The Tannahill Weavers

Scotland?s Tannahill Weavers are one of the world?s premier Celtic bands. Their diverse repertoire spans the centuries with fire-driven instrumentals, topical songs and ballads, and humorous tales of life in Scotland. 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 performances and outstanding recording efforts that seemingly can't get better...yet continue to do just that. The Tannahills 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 fullsized highland bagpipes to the on-stage presentations, the first professional Scottish folk group to successfully do so. The combination of 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 songs. Over the years the Tannies have been trailblazers for Scottish music, and their tight harmonies and inventive arrangements have won them fans from beyond the folk and Celtic music scenes. In 2011 the band was inducted into the Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame, and in recent years released their highly acclaimed 50th Anniversary album ?'rach ("Golden" in Gaelic) and were nominated for Folk Band of the Year in the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards. In 2021 they have been joined by exciting piper and fiddle player Iain MacGillivray, who is also Scotland?s youngest Clan leader. Iain, a fluent Gaelic speaker, has worked on such exciting productions as Outlander and Men in Kilts, and has performed for a huge list of stars and dignitaries in recent years. As they head back out on the road, the Tannahill Weavers are firmly established as one of the premier groups on the concert stage. From reflective ballads to foot-stomping reels and jigs, the variety and range of the material they perform is matched only by their enthusiasm and lively Celtic spirits. "Formed from a Paisley pub session in 1968, seminal trailblazers the Tannahill Weavers now also rank as national treasures." -Glasgow Celtic Connections 2018 "The music may be pure old time Celtic, but the drive and enthusiasm are akin to straight ahead rock and roll." - Winnipeg Free Press "An especially eloquent mixture of the old and the new." - New York Times ??the Tannies are the best that Scotland can aspire to (and believe me, that is THE BEST).? The Living Tradition ?Scotland?s Tannahill Weavers play acoustic instruments, but the atmosphere at their shows is electric. The quintet is as tight and as versatile as any band in the Celtic music revival. They can summon rock ?n? roll intensity or haunting introspection.? - The Boston Globe ?The group that introduced a generation raised on rock ?n? roll to the power and joy of Celtic music.? - The Oregonian ??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 "?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 www.tannahillweavers.com www.facebook.com/tannahillweavers www.twitter.com/tannahillweaver