Harem Scarem is a band full of bright personalities and their music reflects this. An all-acoustic line-up, their instruments include 2 fiddles, 2 flutes, accordion, guitar and percussion, as well as succulent vocals! Played with great depth and energy, an uplifting choice of tunes is intertwined with traditional and self-penned songs. The combination of styles and influences in the band has led to a powerfully seductive sound. Inge Thomson has recently joined The Karine Polwart Band; winner of three 2005 Radio 2 folk awards. They look set to be touring world-wide this year, being just back from Oman and preparing to go to Armenia imminently. Inge has become the latest guest singer with esteemed Danish duo ‘Fromseier-Rose’, who are touring Scotland in April and Denmark in the Autumn. You can also catch her touring England with Shetland heroes ‘Drop the Box’.. Sarah McFadyen is currently enjoying the life of a pop star, being as she is one of ‘Aberfeldy’ – the latest phenomenal pop success from Scotland. Their brilliant album ‘Young Forever’, and a steady stream of chart singles, have been released on the esteemed label Rough Trade. Sarah has also been working on a duo album with the fantastic Kris Drever, they can be found hosting a session in Edinburgh’s Royal Oak on Sunday Afternoons.
Nuala Kennedy has been living in Inverness this year where she has been studying Gaelic by day, and elevating the local session scene by night. Not someone who is short of energy, she has still found time to join Anam, form various ceilidh bands and release Fine Friday’s second album –‘ Mowing the Machar’. Fine Friday were nominated for best up-and-coming band at the 2004 Scottish Folk Awards, and can be seen at various international festivals this year, including Orkney and Tonder.
Eilidh Shaw has moved back up North and is now living in the beautiful area of Arisaig on the West Coast. Real ceilidh dance country. While still playing regularily with her Father’s dance band, Eilidh is becoming increasingly busy with her own ‘The Squashy Bag Dance Band’, which features Tam the Banjo and Donald ‘Drummy’ Hay amongst others. Eilidh is also busy with the hugely successful Unusual Suspects, The Poozies, John Rae's Celtic Feet and Keep it Up.
Ross Martin has moved back to his birthplace of Arisaig where, aside from giving over 20 local kids weekly guitar tuition, he is also dabbling in crofting, fishing, fencing, painting and cutting down rhodedendrons. He has recently been touring with the Julie Fowlis Band, is due to record a new album with Cliar, and is still regularily head-lining huge festivals with Diamh.
Ross can be heard with Eilidh and Leo McCann on Flowers of Edinburgh. |
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