Capercaillie

Capercaillie ("Kap-ir-Kay-Lee", named after a large Grouse) are without a doubt one of the most popular of Scottish groups. Crafted majestically around the sensuous vocals of Karen Matheson, Capercaillie are Scotland’s top folk band - and have been for over a decade. They’ve done it the hard way, too, combining traditional credibility with commercial clout, in part through the Gaelic folk songs Matheson learned as a child from her grandmother.

Formed in 1984 at Oban High School in Scotland, initially to play for local dances, the band have now built a strong reputation for their treatment of traditional and Gaelic music from the West Highlands of Scotland.  Capercaillie plays groundbreaking contemporary Celtic music featuring ethereal, yet powerful Gaelic vocals, intricate rhythms, and a combination of traditional Scottish and electric instruments. Many comparisons have been made between Capercaillie and Clannad both for their overall style and their ventures from traditional to more modern sounds. The band has recorded with Green Linnet and Survival Records.

Band: Karen Matheson (vocals), Donald Shaw (keyboards, accordion), Charlie McKerron (fiddle), Manus Lunny (bouzouki, guitar, vocals), Ewan Vernol (bass), James Mackintosh (percussion), Michael McGoldrick (flute, pipes)

"Karen Matheson has a throat that is surely touched by God"  Sean Connery

"Capercaillie, credited with being the major force in bringing Celtic music to the world stage, have indeed returned to their roots, peforming primarily an acoustic-based set while retaining a lush style that produces a vibrant and contemporary sound. With the majority of the artists playing more than one instrument as well, the band's musicianship was supberb and the set clearly illustrated tremendous virtuosity, skill and overall command of their craft. We really can't wait to see them again."