Dundee-based Calum McCrimmon is a rock legend in piper’s clothing.
With a background in traditional Scottish music, including being a finalist in the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2007 competition, he is already a well-respected figure in the folk scene.
But Canadian-born Calum was never going to be locked into any one genre and is equally at home playing pounding indie-rock-folk tunes with his mates Luva Anna as he is on a gentle, floating highland air on his beloved low whistle at Celtic Connections.
Learning the pipes at an early age, he moved with his family to Monifieth at the age of nine. He picked up guitar at 15 and thus began his songwriting journey, although he admits it wasn’t until he went to study music at university that he really branched out into other forms.
“I started listening to folk music then, more than just pipe bands. Pipe bands and The Beatles,” he laughed.
Now 28, he has packed in a decade of mainly folky performances around the continent and is a member of successful traditional band Breabach.
During that time, Calum continued songwriting and composing, gaining a Dewar Award (set up in memory of Donald Dewar), which allowed him the freedom to produce and record his own project, the album Man’s Ruin, a superb collection of his own songs recorded by some of Scotland’s finest young musicians.
On the disc he has successfully managed to combine pipes, whistles and flute with guitar, bass and drums, where he also unleashes his powerful yet soulful voice for the first time on record.AcclaimThe album came out earlier this year to great critical acclaim, convincing Calum he had to put a band together and get out on the road.
Man’s Ruin the band come to Duke’s Corner on Friday night, promising a song-led set with just a hint of the traditional tunes for added good measure.
“You can never abandon the pipes and whistles and the high-energy tune-flying,” he said. “We all do that in different bands anyway, so it’s easy to launch into something.”
The band comprises Calum on vocals, guitar and whistles, drummer Scott Donald, guitarist and vocalist Innes Watson of Treacherous Orchestra fame, James Lindsay on bass and vocals and flautist Hamish Napier, also on whistles and vocals.
“It’s only our second official gig but I’ve known these guys for years as friends and great musicians. When you’re putting together something, especially a band, you want the best chemistry.
“It works great for us, we’re all pals and keen on the music. We’re getting the gig filmed on Friday, so I’m hoping for a good crowd. It’s a free gig as well, so it should be a cracking night.”
Doors open at 8pm.
If you can’t make the gig, there’s a chance to hear the band on BBC3 on Tuesday night on Mary-Anne Kennedy’s World On 3 show at 9pm.