Capercaillie is a
Scottish folk band, founded in 1984 by
Donald Shaw and led by
Karen Matheson
Karen Matheson OBE (born 11 February 1963) is a Scottish folk singer who frequently sings in Gaelic. She is the lead singer of the group Capercaillie and was a member of Dan Ar Braz's group L'Héritage des Celtes, with whom she often sang lead ...
, and which performs traditional Gaelic and contemporary English songs.
The group adapts
traditional Gaelic music
Gaelic folk music or Gaelic traditional music is the folk music of Goidelic-speaking communities in Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man, often including lyrics in those languages. Characteristic forms of Gaelic music include sean-nós and pui ...
and traditional lyrics with modern production techniques and instruments such as electric guitar and bass guitar, though rarely synthesizers or drum machines. Capercaillie demonstrate "astonishing musical dexterity" and feature "the peerless voice of co-founder Karen Matheson. Universally recognised as one of the finest Gaelic singers alive today".
They have sold over a million albums world-wide, including "three silver and one gold album in the UK". The
BBC #REDIRECT BBC
Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board exam. ...
notes that the band has "achieved enormous global success both as a group and as individual musicians."
Origins
Originating from
Argyll
Argyll (; archaically Argyle, in modern Gaelic, ), sometimes called Argyllshire, is a historic county and registration county of western Scotland.
Argyll is of ancient origin, and corresponds to most of the part of the ancient kingdom of ...
, a region of western
Scotland
Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to th ...
, the band is named after the
Western capercaillie
The western capercaillie (''Tetrao urogallus''), also known as the Eurasian capercaillie, wood grouse, heather cock, cock-of-the-woods, or simply capercaillie , is a heavy member of the grouse family and the largest of all extant grouse species. ...
, sometimes called a wood grouse, a native Scottish bird.
Career
Their first album, ''Cascade'', was recorded in 1984.
Prior to the
COVID-19
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by a virus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first known case was identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. The disease quickl ...
pandemic, the band gave their last performance on 17 August 2019 at the Festival des Filets Bleus in
Concarneau
Concarneau (, meaning ''Bay of Cornouaille'') is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in north-western France. Concarneau is bordered to the west by the Baie de La Forêt.
The town has two distinct areas: the modern town on the ...
,
Brittany
Brittany (; french: link=no, Bretagne ; br, Breizh, or ; Gallo: ''Bertaèyn'' ) is a peninsula, historical country and cultural area in the west of modern France, covering the western part of what was known as Armorica during the period o ...
,
France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan ar ...
. They performed for the first time in two years on 6 August 2021 at the
Wickham Festival
Wickham Festival is a four-day music event that takes place in the village of Wickham, Hampshire, England. Wickham hosts live music and comedy across four stages, as well as food stalls, craft stalls, real ale and cider bars and children's ente ...
in
Hampshire
Hampshire (, ; abbreviated to Hants) is a ceremonial county, ceremonial and non-metropolitan county, non-metropolitan counties of England, county in western South East England on the coast of the English Channel. Home to two major English citi ...
.
After a further nine months off the road the band resumed touring, and between April and August 2022 performed at various locations in France, including
Paris
Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. ...
,
Condette
Condette () is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Hauts-de-France region of France.
Geography
A large farming, forestry and tourist village, some south of Boulogne-sur-Mer, at the junction of the D240 and the D940 roads. The rive ...
,
Pas-de-Calais
Pas-de-Calais (, " strait of Calais"; pcd, Pas-Calés; also nl, Nauw van Kales) is a department in northern France named after the French designation of the Strait of Dover, which it borders. It has the most communes of all the departments ...
,
Hauts-de-France
Hauts-de-France (; pcd, Heuts-d'Franche; , also ''Upper France'') is the northernmost region of France, created by the territorial reform of French regions in 2014, from a merger of Nord-Pas-de-Calais and Picardy. Its prefecture is Lille. The ...
,
Lorient
Lorient (; ) is a town ('' commune'') and seaport in the Morbihan department of Brittany in western France.
History
Prehistory and classical antiquity
Beginning around 3000 BC, settlements in the area of Lorient are attested by the presen ...
in
Brittany
Brittany (; french: link=no, Bretagne ; br, Breizh, or ; Gallo: ''Bertaèyn'' ) is a peninsula, historical country and cultural area in the west of modern France, covering the western part of what was known as Armorica during the period o ...
