Scottish traditional folk band The Shee are the epitome of the well-used phrase “Celtic Connections.”
Borne from traditional roots, the hugely popular all-girl six-piece have produced an adventurous brew of folk, gaelic and bluegrass, blending a range of individual musical influences through instrumentation including Electro-harp, accordion, fiddles, flute and mandolin alongside three powerful voices.
Described as “flirtatiously funky”, their music features original compositions with a wealth of traditional material.
Their impressive array of individual musical achievements include BBC Radio Scotland’s Young Traditional Musician 2006, as well as a 2009 nomination for Best Live Act at the MG Alba Scots Trad Awards.
They’re hoping tonight’s audience in Dundee will provide yet another highlight in an impressive year for the popular all-girl six-piece.
They are touring to promote their latest album Continuum – an exciting new project in which they asked six of their favourite folk musicians to compose pieces for the band to mark their 10-year anniversary.
For the individual pieces they chose Scots singer-songwriter Karine Polwart, Brian Finnegan, Chris Wood, Kathryn Tickell, Martin Simpson and Andy Cutting to compose the tunes, which are performed by The Shee in their live show. This album, then, is the aural souvenir of that collaboration, 10 tracks varying in theme and influence but bound by exquisite craftwomanship.
There might be six performers in the band, and multi instrumental skills in abundance, but each track allows the narrative – be that words or melody – to take centre stage with accompaniment that is never the most obvious choice but complements naturally.
Songs are delivered by full bodied, confident vocals, a call to arms, like the curious ‘Cradle Song’ where Olivia Ross continues to sing even when the storm is closing in around her.
The Shee are Lillias Kinsman-Blake, a touring musician and workshop leader from the Scottish Borders, fiddler Shona Mooney, also from the borders and a recipient of the 2006 BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year, singer and multi-instrumentalist Rachel Newton, Olivia Ross, a singer, fiddle player, song-writer and violin instructor from the highlands, Laura-Beth Salter, a singer, mandolin player and composer from Lincolnshire who is now based in Glasgow and Amy Thatcher, an accordionist and composer based in the North East of England.
Over the past 10 years, The Shee have performed at some of the world’s best known music venues and festivals.
Caird Hall, Dundee, September 30
More info: theshee.com
