Congratulations to Mec Lir who has been nominated in Live Act of the Year in the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2024. Vote for Mec Lir 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 Adam of Mec Lir the following questions.
Tell us about yourself
Mec Lir was formed ten years ago, and was originally created as an outlet for us to have a bit of craic on stage… you can probably hear that in some of our arrangements! The main band consists of four main members, Tom Callister, Adam Rhodes, David Kilgallon and Greg Barry, although we often play with other people as well during our live shows. Three of the band are originally from the Isle of Man, but Adam and Tom are now well and truly immersed in the Glasgow music scene, playing with other bands such as Ímar. You'll recognise the native Scottish member of the band, Greg, as he plays with the legendary Elephant Sessions.
Why are you involved in Scottish music?
All four main members of the band are from different backgrounds, but have been playing trad music all their lives. Although Tom is known as the main tune player in the band, Mec Lir actually has three fiddle players in its ranks! Bouzouki player Adam and keys player Dave also play fiddle, so trad music is well rooted in the band. While we push the envelope with our arrangements, for sure, we always try to keep the tune at the heart of it all, and that's down to the fact that we've all been brought up in the tradition.
Any particular career highlights?
We've been really lucky to be asked to play some amazing places over the last ten years, so it's hard to pick a highlight! We just love to see so many people having a great time at our shows. We don't like to take our music too seriously, and we hope that this allows people to let their hair down and have a good time.
What are your plans for the future?
We're currently gearing up to our next gig for Glasgow's Celtic Connections, at the amazing Barrowland ballroom on the 17th January. It's such an iconic venue, and we're playing alongside two other class acts, Kinnaris Quintet and Four Men & a Dog, so it's going to be some night!
Mec Lir Social Media
Website: https://www.meclir.com
Facebook: @meclirband
Twitter: @meclirband
Instagram: @meclirband
YouTube: @meclirband
TikTok: @meclirband
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.