Ground-breaking, chart-topping, genre-bending, globetrotting, instantly enthralling… it’s little wonder that Talisk rank highly amongst the most in-demand folk-based groups to emerge from Scotland in the last decade and more.
Mohsen Amini (BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards’ Musician of the Year 2018), Graeme Armstrong and Benedict Morris (BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2019) fuse concertina, guitar and fiddle to produce a truly innovative, multi-layered signature that has captivated audiences around the globe. At its core, three seemingly acoustic instruments – but in the hands of three master craftsmen; one unmistakable, bold sound and a captivating live show.
Alongside extensive touring, Talisk have stacked up major awards for their explosively energetic, artfully woven sound – including Folk Band of the Year at the BBC Alba Scots Trad Music Awards, a BBC Radio 2 Folk Award, and the Belhaven Bursary for Innovation. Appearances at leading festivals across multiple continents have amassed a die-hard following – including closing out Saturday night’s main stage at the 2019 Cambridge Folk Festival, Denmark’s Tønder Festival, the Rainforest World Music Festival in Malaysian Borneo, WOMADs UK, Chile and Las Palmas, Edmonton Folk Festival, Milwaukee Irish Festival, three back-to-back years at the Philadelphia Folk Festival, and six appearances at Glasgow’s Celtic Connections.
The band welcomed 2022 with a TV audience of over a million, performing to widespread acclaim on BBC1’s Hogmanay 2022 – shortly followed by a sold-out show in Glasgow’s iconic Old Fruitmarket, the release of their hotly anticipated third album (earning their second five-star Top of the World review in Songlines and taking their streaming figures into multiple millions) before returning to extensive touring across the USA, UK and Europe.
“Extraordinary” / Mark Radcliffe, BBC Radio 2
“Doubling the power of three” / The Scotsman
“the technical ability of each member is clear in their energetic, dynamic sound” / Songlines
“an exciting sound that, in this case literally, drags an audience out of its seats.” / The Glasgow Herald
“incredible!” / Rolling Stone (Australia)
“Stunning! Our audience loved them, XPN loved them …this year’s Thursday night concert was the best attended ever. They were amazing – it was a love fest all round!” / Lisa Schwartz, Philadelphia Folk Festival
The Lucky Doves:
Rich, story driven song writing, enchanting acoustic pluck and a fantastic folk/Americana/rock style that just keeps giving.
“A Springsteen and Steve Earl vibe” Jim Gellatly, Amazing Radio.
Welcome to the exciting new world of “The Lucky Doves”, an emerging five piece from Scotland currently bringing their mesmerising melodies to venues throughout the country.
The sound is brought together with band members Grant Dinwoodie – songwriter/front man, Dave Bass – guitar, Jamie McClennan – fiddle, Fergus Henderson on drums and Barry Gemmell – bass.
The band have been nominated as best performing artist at the Dumfries & Galloway Life Awards and release their brand new single Book of Bruce on November 12th 2022, the night of the awards ceremony.
The single was recorded and produced by Ross Hamilton – Texas / Robbie Williams / Olly Murs / Sharleen Spiteri / Saint Phnx .
Forming during lockdown 2020, this has been a breakout year for The Lucky Doves. Highlights include performing to over 2000 people at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, a sold out show in their hometown of Dumfries and summer festival appearances.
Rose Byers:
At the age of 17, Lockerbie Academy pupil Rose Byers has already made a name for herself on the traditional music scene. She is passionate about Scots Song, in particular the works of Robert Burns, and has performed and played the fiddle across the country, from the Scottish Parliament to the Edinburgh Fringe.
With her beautiful clear voice, she has attracted a growing audience. In 2021 she won a Creative Scotland to record her first single, which she wrote with Aaron Jones. Among her awards are the British Museum’s National Volunteer of the Year for her work as junior ambassador of Ellisland, Burns’ farm near Auldgirth. She was also named Dumfries & Galloway Life Magazine Performer of the Year in 2018.
In September Rose will embark on a four-year degree in Traditional Music at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow.