn't a regular concert, however, with several of the attendees I spoke to comparing it to Tiree Music Festival. My sister and I left from Edinburgh on one of five coaches arranged by the organisers. The castle is relatively isolated and does not have the infrastructure to support an influx of 7000 fans and so coaches also left and returned to Newcastle, Berwick-Upon-Tweed, Hawick and Galashiels. Built by architect William Adam in 1721, Floors Castle is Scotland's largest inhabited castle and home to the 11th Duke of Roxburghe. I had never been but will be sure to be back for the grounds that we did see were beautiful and the mansion itself played its on role as the backdrop for the artists. READ MORE: Fans stunned as Michelle McManus joins Robbie Williams during Murrayfield gig Hawick band Western End opened the day at around 4pm while fans arrived, wandered around the grounds, and eyed up the array food vans offering paella, steak on fries, burgers, katsu chicken, haggis, neeps and tatties, fish and chips, flatbread wraps, ice cream, and more! I list them to try and communicate the scale of the operation here. This wasn't just your average concert. This was a one-day festival in the grounds of an 18th century castle. Local pop duo The Eves – who previously opened for Belinda Carlise and The Shires – were next, bringing a pop factor to the stage. As we listened, enjoying the energy of the growing crowd, children chased bubbles with glitter on their faces, and I noticed the wide age-range of the crowd. Young groups of friends together, as well as older folk being looked after and shown to the seated area. More and more fans arrived at the grounds, The Laurette's came on and told us: 'Let's get this party started'. The mood completely changed, with the standing room at the front of the stage filling out, and fans really starting to dance. Next up was Skye band Valtos with singer Eilidh NicCarmaig kept the energy going. NicCarmaig also joined Trail West, as well as eventually Skerryvore. Scotland, England, Japan, Ireland, USA (from as far as Alaska!), Norway, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, Australia and so many more were all represented in the crowd at Floors Castle. Ahead of Trail West, a glass was raised to the international fan base for being at the core of Skerryvore's 20-year journey. Of course, Martyn Bennett – the late artist and composer often referred to as the father of fusion trad music – and the Vatersay Boys – the internationally-recognised trad band from Vatersay, Barra - were also among those mentioned as integral to where the genre is today in its evolutionary sound and global recognition. READ MORE: How algorithms are reviving traditional Scottish music for the next generation In between stage set-ups, heartfelt tributes from fellow musicians and fans from across the world were played on the screens either side of the stage. Each, 30 seconds or so long, thanked, congratulated and wished – always referred to as – 'the boys' a very happy anniversary. Sentiments included 'it's not just a band to us, it's a family', 'you've grown to be so accomplished, diligent, and professional', 'the respect on stage you all have for each other comes through', 'thank you for being such an inspiration for our children, so much so we have another piper to add to the collection'. A woman we stood next to had travelled from The Netherlands to be in Kelso for the day. She said she had seen them dozens of times, and said they were playing in in November. 'But I'll probably fly over and see them before that,' she said, quite sure of that. Skerryvore, for her, had opened up Scottish trad music and introduced her to Manran, Tidelines, Skippinish, and so many others on the scene. The energy and hype was building and building until, at 8pm, Skerryvore came on to an immense reaction. Saltire flags with their logo and 'No Skerryvore, No party' emblazed on them were waved, cheers echoed off the castle walls, children on shoulders waved as the ones holding them were just as excited. The boys started right away with Alec Dalglish front and centre, piper and whistle players Martin Gillespie and Scott Wood on either side, fiddler Craig Espie to the left, Daniel Gillespie on accordion to the right, bass Jodie Bremaneson back left, Fraser West on drums, and Alan Scobie on the keys, back right. The boys were joined by special guests all throughout the set. Nathan Carter performed a duet with Dalglish, members of the Red Hot Chilli Pipers joined for a tune, and for the closing song, just as the heavens opened, Edinburgh's Royal Military Tattoo Pipes and Drums came to the stage. The feeling of the rain falling, the pipes and drums blasting out, the electric energy in the air and the sheer size of the crowd, was supremely epic. More than innovative sound, intricate lyrical compositions, or breaking barriers for Gaelic culture, as fiddler Espie told me the week before, the band are ambassadors for Scotland when they travel the world and share our sound. Watching the eight members on stage, you could still very much see 'the boys' from 20 years ago in the men sharing that sound. With a refined professionality and showmanship, the lads from Tiree, Irvine, South Ayrshire, Livingston, Ellon, and Erskine were still just having a pub sesh with friends. The only difference? They had 7000 friends joining, and millions around the world rooting for them.
