Vocalists

Kirsty N MacKinnon, 20, is from Tobermory on the Isle of Mull where she was introduced to Gaelic song at an early age. She has been singing at local and national level since the age of five where she has won many prizes for both Gaelic singing and clarsach. She studied for a year at the Gaelic college - Sabhal Mòr Ostaig where she studied with the Gaelic singer, Christine Primrose. Kirsty is now in her third year of the B.A. Scottish Music degree at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow, where she has studied Gaelic song with Kenna Campbell and Mairi MacInnes, as well as clarsach and Scots song.

Alasdair C Whyte, 21, is from Salen on the Isle of Mull. He has been singing since the age of 4 at both local and national level winning many junior competitions at the Royal National Mòd. In 2006, he became the Men’s Gold Medallist in Dunoon. He completed a year at the Gaelic college, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig before continuing his studies at Glasgow University. He is currently in his 4^th year of a M.A. in Gaelic and Celtic Civilisation. In 2007, Alasdair was a soloist in a series of concerts celebrating the works of Sorley MacLean and also sang in the pan-European St. Kilda opera, ‘Hiort’. Alasdair is also a member of the Glasgow Gaelic choir, Ceòlraidh Gàidhlig Ghlaschu, who won the premier choral award, the Lovat and Tullibardine Shield at the National Mòd in Fort William 2007.

Mentor

We are very fortunate to have secured the services of Mary Ann Kennedy as our mentor and musical director. Mary Ann is a major figure on the Scottish music scene as a performer, producer and broadcaster. A Glasgow-born Gael, she trained intensively as a classical performer, before choosing to work with the traditional music that has surrounded her all her life. She has been involved with the project since its inception and her knowledge and experience has been invaluable to our small committee with BIG ideas! The final songs were recorded and produced by Mary Ann and her husband, songwriter and recording engineer Nick Turner at their Watercolour Music studios in Ardgour. Mary Ann and Nick are delighted to be involved in a project that echoes their own musical and creative philosophy.

Musicians

The House Band are:

Gillian Frame violin

Paul Jennings percussion

Douglas Millar keyboards

Findlay Napier guitar

Individually, they are very fine musicians in their own right, with a wide range of experience across the whole spectrum of Scottish contemporary music.

Collectively, they are also performing at the final event as Findlay Napier and The Bar Room Mountaineers, a band who have made their mark through their powerful live presence and the signature leftfield songwriting of Queen Anne’s Revenge – the alter ego of Findlay and his writing partner, Watercolour Music’s Nick Turner.

The band draws on a wide range of musical influences including bluegrass, country, funk and folk, with the occasional bit of punk thrown in for good measure. Think Loudon Wainwright’s unparalleled story telling and the tightness of Nickel Creek with a distinctive Scottish twist, and you’ll be getting warm! As one prominent Scottish journalist recently commented after seeing the band: “They are giving birth to a new genre: Scottish Americana”. Their debut album, Out All Night, distributed by Cadiz Music, has just been released.