, and on the
Tatihou
Tatihou is an islet of Normandy in France with an area of . It is located to the east of the Cotentin peninsula just off the coast near Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue. It is almost uninhabited, and is usually reached by amphibious craft although, being a ...
islet,
Normandy
Normandy (; french: link=no, Normandie ; nrf, Normaundie, Nouormandie ; from Old French , plural of ''Normant'', originally from the word for "northman" in several Scandinavian languages) is a geographical and cultural region in Northwestern ...
. They also had concerts in
Inverness
Inverness (; from the gd, Inbhir Nis , meaning "Mouth of the River Ness"; sco, Innerness) is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for The Highland Council and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands. Histo ...
and
Glasgow
Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated pop ...
.
Musical style
Capercaillie's repertoire includes both traditional Gaelic songs and tunes, as well as modern English-language songs and tunes, composed by other folk writers and musicians, or by members of the band. The group often adapt traditional Gaelic songs and music using modern production techniques, and often mix musical forms, combining traditional lyrics and tunes with modern techniques and instruments such as synthesisers, drum machines, electric guitar and bass.
Capercaillie's first two albums, ''Cascade'' and ''
Crosswinds
A crosswind is any wind that has a perpendicular component to the line or direction of travel. This affects the aerodynamics of many forms of transport. Moving non-parallel to the wind's direction creates a crosswind component on the object and th ...
'' featured few modern instruments and the tunes and songs were played in a more traditional arrangement.
However beginning with later albums such as ''
Sidewaulk
''Sidewaulk'' is the third studio album by folk rock band Capercaillie.
Track listing
# "Alasdair Mhic Cholla Ghasda" (Trad. Arr. Capercaillie) – 2:30
# "Balindore" – 4:00
# "Fisherman's Dream" (John Martyn) – 3:56
# "Sidewaulk Reels" – ...
'', and the soundtrack of ''
The Blood Is Strong'', Capercaillie began to experiment with adding
funk bass-lines into certain tracks, as well as synthesisers and electric guitar.
This fusion style gained Capercaillie chart success in the 1990s, on albums such as ''
Delirium
Delirium (also known as acute confusional state) is an organically caused decline from a previous baseline of mental function that develops over a short period of time, typically hours to days. Delirium is a syndrome encompassing disturbances ...
'' and ''
Secret People'' (see
Chart Success
A chart (sometimes known as a graph) is a graphical representation for data visualization, in which "the data is represented by symbols, such as bars in a bar chart, lines in a line chart, or slices in a pie chart". A chart can represent tabu ...
, below) and reached its peak in the albums ''To the Moon'' and ''
Beautiful Wasteland'', with the remix albums ''
Get Out
''Get Out'' is a 2017 American psychological horror film written, co-produced, and directed by Jordan Peele in his directorial debut. It stars Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Lil Rel Howery, LaKeith Stanfield, Bradley Whitford, Caleb L ...
'' and ''Capercaillie'' being released during this period.
Capercaillie have drawn back slightly from the heavy fusion style featured on their albums the 1990s, and their more recent albums from ''
Nàdurra'' (2003) up to ''
At the Heart of It All'' (2013) feature more traditional arrangements and instruments, while still retaining a slight fusion feel.
The opening track from their 2000 album ''
Nàdurra'', "Skye Waulking Song", was used in the
Edexcel
Edexcel (also known since 2013 as Pearson Edexcel) is a British multinational education and examination body formed in 1996 and wholly owned by Pearson plc since 2005. It is the only privately owned examination board in the United Kingdom. Its ...
Music GCSE Specification from 2009 to 2016. The song was in the
world music section, and was used as a representation of traditional folk music combined with
rock music
Rock music is a broad genre of popular music that originated as "rock and roll" in the United States in the late 1940s and early 1950s, developing into a range of different styles in the mid-1960s and later, particularly in the United States and ...
.
Chart success
Their 1992
EP, ''A Prince Among Islands'', was the first
Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic ( gd, Gàidhlig ), also known as Scots Gaelic and Gaelic, is a Goidelic language (in the Celtic branch of the Indo-European language family) native to the Gaels of Scotland. As a Goidelic language, Scottish Gaelic, as well a ...
-language record to have a single that reached the Top 40 of the
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...
: "Coisich A Ruin" peaked at No. 39.
