Next week I'm off to Celtic Connections in Glasgow. I'll be representing my own band plus InterGaelic song project Aon Teanga at the Showcase Scotland event on Friday; pop over to my stand and say hello if you're going! My band and I will also be performing at the Danny Kyle Open Stage competition on Saturday 31st January. The concert...
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For me, one of the best things that happened in 2014 (asides from releasing my debut album) was the creation of a new InterGaelic vocal project called Aon Teanga - Un Çhengey. I had been aware that, while there had been many moves to re-establish Scottish-Irish links in recent times, there had NEVER before been a project that united the...
Read MoreI love to buy Manx-made gifts for friends and family and with such a bunch of talented artists and craftspeople on the Island, there's no reason not to! I recently made myself a go-to list for presents, as I'm often forgetting what's right under my nose, so I thought I would share my top ten with you in case you...
Read MoreI'm after spending a brilliant week with traditional Norwegian musicians Margit Myhr and Erlend Apneseth, and fellow Manx musicians Tomas Callister and David Kilgallon. Our musical collaboration was initiated by Culture Vannin in late 2012 as a way of celebrating the shared heritage between Norway and the Isle of Man (which was ruled by Viking kings for centuries). Tom and...
Read MoreI'm delighted to announce that I have joined forces with two fantastic traditional singers for a new InterGaelic song project, which links the music and language of the Isle of Man, Scotland and Ireland. While there have been many moves to re-establish Scottish-Irish links in recent times, there has never been – until now – a project that unites the...
Read MoreI sing with a group called the Norwegian Manx Collaboration (it does what it says on the tin!) along with talented Manx musicians Tomas Callister (Barrule, Mec Lir) and David Kilgallon (Mec Lir), and renowned Norwegian trad. musicians Erlend Apneseth and Margit Myhr. We can't wait to get together in November on the Isle of Man: we'll be presenting a...
Read MoreIn the Isle of Man, 2014 has been known as 'Island of Culture' - a year-long celebration of the wealth of cultural talent on this beautiful, beautiful Island. The Isle of Man Arts Council received sponsorship from companies and used funds ringfenced from their pre-existing budget in order to help the community to put on events and to create works...
Read MoreI occasionally perform with Manx singer-songwriter Matt Creer, who writes Americana songs with beautiful close harmonies. Matt's coming to the end of recording his second full-length album (for which he has truly pulled out all the stops, working with some great guest artists and traditional Manx/Scottish musicians) and invited me into the studio a few days ago to record the...
Read MoreThe Isle of Man - my homeland and the place from which my ancestors hail - never fails to amaze me with its beauty, so I always get really excited when I can show it to other people. This month (September!), I got to show the Island off to BBC 2 television when I sang and presented a feature for...
Read MoreBack in July I wrote about working with a fellower Islander, Davy Knowles, who shot to fame as a Blues musician when still in his teens. Though Davy has made a new life for himself in Chicago, I've been friends with him for many years; we went to the same secondary school and it is to him that I owe...
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