And finally, to conclude Algy’s weekend celebration of Scotland on the occasion of the Scottish parliament election 2021 in a fitting way, here is some more distinctly Scottish music.
Of course people in Scotland listen to every kind of music that is available, just as they do in other places, but the people of Scotland also have some very distinctive music of their own, which has developed out of a long tradition of Scottish culture.
Both the bands featured here play in the relatively new tradition which is known as Celtic Fusion - that is, a combination of traditional Scottish music, instruments and skills with contemporary popular music and/or instruments from around the world - although the two bands Algy has chosen tonight take a very different approach from one another. Completely tradtional Scottish music is still performed by many musicians in various contexts, especially at celidhs and by pipe bands, both military and civilian, but it is Celtic Fusion which has really given “traditional” Scottish music an entirely new and exciting lease of life, motivation and energy.
The video by Shooglenifty above was made by the band with their family and friends during lockdown last year (2020), for a virtual music festival Virtually Knockengorroch (Knockengorroch is a world music festival held annually among the Carsphairn hills in Kirkcudbrightshire Scotland) which was streamed online. Shooglenifty was formed in 1990 by musicians from the Scottish Highlands, Orkney and Edinburgh.
And last, but by no means least, to close the weekend, lay back and listen to the haunting voice of Karen Matheson (OBE!) singing with the enormously popular Capercaillie, a band out of Oban (which is not far from Castle Stalker, shown in an earlier post today) who combine traditional Gaelic music and lyrics with modern production techniques and instruments such as electric guitar and bass guitar. Although originally formed in 1984, they are still performing and recording today... when they can, and if you visit the west coast of Scotland you are very likely to hear their music being played over the sound systems of cafés... This particular recording is from 2009.
Algy @adventuresofalgy wishes you a very happy Sunday evening, and thanks you kindly for joining his celebration of Scotland this weekend. He sends you all lots of fluffy hugs 🤗
p.s. One of Algy’s local human friends went to school with Karen Matheson 😍
