Acclaimed trio TEUD: The Hebridean Fiddle Project will release their striking new single ‘Òran Manitoba’ on Friday 27th June 2025. With this vibrant interpretation, the group unites the fiddles with the Gaelic vocals to portray the meaning and strength of the song.
Originally composed by Tiree bard John MacLean around 1877, ‘Òran Manitoba’ gives voice to the heartbreak and injustice of the Tiree clearances, when families were forced to leave their homes for Canada. The song’s themes of cultural loss and resilience resonate powerfully today, echoing ongoing challenges in the Hebrides such as the housing crisis and land ownership issues.
TEUD’s arrangement, led by Jamie MacDonald, Claire Frances MacNeil and Shona Morrison, breathes new life into the historic song with a renewed energy and focus. The fiddle lines take centre stage throughout, particularly in the haunting instrumental section.This fiddle-led approach sets the track apart, offering audiences a fresh perspective on a much-loved melody that hasn’t seen a major recording in a decade.
Claire Frances MacNeil said: “With this single and our upcoming EP, we really wanted to highlight the voice of the fiddle in Hebridean music – not just as accompaniment, but as the main storyteller. What also makes this project so special is how we each bring the influences of our own islands to the music. Jamie is from Tiree, Shona is a Skye native, and I am originally from Barra. The way the fiddle is taught, played and woven into the culture of each island has shaped how we approach this single, and it’s been a joy to celebrate that shared heritage through the music.”
Recorded at Black Bay Studio in Bernera, Isle of Lewis, and mixed by Ross Wilson of Tidelines in Mull, ‘Òran Manitoba’ stays true to TEUD’s ethos of celebrating Hebridean music within its cultural heartlands. The single was captured entirely in the Hebrides during a tour that included appearances at Tiree Music Festival, HebCelt, and their Highland debut including Eden Court’s Under Canvas Festival.
‘Òran Manitoba’ offers a first glimpse of their upcoming EP, set for release in August 2025, which explores Gaelic songs and Hebridean traditions through the lens of island identity, connection to place, and cultural resilience. The EP reflects on themes of place, language and culture while restoring the fiddle’s prominence – from leading the melody in Gaelic waltzes, to its dialogue with pipes, and its historical role in island life.
Shortlisted for Up and Coming Artist of the Year at the 2024 MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards, TEUD continues to push the boundaries of Hebridean fiddle music, blending tradition with originality and heart. This single is sung by Claire Frances MacNeil – 2024’s Royal National Mòd Trad Gold Medalist and the first individual to complete a masters in Gaelic Song at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
‘Òran Manitoba’ will be available on all major streaming and download platforms from Friday 27th June 2025.
For more information on TEUD: www.teudfiddle.com
Artist website: http://www.teudfiddle.com/
Single title: Òran Manitoba
Album title:
Release Date: 27/06/2025
Single artist: Teud
Single duration: 3:39
Record Label:
Catalogue No:
Writers: Jamie MacDonald, Claire Frances MacNeil, Shona Morrison
Publishers: PrS / MCPS
Explicit?: No
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