Keeping the tradition alive.
Julie Fowlis – Live at Perthshire Amber

In a time-span of just under ten years Scottish Gaelic singer Julie Fowlis has produced an impressive catalogue of musical success and awards.

A small sample of the honours bestowed upon the singer include critical acclaim for Dòchas (the Scottish band of which Julie Fowlis is a member) and her own debut solo album Mar a Tha Mo Chridhe (As My Heart Is) released in 2005.

Notable awards include Gaelic Singer of the Year at the Scots Trad Music Awards in 2005 and 2008 as well as Album of the Year Awards from the same prestigious source in 2008 (for ‘Cuilidh’) and 2010 (for ‘Uam’).

Julie Fowlis is also perhaps one of the few true crossover musicians who plies her trade in a traditional genre but is played and respected in the world of pop and folk.

Outside of the studio and off the stage her most noted award is without doubt being made Scotland's Gaelic Ambassador (Tosgaire na Gàidhlig) by the Scottish Parliament in 2008.

But as regards her musical career, with some truly classic and beautiful releases already associated with the singer from the Outer Hebrides, her latest offering may be the icing on the cake of that first celebrated decade.
Traditional music, and Scots Gaelic in particular, has vibrancy when performed or sung live, and Live at Perthshire Amber documents that fact in fine fashion.

Fowlis grew up in North Uist in a Gaelic speaking community. Singing is in her blood and her love and passion for the language - especially in song and on stage - shines through.
The album beautifully showcases the voice of Julie Fowlis, accompanied by a band of musicians who just happen to be some of the best in the field of traditional music and folk.

Éamon Doorley, husband of Julie Fowlis, plays bouzouki. Dubliner Tony Byrne features on guitar. Highlander Duncan Chisholm is one of the country's finest fiddle players and Martin O’Neill is a champion of the bodhrán.

Fowlis is a wonderfully descriptive singer, painting pictures for the listener with her voice and delivery of the lyrics - even when the listener may have no knowledge of the language.
In that respect she is similar to another great Scottish singer, Karen Matheson, the singer with folk-rock band Capercaillie and an accomplished solo artist.
Where Matheson sings frequently in Scots Gaelic, Fowlis sings primarily in Scots Gaelic, perhaps in a more traditional form than Capercaillie’s mix of pop-folk, traditional and light rock.

That’s not to say Julie Fowlis doesn’t bring a modern slant to proceedings.
One of her most popular numbers, ‘Lon-Dubh,’ also features on Perthshire Amber.
Most people will know it better as ‘Blackbird,’ the Beatles/ Paul McCartney song.
‘Lon-Dubh’ was featured on BBC Radio 2 when it was first released, a perfect example of that musical crossover mentioned earlier.

It’s not all about Julie Fowlis’ vocal ability.
When she isn’t singing she’s playing the whistle, joining the band as they perform a number of instrumentals, or sets, of predominately traditional material.
The band support the voice of Julie Fowlis perfectly, but part of the charm of Live at Perthshire Amber is hearing the band in full flight on those instrumental runs and reels.

But there is no doubt the true highlight of the album is listening to and appreciating the voice of Julie Fowlis.
Whether unaccompanied as on the opening number ‘Hò bha mi, hé bha mi’ (‘Hò I was, hè I was’), hauntingly beautiful on ‘Rugadh mi ‘teis meadhan na mara’ (‘I was born in the midst of the sea’) or light and airy on ‘Turas san Lochmor’ (‘Journey in Lochmor’), she is truly captivating.  

The album itself was recorded at the Pitlochry Festival Theatre on October 29th 2010, the first night of the Perthshire Amber Festival.
The man behind the autumn festival is renowned singer songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Dougie MacLean and it's fitting he is featured here on the Bonus Track ‘Pabay Mòr’ (one of his own compositions) in duet with Julie Fowlis.

Julie Fowlis has toured throughout Scotland, Ireland central Europe and America. She has appeared on the internationally acclaimed Transatlantic Sessions and has her own show on Radio Scotland. She is one of the leading lights in bringing the music of the Western Isles and the Highlands of Scotland to a worldwide audience.

Long may that continue.  

Ross Muir
March 2011


The following audio tracks are presented to accompany  the above review and promote the work of the artist/s. No infringement of copyright is intended.

Turas san Lochmor
Rugadh mi 'teis meadhan na mara
Pabay Mòr (featuring Dougie MacLean)