Another single, "Dark Alan (
Ailein duinn)" reached No. 65 in the UK Singles Chart in June 1995.
The album ''
Secret People'' (1993) reached No. 40, and ''To the Moon'' (1995) peaked at No. 41 in the
UK Albums Chart
The Official Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales and (from March 2015) audio streaming in the United Kingdom. It was published for the first time on 22 July 1956 and is compiled every week by the Official Charts ...
.
Discography
Studio albums
# ''Cascade'' (1984)
# ''
Crosswinds
A crosswind is any wind that has a perpendicular component to the line or direction of travel. This affects the aerodynamics of many forms of transport. Moving non-parallel to the wind's direction creates a crosswind component on the object and th ...
'' (1987)
# ''
Sidewaulk
''Sidewaulk'' is the third studio album by folk rock band Capercaillie.
Track listing
# "Alasdair Mhic Cholla Ghasda" (Trad. Arr. Capercaillie) – 2:30
# "Balindore" – 4:00
# "Fisherman's Dream" (John Martyn) – 3:56
# "Sidewaulk Reels" – ...
'' (1989)
# ''
Delirium
Delirium (also known as acute confusional state) is an organically caused decline from a previous baseline of mental function that develops over a short period of time, typically hours to days. Delirium is a syndrome encompassing disturbances ...
'' (1991)
# ''
Secret People'' (1993)
# ''To the Moon'' (1995)
# ''
Beautiful Wasteland'' (1997)
# ''
Nàdurra'' (2000)
# ''
Choice Language'' (2003)
# ''
Roses and Tears'' (2008)
# ''
At the Heart of It All'' (2013)
Live albums
* ''
Live in Concert'' (2002)
Soundtrack albums
* ''
The Blood Is Strong'' (1988)
* ''Glenfinnan (Songs of the '45)'' (1998, recorded in 1995)
Remix albums
* ''
Get Out
''Get Out'' is a 2017 American psychological horror film written, co-produced, and directed by Jordan Peele in his directorial debut. It stars Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Lil Rel Howery, LaKeith Stanfield, Bradley Whitford, Caleb L ...
'' (1992)
(a compilation album of B-sides, remixes & unreleased studio and live tracks)
* ''Capercaillie'' (1994)
(a compilation album of re-worked and remixed tracks)
Compilation albums
* ''Dusk till Dawn: The Best of Capercaillie'' (1998)
* ''Waulk Roots'' (1998) Tracks from early albums ''
Crosswinds
A crosswind is any wind that has a perpendicular component to the line or direction of travel. This affects the aerodynamics of many forms of transport. Moving non-parallel to the wind's direction creates a crosswind component on the object and th ...
'' and ''
Sidewaulk
''Sidewaulk'' is the third studio album by folk rock band Capercaillie.
Track listing
# "Alasdair Mhic Cholla Ghasda" (Trad. Arr. Capercaillie) – 2:30
# "Balindore" – 4:00
# "Fisherman's Dream" (John Martyn) – 3:56
# "Sidewaulk Reels" – ...
''
* ''Grace and Pride: The Anthology 2004-1984'' (2004)
Band members
Current members
*
Karen Matheson
Karen Matheson OBE (born 11 February 1963) is a Scottish folk singer who frequently sings in Gaelic. She is the lead singer of the group Capercaillie and was a member of Dan Ar Braz's group L'Héritage des Celtes, with whom she often sang lead ...
– vocals (1984 – present)
* Charlie McKerron – fiddle (1986 – present)
*
Michael McGoldrick
Michael McGoldrick (born 26 November 1971, in Manchester, England) is a folk musician who plays Irish flute, uilleann pipes, low whistle and bodhran. He also plays other instruments such as acoustic guitar, cittern, and mandolin.
Bands
M ...
– flute, whistle,
uilleann pipes
The uilleann pipes ( or , ) are the characteristic national bagpipe of Ireland. Earlier known in English as "union pipes", their current name is a partial translation of the Irish language terms (literally, "pipes of the elbow"), from their ...
(1997 – present)
*
Manus Lunny
Manus Lunny (born 1962) is an Irish producer and multi-instrumentalist from County Donegal, Ireland, best known as a member of Celtic supergroup Capercaillie. He is the brother of multi-instrumentalist and producer Dónal Lunny.[bouzouki
The bouzouki (, also ; el, μπουζούκι ; alt. pl. ''bouzoukia'', from Greek ), also spelled buzuki or buzuci, is a musical instrument popular in Greece. It is a member of the long-necked lute family, with a round body with a flat top and ...]
