Tannahill Weavers

Sun 19th February, 2017
8:00 pm - 10:30 pm (Doors: 7:30pm)
Tannahill Weavers
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Tagged in: Folk

“…an especially eloquent mixture of the old and the new…” NEW YORK TIMES

The Tannahill Weavers are one of Scotland’s premier traditional bands. Their diverse repertoire spans the centuries with fire-driven instrumentals, topical songs, and original ballads and lullabies. Their music demonstrates to old and young alike the rich and varied musical heritage of the Celtic people. These versatile musicians have received worldwide accolades consistently over the years for their exuberant and humorous performances and outstanding recording efforts that seemingly can’t get better…yet continue to do just that.

The Tannahill Weavers have turned their acoustic excitement loose on audiences with an electrifying effect. They have that unique combination of traditional melodies, driving rhythmic accompaniment, and rich vocals that make their performances unforgettable. As the Winnipeg Free Press noted, “The Tannahill Weavers – properly harnessed – could probably power an entire city for a year on the strength of last night’s concert alone. The music may be old time Celtic, but the drive and enthusiasm are akin to straight ahead rock and roll.”

Born of a session in Paisley, Scotland and named for the town’s historic weaving industry and local poet laureate Robert Tannahill, the group has made an international name for its special brand of Scottish music, blending the beauty of traditional melodies with the power of modern rhythms.

The Tannahill Weavers began to attract attention when founding members Roy Gullane and Phil Smillie added the full-sized highland bagpipes to the on-stage presentations, the first professional Scottish folk group to successfully do so. The combination of the powerful pipe solos, Roy’s driving guitar backing and lead vocals, and Phil’s ethereal flute playing breathed new life into Scotland’s vast repertoire of traditional melodies and song.

Three years and a dozen countries later, the Tannahills were the toast of Europe, having won the Scotstar Award for Folk Record of the Year with their third album, The Tannahill Weavers. Canada came the next summer, with thousands at the national festivals in Vancouver, Winnipeg and Toronto screaming an approval that echoed throughout the Canadian media. The Regina Leader-Post wrote, “The Tannahill Weavers personify Celtic music, and if you are given to superlatives, you have to call their talent ‘awesome’.”

Since their first visit to the United States in 1981, the Tannahills’ unique combination of traditional melodies on pipes, flute and fiddle, driving rhythms on guitar and bouzouki, and powerful three and four part vocal harmonies have taken the musical community by storm. As Garrison Keillor, the host of “A Prairie Home Companion”, remarked, “These guys are a bunch of heroes every time they go on tour in the States”.

Over the years the Tannies have been trailblazers for Scottish music, and their tight harmonies and powerful, inventive arrangements have won them fans from beyond the folk and Celtic music scenes. The Ithica Journal writes, “Travelling overseas to perform always thrusts the artist into the role of cultural ambassador. Audiences inevitably scrutinize the music more closely than their own. If that is the case, the Tannahill Weavers make Scotland out to be a country to desire, one with a utilitarian appreciation of the old, an acceptance of the new and a quick and playful wit.”

In 2011 the band was inducted into the Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame, and in 2014 they were joined by innovative piper Lorne MacDougall. Lorne comes with a high pedigree, having arranged and performed pipes for the Disney Pixar movie “Brave”, and Dreamworks “How to Train Your Dragon 2”, along with a long list of other accomplishments.

With the release of the Tannahill’s 17th recording, Live and In Session, on award-winning label Compass Records, they are firmly established as one of the premier groups on the concert stage. From reflective ballads to footstomping reels and jigs, the variety and range of the material they perform is matched only by their enthusiasm and lively Celtic spirits.

“These guys are a bunch of heroes every time they go on tour in the states.” – Garrison Keillor, A Prairie Home Companion

“…the Tannies are the best that Scotland can aspire to (and believe me, that is THE BEST).” – The Living Tradition

“This is a wall of sound.” – Geoffrey Stokes, The Village Voice

“The group that introduced a generation raised on rock ‘n’ roll to the power and joy of Celtic music.” – The Oregonian, Portland OR

“…the Weavers’ unpretentious manner and superlative playing set them apart from most other Celtic groups… In a world where good taste has become a scarce commodity, the Tannahill Weavers are a wealthy bunch.” – The Charleston Gazette, Charleston, SC

“…the Weavers combine tradition with the spirit and energy of rock ‘n’ roll into an entertaining and satisfying evening of music, humor and joy.” – News & Observer, Raleigh, NC

“…their great humour and superb musicianship make them on of the finest bands on the circuit.” – Rogue Folk Review

“…there probably aren’t too many bands hiding on the misty moors who can match the Tannahill Weavers for consummate musicianship, a grasp of the traditional canon and the kind of group cohesiveness that borders on telepathy…. one of the most exciting ensembles currently recording in any genre.” – Ron Hubbard, Knight-Ridder Newspapers

“…world class musicians with passion and a healthy sense of fun, keeping alive and making accessible the very heart of the tradition itself.” – Mojo Magazine

www.tannahillweavers.com/