Taking their name from the Scottish Gaelic word for kinship, ‘Gaelic Supergroup’ Dàimh (pronounced dive) are a 5 piece band based in Lochaber in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland; an area as much renowned for its scenic beauty as for its rich musical and cultural heritage. A long-established favourite at folk festivals in Scotland, Ireland and across Europe, 2014 saw the group win the “Eiserner Eversteiner” European Folk Music Award in the 23nd German Folkherbst competition and also nominated for Folk Band of the Year in the Scots Trad Music Awards.
From pyrotechnic jigs and reels to achingly poignant ballads, they run the full expressive gamut of folk music at its best, and are justly renowned for their thrilling live shows. Dàimh have released 5 studio albums to date. Their most recent; Tuneship once again sees the band blazing a new trail in the Scottish music scene with their own instrumental compositions skilfully integrated with traditional Gaelic Songs.
This is a great Gaelic band and definitely worthy of the title Gaelic Super Group.
BRIGHT YOUNG FOLK
Dàimh have carved a reputation from the bedrock of Gaelic culture… authentic Gaelic music with a modern edge and a magnificent range of expression. This could be one of the best Scottish releases of 2014.
FOLKWORLD
Love, life, loss and Lochaber; Tuneship displays the growing maturity of a group whose work screams of place but which is rooted firmly in the present.
SUNDAY HERALD
THE BAND:
Angus MacKenzie: Highland Pipes/Border Pipes/Whistles
A Gaelic-speaking piper from Mabou, Cape Breton Island on Canada’s East Coast residing for the past 17 years on the Isle of Skye. His piping style draws on his strong South Uist roots along with the dance-influenced rhythms of Cape Breton music. 2012 saw Angus, along with his brother Kenneth nominated for Roots Traditional Recording of the Year at the East Coast Music Awards for their album, Pìob is Fidheall.
Gabe McVarish: Fiddle
Hailing from Northern California, where his family settled after emigrating from Morar, Lochaber via Prince Edward Island. At the age of 17 Gabe travelled to his ancestral homeland of the Scottish Highlands where he spent a year studying music under the tutelage of fiddler and tradition bearer Angus Grant Sr. After completing a degree in Scottish music Gabe released solo album Eclection, a culmination of fiddle styles and repertoire from both sides of the Atlantic.
Ellen MacDonald: Gaelic Song
Widely tipped as the most exciting thing to happen to Gaelic song since the invention of the Ceilidh, Ellen MacDonald is fast finding a flock of fans and followers with her natural, smoky voice and individual interpretation of songs covering the full emotional spectrum of the Gael. Born and raised in Inverness with strong maternal ties to the language and songs of North Uist and Scalpay, Ellen studied at Scotland's only dedicated Gaelic language college, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig on the the Isle of Skye. Ellen's acting skills have seen her nominated for ‘Best Performance’ at the FilmG awards for her role in a Gaelic short film ‘Briste’ and landing a key role in the BBC's new Gaelic drama "Bannan".
Murdo Cameron: Mandola/Mandolin/Accordion
Murdo comes from a long line of traditional Gaelic singers and was immersed in music growing up Glenelg, a wee village a stones throw across from the Isle of Skye, famous for being twinned with Mars. A member of the Mountain Rescue, Murdo started out as an accordion player and piper, who in the last few years has been a busy guitar accompanist and stringed things enthusiast.
Ross Martin: Guitar
From Arisaig though now lives in neighbouring Morar. A fisherman from early teens until his twenties and now an active member of the Coastguard, Ross has gone on to tour Europe and the U.S. with Irish singer Karan Casey. Ross’ unique style of guitar accompaniment has him in demand for numerous projects including Dual, a collaborative exploration of traditional Gaelic music of Scotland and Ireland by Danù singer Muireann Nic Amhlaoimh and Brave singing sensation, Julie Fowlis.