In March 2002, Celtic Connections and the Scottish Arts Council joined forces to create a unique tour featuring the cream of Scotland's female singers and some of the country's finest instrumental talent.
Scottish Women visited all over Scotland from Stirling to Skye and Glasgow to Glenrothes between March 19 to 28, 2002. It was the first time that events first seen at Celtic Connections, one of the world's biggest winter music festivals, had been recreated for touring.
The Scottish Women tour came about as a result of the hugely successful Celtic Connections concerts Gaelic Women in 2000 and Scots Women in 2001 both subsequently released as albums on the Greentrax label. These not only brought together some of Scotland's finest vocal and instrumental performers but also created a platform which enabled them to experiment and collaborate, with exciting results that won wide acclaim.
The response to both concerts was so positive, with many clamouring for more, that Scottish Women was created. Bringing together Scotland's two languages of song, the project will take an exciting and authentic showcase of Scottish music to audiences across the country.
Scottish Women was created under the musical direction of Brian McNeill, one of the foremost names in Scotland's traditional music and features five Gaelic singers, five Scots singers and a five strong band of instrumentalists which also boasts two of Scotland's leading young contemporary traditional singers. The current Scottish Women line-up is:
The Women:
Margaret Bennett - A folksinger of great sensitivity and versatility, she is undoubtedly one of the major figures of the modern Scottish Revival and one of the world's foremost authorities on Scottish Folklore.
Elspeth Cowie - Equally adept in a range of traditional and modern song styles. As the former National Organiser of the Traditional Music and Song Association, she is a staunch keeper and promoter of the tradition, although her own musical interests are wide ranging including folk, blues and jazz.
Ray Fisher - Part of the famous Scottish singing Fisher family, Ray has
spent her whole life performing. Learning the techniques of some of the most wondrous exponents of Scottish music, she is a worthy carrier of the tradition with her amazing ballad interpretations, heart-rending songs and respect for the songs of her homeland.
Ishbel MacAskill - Known for her compelling style of unaccompanied traditional singing, Ishbel's music and culture are immensely important in her life and she is at the forefront of the present enthusiastic revival of the Gaelic language.
Maggie MacInnes - Maggie comes from a long line of Gaelic singers from Barra in the Outer Hebrides. She has been enchanting people all over the world with her haunting, expressive singing and sympathetic arrangements, taking the sounds of Scotland to an ever-widening audience.
Mairi MacInnes - Mairi has been singing in Gaelic from an early age and was one of the youngest winners ever of the prestigious Gold Medal at the National Mod in Skye. Since then she has gone from strength to strength as a much sought after artiste around the world.
Anna Murray - Anna learned from a young age to sing in her native language of Gaelic and to play the Highland bagpipes but her recordings have offered a contemporary angle on this type of music with her being accompanied by instruments including the blues harmonica, Hammond organ and African percussion.
Karine Polwart - As well as emerging as one of Scotland’s leading young singers, Karine also plays the guitar and the bouzouki and brings a contemporary twist to her arrangements of traditional songs. Add to this her extraordinary skill as a songwriter and it's clear she has a great future ahead.
Sheila Stewart - The beauty of traditional music flows through Sheila's blood as she began singing with her family when she was a child. They travelled throughout Scotland and Sheila has gone further afield mixing her amazing voice with her unique brand of storytelling.
Sheena Wellington - Sheena is one of the country's leading traditional singers and is a passionate and articulate advocate for traditional music. Since her appointment as Traditional Arts Development Officer for Fife Council – and her stirring rendition of Burns’ A Man’s A Man at the opening of the Scottish Parliament - she has become even busier promoting the traditional arts to a wider audience.
Emily Smith - At 21 years of age, Emily is this year's BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2002. She is an excellent performer on both accordian and piano, however, it is through her exceptional voice that Emily is really making a name for herself.
Flora McNeill - Flora is one of the important sources of Scots Gaelic song. A native of the Island of Barra, Flora's characteristic and personal style adds to rather than distorts the essential virtues of her ancient Hebridean hertiage. In short she is one of the great singers of the world.
The Band:
Annie Grace. Annie is a multi-instrumentalist and singer with more than ten years’ solo, band and session work experience. She’ll bring both instrumental and singing expertise to Scottish Women. A founder member of the internationally renowned Iron Horse, Annie has recorded six albums and is currently working on her solo debut album.
Corrina Hewat. Corrina is established as one of the leading exponents of the Clarsach and is now regarded as one of Scotland’s foremost vocal talents. Scottish Women audiences will hear both sides of her expertise. Her roots are firmly in traditional music but her open minded interest in jazz and world music adds spice and depth to her work. Corrina new solo CD is released on Foot Stompin in April.
Brian McNeill. For more than three decades Brian has been making his mark on Scotland’s traditional music scene and is now greatly in demand as a performer, producer, songwriter, composer and innovator. He recently took up the post of Head of Scottish Music at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama but is continuing his career as a working musician all over the world. Brian is Musical Director of Scottish Women.
Andy Thorburn. Andy has played piano with many soloists and bands, not only in traditional music but also blues, rock and classical styles. He currently tours with Blazin’ Fiddles, Ben Wyvis and The Three Ghillies and has performed in many events at Celtic Connections. As a composer, Andy’s most recent work is Double Helix, music for a dance piece by Frank McConnell which toured last November.
Mike Travis. Mike is a vastly experienced and highly regarded drummer and percussionist who has worked in theatre, television and on concert stages throughout Europe. He has recorded and performed with many diverse artistes and bands including Natalie MacMaster, Stomu Yamashta, Clan Alba and Ceolbeg.
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