Born of a session in Paisley, Scotland, and named for the town’s historic weaving industry and local poet laureate Robert Tannahill, the Tannahill Weavers have made an international name for their special brand of Celtic music, blending the beauty of traditional melodies with the power of modern rhythms. As one of the world’s premier traditional Celtic bands, their diverse repertoire spans the centuries with fire-driven instrumentals, topical songs, original ballads and lullabies, and humorous tales of life in Scotland. The members of the band include: Roy Gullane, who plays guitar and is the lead vocalist, is also a songwriter and has recently written his autobiography. From the west coast of Scotland, Phil Smillie plays flute, whistles, and bodhran, and sings harmony vocals. Originally from Tasmania, but now based in Glasgow, Malcolm Bushby plays the fiddle and bouzouki, and sings harmony vocals. The newest member of the band is Iain MacGillivray. He comes from a strong family line of piping and, in addition to the highland bagpipes, he also plays fiddle and whistles. With the band’s eighteenth recording, Òrach (“Golden” in Gaelic), nominated for album of the year, and they, themselves, for band of the year, the Tannahill Weavers are firmly established as one of the premier groups on the concert stage. From reflective ballads to foot-stomping reels and jigs, the variety and range of the material they perform is matched only by their enthusiasm and lively Celtic spirits.