The National
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The National
Algorithms reviving traditional Scottish music for the next generation
This monumental triumph was aided by a slight cheat in the system: one physical sale of an album can count for more than 6000 streams. This does not take away from the achievement. Conversely, it highlights the dedication and loyalty of the Scottish rock band's fans. As Gary Innes, BBC Scotland radio presenter and frontman of the popular trad band Mànran, puts it: 'They used their fan base to basically support them by buying physical CDs. I can guarantee most of them that actually bought the CD don't have a CD player but what they are doing is wanting to contribute to their favourite band.' READ MORE: Skerryvore on 20 years, castle gigs, global fans and staying true to Scottish roots Innes has proven the might of the modern trad music scene through his ambitious and hugely successful festivals: Hoolie in the Hydro, Lochaber Live and Lochaber: A Celebration. What seems to be at the heart of this success is firstly the willingness to fuse the traditional with the modern, as he continues: 'When you're hearing bagpipes with synthesisers and you're going to a show and there's lasers and there's smoke machines and haze and strobe and all of a sudden you're like, 'well, this could be a dance festival.'' What also drives this success is his genuine desire to provide festivalgoers a valuable experience and honest connection to both Scottish traditions and each other. He energetically explains: 'To me, everything in life is about having a connection and just being nice to people … to create memories for folk, I think, is a privilege. 'I realise that's probably quite a cliche thing to say but, in all honesty, it's just genuinely about trying to create events and memories and moments for people, because that's what it's doing for me too!' Of course, this growth in the popularity of traditional music has not been driven by one man alone (though some may argue otherwise). Streaming, social media and other contemporary devices for music consumption have inevitably played their part in returning Scots to their roots. Later this year, the former ceilidh band Trail West host their sell-out Trail West Fest, which features two nights at the Barrowlands in Glasgow. This band performs a mix of original songs and 'repackaged' traditional music reworked to have a modern sound. Seonaidh MacIntyre, Trail West's bagpiper, guitarist and vocalist, claims that the band's reach would have been nearly impossible without their online presence. He says: 'The fact that you get that exposure – I mean, I don't think that we would be doing gigs in the Barrowlands, let alone selling out two nights, if it wasn't for that.' Despite this, he still believes that live music is the best way to engage with fans and get music out there. He expands: 'I don't think we would be the same band without the live thing. Having a live presence, that's your kind of bread and butter if you're wanting to earn money from music because unless you break BIG time online, you're not gonna make that much from it.' This growth may come at a price, however. The simple truth is that the more English and genre-infused the songs are, the greater reach they generally get. Many could argue this algorithm-driven production could make music less distinctive across all genres. READ MORE: Scottish director's film set during Highland Clearances takes Cannes by storm However, as Innes acknowledges: 'It does feel that maybe you take with one hand, giveth with the other slightly, because if you look at our streaming numbers for instance, they've exponentially raised in the last couple of years with more English material but with the more listeners they are indeed getting to listen to a more Gaelic content.' For those who still fear that social and streaming services are diluting Scotland's music traditions, I challenge you to attend Hoolie in the Hydro 2025 where more than 10,000 young people will be bouncing up and down to Trail West blasting out the 300-year-old Macpherson's Rant – and still argue that algorithms aren't helping re-shape, revive and re-energise traditional Scottish music for the next generation.
