Albannach (band)
Albannach | |
|---|---|
 Albannach live at the Edinburgh Festival, 2006 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Glasgow, Scotland |
| Genres | Scottish traditional |
| Years active | 2005–present |
| Labels | Albannach Music |
| Spinoff of | Clann An Drumma |
| Members | Jamesie Johnston Donnie MacNeil Jacquie Holland Drew "DidgeriDrew" Reid Nick Watson |
| Website | www.albannachmusic.com |
Albannach, Scottish Gaelic for "Scottish," is a band formed in 2005 in Glasgow, Scotland. Their traditional music is heavily percussive, driven by bass drums, bodhráns, and a single bagpipe.[citation needed] Albannach released their first album, the eponymous Albannach, in 2006. Since, the band has independently released four additional studio albums and frequently performs music at Highland games, Scottish festivals, and Celtic cultural events across North America and the United Kingdom. With little exception, Albannach's discography is instrumental, though several vocal songs are included in live shows.
The band championed the cause of Scottish independence during the 2014 independence referendum, releasing an EP titled Independence to support the "yes" vote.[citation needed] Some songs, such as A'Maighdeann Bharrach (The Maiden of Barra), are sung in Scottish Gaelic.[1]
The band has been used as extras in a Discovery Channel documentary retelling of ancient history.[2]
After a 2011 show at the Glasgow Highland Games in Glasgow, Kentucky, band member Jamesie Johnston was stabbed in the midsection and leg by a drunk and belligerent fan, leading to his hospitalization.[3] Johnston recovered, and the assailant was sentenced to 12 years for the first-degree assault.[4]
Members
[edit]Current members
[edit]- Jamesie Johnston – bass drum, backing vocals (2005–present)
- Donnie MacNeil – bag pipe, additional drums (2005–present)
- Jacquie Holland – lead vocals, bass rhythm drum (2005–present)
- Drew "DidgeriDrew" Reid – didgeridoo (2005–present)
- Nick Watson – drums (2019–present)[5]
Former and intermittent members
[edit]- Kyle Gray – drums (2005–2009)
- Colin Walker – drums (2009–2018)
- Aya Thorne – bodhrán, tambourine (2005–2015)
- Davey "Ramone" Morrison – bodhrán, backing baritone vocals (intermittent)[6]
Works
[edit]Discography
[edit]
Studio albums
[edit]- Albannach (2006)
- Eye of the Storm (2007)[7]
- The Sub-Zero Sessions (EP) (2010)
- Bareknuckle Pipes & Drums (2011)
- Evolution (EP) (2016)[8]
- Gaelgael (2019)
Live albums
[edit]- The Mighty Nach LIVE (2008)
- Runs In The Blood (2013)
Video
[edit]- Albannach Unleashed: Live At Grandfather Mountain (2006)
- Circa B.C. (2007)
- Scotumentary (2014)
References
[edit]- ^ "Lyrics | Albannach Music". Retrieved 18 February 2019.
- ^ Buescher, James (22 June 2008). "Traditional Scottish group Albannach bangs the drum loudly". LNP (newspaper). Retrieved 12 May 2019.
- ^ Loviza, Amanda (6 June 2011). "Fan stabs band member". Glasgow Daily Times. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
- ^ Story, Justin (7 December 2011). "Man gets 12 years for festival assault". Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
- ^ "Albannach". Electricscotland.com. Electric Scotland. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
- ^ Charles Runnells (23 January 2009), "6th Celtic festival to cut wide swath", The News Press,
The band features award-winning bagpipe player Donnie MacNeil (nicknamed Bullfrog for the way his neck muscles expand when playing), and not one but five drummers: bass drummer Johnston, bass rhythm drummer Jacquie Holland, lead drummer Kyle Gray and bodhrán players Aya Thorne and Davey "Ramone" Morrison (the only American in the group)
- ^ "Folk Scene: Albannach, Dick Gaughan, and Ossian", Newsnet Scotland, 31 October 2011
- ^ "Evolution EP", Albannach Official Website, 30 December 2019