, guitar (1989 – present)
*
Donald Shaw – keyboards, accordion (1984 – present)
*
Ewen Vernal
Ewen Vernal (born 27 February 1964) is a Scottish musician.
Born in Glasgow to a musical family, Vernal began taking piano lessons at 8 years old — inspired by a Beatles-singing mother and a choir-leading, saxophone-playing father. Singing ...
– bass (1998 – present)
* David "Chimp" Robertson – percussion (1997 – present)
* Che Beresford – drums (1998 – present)
*
James Mackintosh
Sir James Mackintosh FRS FRSE (24 October 1765 – 30 May 1832) was a Scottish jurist, Whig politician and Whig historian. His studies and sympathies embraced many interests. He was trained as a doctor and barrister, and worked also as a jour ...
– drums (1992 – 1993, 2000, 2013)
File:Karen Matheson 2007.jpg, Karen Matheson
File:FIL 2013 - Capercaillie - 8640.JPG, Donald Shaw
File:Charlie McKerron, Madrid, España, 2017 01.jpg, Charlie McKerron
File:Manus Lunny, Madrid, España, 2017.jpg, Manus Lunny
File:FIL 2013 - Capercaillie - 8694.JPG, Ewen Vernal
File:Michael McGoldrick, Madrid, España, 2017 05.jpg, Michael McGoldrick
File:David Robertson, Madrid, España, 2017 04.jpg, David Robertson
File:Che Beresford, Madrid, España, 2017 03.jpg, Che Beresford
Former members
*Marc Duff – whistle, recorder, wind synthesizer,
bodhrán
The bodhrán (, ; plural ''bodhráin'' or ''bodhráns'') is a frame drum used in Irish music ranging from in diameter, with most drums measuring . The sides of the drum are deep. A goatskin head is tacked to one side (synthetic heads or oth ...
(1984–1995)
*Fred Morrison – Highland small pipes and low whistle (1995–1997)
*John Saich – bass, guitar (1988–1998)
*Shaun Craig – guitar, bouzouki (1984–1988)
*Anton Kirkpatrick – guitar (1988–1989)
*Martin MacLeod – bass, fiddle (1984–1988)
*Joan Maclachlan – fiddle, vocals (1984–1986)
Timeline
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bar:Mike from:01/12/1996 till:end color:woodwind
bar:Shaun from:01/01/1983 till:01/12/1987 color:guitar
bar:Anton from:01/12/1987 till:01/12/1988 color:guitar
bar:Manus from:01/12/1988 till:end color:guitar
bar:John from:01/12/1987 till:01/12/1998 color:bass
bar:Ewen from:01/12/1998 till:end color:bass
bar:James from:01/12/1991 till:01/12/1993 color:drums
bar:James from:01/12/2012 till:end color:drums
bar:Wilf from:01/12/1993 till:01/12/1997 color:drums
bar:David from:01/12/1996 till:end color:drums
bar:Che from:01/12/1997 till:end color:drums
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bar:Martin from:01/01/1983 till:01/12/1987 color:bass
bar:Shaun from:01/01/1983 till:01/12/1987 color:bouzouki
bar:Manus from:01/12/1988 till:end color:bouzouki
bar:John from:01/12/1987 till:01/12/1998 color:guitar
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at:01/01/1987 color:black layer:back #Crosswinds
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at:01/01/1991 color:black layer:back #Delirium
at:01/01/1993 color:black layer:back #Secret People
at:01/01/1995 color:black layer:back #To The Moon
at:01/01/1997 color:black layer:back #Beautiful Wasteland
at:01/01/2000 color:black layer:back #Nadurra
at:01/01/2003 color:black layer:back #Choice Language
at:01/01/2008 color:black layer:back #Roses and Tears
at:01/01/2013 color:black layer:back #At The Heart
References
External links
Capercaillie's official websiteVertical Records websiteCapercaillie's Complete Discography(covers activity up to 1995)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Capercaillie (Band)
Celtic fusion groups
Celtic rock groups
Scottish Gaelic singers
Scottish folk music groups
Musical groups established in 1984
Scottish Gaelic music
Scottish folk rock groups
Green Linnet Records artists
Vertical Records artists