Scotsman
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Skerryvore's castle concert capacity grows due to global demand
Watch more of our videos on and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565 Visit Shots! now A special one-off event celebrating the 20th anniversary of beloved Scottish band Skerryvore is getting even bigger, organisers have announced, with an increased capacity and special guest acts added to the bill. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Skerryvore XX will take place at Floors Castle in Kelso on Saturday, May 31 and despite already being the legendary band's biggest show to date, it is growing even larger. With over 5,000 tickets already sold, event organisers have decided to make an additional 2,000 tickets available for extra attendees to experience this spectacular Scottish Borders event. The band has already seen incredible levels of global demand for the concert, with fans from five continents snapping up tickets to be part of the milestone celebration. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Skerryvore XX is now expecting attendances of around 7,000, with buses running direct to the event from Edinburgh, as well as hubs including Berwick, Hawick, Galashiels and Newcastle. Skerryvore are set to draw big crowds this May. The contemporary eight-piece will be joined throughout the night by an array of musical friends they have made over the last two decades as they worked their way to the top of Scotland's music scene. The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Pipes and Drums, renowned for their awe-inspiring displays of precision and musicality, will also bring something special to Skerryvore XX. In August 2024, The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo received an incredible reaction when their version of Skerryvore's hit song Take My Hand was performed to audiences as part of the Show's finale. Fellow Tiree natives Trail West, known for their high-octane West Coast tunes, join the bill having played at festivals across Scotland alongside Skerryvore for the last 15 years, while beloved British-born Irish country music singer Nathan Carter will also make an appearance. Nathan released a cover of Skerryvore's song Simple Life more than ten years ago. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Two sensational female Scottish duos will also be at the centre of the party in Kelso. The Laurettes – who the band met when they played their hometown festival Tiree Music Festival – and Edinburgh's The Eves, who have played support slots with Skerryvore the length and breadth of the country, will each take to the Skerryvore XX stage across the evening. Edinburgh duo The Eves are set to perform. Exciting Isle of Skye electronic folk fusion force, Valtos, will also have Kelso crowds on their feet this May. Shortlisted for this year's BBC Introducing Scottish Act of the Year, Daniel Docherty and Martyn MacDonald will be showcasing their genre-defying sounds at the event. Local Borders talent Western End, who joined Skerryvore on their recent winter tour, will kick off the evening with a set that's sure to get their hometown crowd going. Skerryvore have also promised fans some extra surprises across the night. Skerryvore's Daniel Gillespie said: 'As part of our musical journey over the past 20 years we have been very fortunate to travel the world and cross paths with so many incredible musicians along the way. From artists we first met in the bars and halls of the west coast of Scotland to bright new talents who are thriving in the amazing Scottish music scene, we wanted to fill the Skerryvore XX stage with host of musical pals that we know will help make it an extra special day for everyone making the journey to the castle.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The band's front man Alec Dalglish said: 'We still can't believe that so many people are travelling from all over the world to celebrate with us so it is amazing that we can increase the capacity and welcome even more people to join the party – it's going to be a very special way to celebrate 20 years of the band." Skerryvore are running buses from Edinburgh to Kelso Castle for audiences to join their 20th anniversary celebrations. With a mix of bagpipes, fiddles, accordions, whistles, guitar and vocals, underpinned by driving bass, drums and keys, Skerryvore represents the best in contemporary Scottish traditional music and has evolved into one of the country's leading musical forces. They have reached number one in both the Official Scottish Album and UK Folk Albums charts, entered the top 40 in the Official UK Charts, performed in 30 countries and picked up national airplay from the likes of BBC Radio 2. The nearby Borders Event Centre has space for up to 300 campervans for those looking to spend the night in Kelso, and day and overnight parking will be available at the castle. Skerryvore XXwill take place on Saturday, May 31. Tickets are on sale now at
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Beloved Scottish pop icon Lulu to headline Stornoway music festival
SCOTTISH pop legend Lulu will headline the island music festival HebCelt in July, as she completes her final year of touring. The Stirlingshire-born star is best known for her chart-topping Relight My Fire with Take That, Eurovision-winning Boom Bang-A-Bang, James Bond theme The Man With The Golden Gun, and her debut hit Shout. Lulu will play the main stage on Friday, July 18. She told fans: 'I'm looking forward to visiting the Outer Hebrides and performing at HebCelt in Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis – see you in July.' The festival will also feature supergroup Skerryvore, Tide Lines, Nina Nesbitt, Eddi Reader, Trail West, Kassidy, Beluga Lagoon and NATI. A record 70% of the acts performing at HebCelt this year are female-led or have female members, following the festival's pledge to Keychange, the international campaign to address gender inequality in the music industry. HebCelt's artist programmer and director Michelle Shields highlighted the diversity of this year's line-up: 'This year's festival truly celebrates music across generations, from trailblazers like Lulu and Eddi Reader to the next generation of stars including NATI., Josie Duncan, and Lauren Collier. 'Our Celtic roots are proudly represented with Skerryvore marking their 20th year and consistently one of our most requested acts by fans, Highland heroes Tide Lines, and festival favourites like Trail West, Cala, and The Tumbling Souls. We're also thrilled to spotlight talents like LUSA and Elias Alexander, alongside live sensations Beluga Lagoon, Tom McGuire & the Brassholes and Kassidy. Since 1996, HebCelt has been a mainstay of Scotland's cultural music calendar, and is on course to have helped generate more than £40m for the local economy by the time it reaches its 30th anniversary in 2027. Creative Scotland endorsed the festival earlier this month and pledged to secure its long-term planning with a three-year funding package. The festival will take place from July 16-19 in and around Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis, combining musical performances with the cultural heritage of the islands.
