Megan MacDonald, Chloë Bryce & Calum McIlroy have reached the finals of Battle of The Folk Bands 2024. The competition will be held at Celtic Connections on January 20th in the Drygate Brewery at 1pm. Why not come along and join in the fun?
We asked Calum of Megan MacDonald, Chloë Bryce & Calum McIlroy a few questions about the band.
Tell us about your band
Megan MacDonald, Chloë Bryce & Calum McIlroy are a folk trio based in Glasgow. Hailing from Lairg, Tain, and Aberdeenshire respectively, they blend fiddle, accordion, guitar, and their voices to present an array of dynamic tunes, and delicate songs.
All three have performed extensively across Scotland and beyond, appearing at internationally renowned events including Festival Interceltique de Lorient, Celtic Colours International Festival and Celtic Connections, to name a few.
Chloë graduated from the prestigious Royal Conservatoire of Scotland with First Class Honours and currently performs and teaches Scottish fiddle, Gaelic song, and Gaelic language. She has gained acclaim for her compositions drawing inspiration from local folklore and was commissioned to write music for Blas Festival 2022, celebrating Gaelic and Highland culture.
Megan performs regularly with folk bands Eabhal and Heisk, and has toured extensively throughout the UK, Europe, China, and the US. Her dynamic and energetic playing-style has made her a sought-after band member, tutor, and session musician across the Scottish Traditional Music scene.
Calum is known for his lyrical approach to flatpicking on the guitar and mandolin. After reaching the final of the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year competition in 2020, he released his debut EP, This Ill Deeds, and was later nominated for the Citty Finlayson Scots Singer of the Year Award at the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards in 2021.
https://www.calummcilroy.com
https://www.meganmacdonaldaccordion.com
https://chloebrycemusic.com
Who are the band members
Megan MacDonald – accordion, voice
Chloë Bryce – fiddle, voice
Calum McIlroy – guitar, voice
What are you hopes and aspirations for the band?
We have been playing together in various combinations and guises since we all met on the Fèis Rois Cèilidh Trail as teenagers, but this is our first attempt at making music as a trio in earnest. We are delighting in the process of sharing new tunes with each other, and we hope to bring the result to the studio and the stage in the not so distant future.
Check out the band’s website.
Battle of The Folk Bands is a Hands Up for Trad project. Read about the organisation and join our weekly Scottish music information email here.
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