Congratulations to Falasgair who has been nominated in Up and Coming Artist of the Year sponsored by Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2024. Vote for Falasgair now!. It’s going to be another great night at the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards on Saturday 30th November in Inverness Leisure. Why not join us for a brilliant night of music and awards. Buy a ticket here.
We asked Eoghainn of Falasgair the following questions.
Tell us about yourself
Falasgair, from the Isle of Skye, ignited their journey as a band with a hometown gig at Skye Live in 2022. Playing a mix of contemporary, traditional, and self-penned tunes their sound is spearheaded by Macaulay Ross on fiddle, whistle and bagpipe duo Dougal McKiggan and Finn MacPherson, reinforced by the strong backline of Ben Muir on keys, Caetano Hayes Pelletti on guitar and bouzouki, and Eoghainn Beaton on bodhran.
Taking their name from the Gaelic word for the seasonal act of burning heather, Falasgair formed in Glasgow and quickly blazed their way onto the folk festival circuit. Since their debut, the band has gone on to win Seall’s Na Fir Chlis Battle of the Bands on their home island as well as the prestigious Danny Kyle Award at Celtic Connections 2023.
“Imagine the exquisite playing of Ross Ainslie combined with the pace and stomp of Talisk… true war music.”
– The Folky Gibbon
Why are you involved in Scottish music?
We have all grown up with a love for traditional music, whether that be from playing in pipe bands, or growing up amidst the traditions of the West and North East coast of Scotland. Since forming as a band in our time studying in Glasgow, we continue to create music we enjoy, visiting new places and making new friends along the way!
Any particular career highlights?
Some of our current highlights include releasing our first single, called The Sauna. We had a great time playing a headline gig at King Tut's Wah Wah Hut. We've absolutely loved playing at numerous festivals in Scotland such as Kelburn Garden Party, Knockengorroch and Celtic connections as well as further afield at Cambridge Folk Festival, Barbados Celtic festival and Celtica Valle d'Aosta in northern Italy. We also love our trips to the Isle of Mull where we play at the fantastic Western Isles Hotel.
What are your plans for the future?
We are planning on recording a few more tracks of our current music before diving into writing and recording album within the next year as well as continuing to enjoy gigs and festivals.
Falasgair Social Media
Website:
Facebook: @https://www.facebook.com/Falasgair
Twitter: @
Instagram: @https://www.instagram.com/falasgair/
YouTube: @
TikTok: @
The 2024 MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards are on the 30th November 2024 in Inverness Leisure Centre! You will be able to watch it live in person (buy a ticket here). Watch it live in the UK at 9pm (GMT) on BBC ALBA and and around the world here. Bands performing on Saturday 30th November include Julie Fowlis, Skipinnish, Laura Wilkie and Ian Carr, Highland Young Musicians and Arc Fiddlers, An Dannsa Dub, BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician Award winner 2024 Calum McIlroy and more!
If you would like to support Hands Up for Trad in their work with Scottish trad music and musicians why not become a friend of Hands Up for Trad. In addition to our high profile events like the Scots Trad Music Awards, we also deliver a less well known, education programme for young people from 8yrs right through to young adults at the start of their careers. Read more here.
