Peatbog Faeries

Peatbog Faeries
Origin Isle of Skye, Scotland
Genres Celtic fusion, experimental
Years active 1994–present
Labels Peatbog Records (2003−present)
Greentrax Recordings (1994−2002)
Website www.peatbogfaeries.com
Members
  • Peter Morrison
  • Ross Couper
  • Innes Hutton
  • Tom Salter
  • Graeme Stafford
  • Stu Hackney
Past members
  • Davie Tait
  • Didi Findley
  • Lorraine Marshall
  • Alan Edmunds
  • Ben Ivitsky
  • Ali Pentland
  • Norman Austin
  • Roddie Neilson
  • Leighton Jones
  • Adam Sutherland
  • Iain Copeland
  • Peter Tickell

The Peatbog Faeries are a largely instrumental Celtic fusion band. Formed in 1991, they are based in Dunvegan on the Isle of Skye, Scotland.[1]

Their music embodies many styles and influences, including folk, electronica, rock and jazz, - but their main influence is traditional celtic music. The band's unique sound is created through a mix of programmed effects and traditional celtic arrangements, played on bagpipes, fiddles, and whistles.

The band have twice won "Live Band of the Year" at the Scottish Traditional Music Awards and were nominated for "Live Band of the Year" at the BBC Radio 2 folk awards.

History

The Peatbog Faeries formed in 1991. They recorded and released their debut album Mellowosity in 1996 on Greentrax Recordings.[2] Two years later they signed to a New York label and recorded their second album, Faerie Stories. Due to problems at the record company the CD was not released for a further two years.

For their third album the band set up their own label, Peatbog Records. On the label, they released Welcome to Dun Vegas in 2003. The album introduced a small amount of vocals. In 2005, they released Croftwork, which saw the first appearance of brass instruments on an album. These have been a regular feature of the band's albums and live performances ever since.

The band toured in 2008, recording a series of gigs and subsequently released their first live album, Live, made up of two of these performances.[3] The band's seventh studio album, Dust, was released in August 2011.

In 2010, they were inducted into the Hebridean Celtic Festival’s hall of fame.[4]

The Peatbog Faeries released their latest album, Blackhouse, on 25 May 2015.

Music

The band's genre is celtic fusion, and like the genre, the band are often seen as very experimental musicians. Their debut album, Mellowosity, is often seen as a quieter, more alternative rock album with the usual celtic vibes. It is believed that Pink Floyd were a cited influence. By much surprise, the band's 2001 Faerie Stories offered a completely different style of celtic fusion. Trance music became the main theme of the album, as well as electronic dance music and even reggae at times. Because of the electronic elements in the band's sound, their sound was once termed "acid croft".[5]

The band's third album, Welcome to Dun Vegas, was a lot less celtic at times, with bagpipes absent in a few of the songs, and the overall genre was alternative rock, returning to that of Mellowosity. The opening track ("Wacko King Hako"), however, seems to be a mix of both alternative rock and dance music, both of whom the band previously used. The band used a brand new type of celtic fusion for Croftwork. The new vibe matched reggae, electronic dance music, alternative rock, but most importantly brass roots, with saxophones appearing in many of its songs. What Men Deserve to Lose appeared to be quite similar to Croftwork, with the brass roots returning, but with more alternative rock audible towards the end of the album.[6]

Previews of Dust hinted that it is more ambient than previous work, but with the original roots returning, whilst a review of Blackhouse said the album draws "inspirations from everywhere. Jazz, funk, reggae and dance rub shoulders with special effects and synths, tradition combines with visions, contemporary rocks along with heritage."[7]

Notes

Faerie Stories was originally made for a US record label which the release fell through before they self released the album.

Current line-up

Discography

Studio albums

Live albums

Compilation albums

References

  1. ↑ John D. Buchanan. "Peatbog Faeries - Biography - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
  2. ↑ Dave Sleger. "Mellowosity - Peatbog Faeries - Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
  3. ↑ "Peatbog Faeries: Live". The List. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
  4. ↑ "Runrig to headline isles' event". BBC News. 18 February 2010.
  5. ↑ http://www.insuffolk.com/peatbog-faeries-interview/
  6. ↑ "AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
  7. ↑ http://www.folkwords.com/folkwordsreviews_94113.html
  8. ↑ "Larry Kirwan's Celtic Invasion". Valley Entertainment. Retrieved 6 March 2013.

Further reading

External links

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