How a Hebridean band became an unlikely hit
● Hebridean outfit were formed ‘to pass time on a Saturday night’
A Hebridean band who have gone from playing in bars to selling out Glasgow’s Barrowland in a year and a Gaelic choir’s bid for Eurovision glory are in the running for major music industry awards.
Peat & Diesel, the band behind the “Peatlemania” phenomenon that has swept across the Scottish festival scene this year as the band has gone viral on social media, and Alba, the group led by the singer and weather presenter Joy Dunlop in the Eurovision Choir contest in Sweden, are among the contenders for honours at the Scots Trad Music Awards next month.
Skerryvore, Heisk, Session A9, Sian, Robyn Stapleton and Benedict Morris, the current BBC Radio Scotland Young Musician of the Year, will all be performing at the awards, which are broadcast live on Bbcalbaandstreamedworldwide on the BBC iplayer.
Other contenders include singer-songwriters Karine Polwart, Claire Hastings, Siobhan Miller, Kim Carnie and Hannah Rarity, the groups Blazin’ Fiddles, Tannahill Weavers, Tide Lines and Shooglenifty, musicians Adam Sutherland, Jenn Butterworth and Tom Oakes, and composers Catriona Hawksworth, Hayley Keenan, Jenna Reidandmischamacpherson.
The venue of the year title will be contested by An Tobar, on the Isle of Mull, St Margaret’s, a new arts hub in Braemar, the String Cafe in Lerwick, in Shetland, and the Soundhouse series of concerts held at the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh.
The Alba choir’s participation against nine other countries is shortlisted for event of the year, along with the Tiree Music Festival, Under Canvas – a new series of shows in the grounds of Eden Court Theatre in Inverness – and a showcase staged by the Ross & Cromarty traditional music group Feis Rois at the world-famous Festival Interceltique de Lorient in France.
Dunlop said: “Being Scotland’s first ever Eurovision entry was a unforgettable experience and to be able to do so in Gaelic made it all the more special. The singers worked unbelievably hard to produce a first-rate performance.
“I’m thrilled that their hard work and dedication is being recognised.”
Peat & Diesel will compete with Rura, Talisk, Fara and The Outside Track for the best live act title at the awards, which are being staged at Aberdeen’s Music Hall.
Fisherman Callum “Boydie” Macleod, electrician Innes Scott and delivery driver Uilleam “Uilly” Macleod formed Peat & Diesel on the Isle of Lewis 18 months ago and have swiftly built a following on social media thanks to videos of their “nonsense songs”, written by singer Macleod.
This year saw the band attract huge audiences at festivals in their native Stornoway, Mull,inverness,ullapool,skye and Benbecula. They moved their first Glasgow show next year from Oran Mor to the Barrowland Ballroom due to demand for tickets when they went on sale in July and added a full Scottish tour when it sold out.
Scott, the band’s accordionist, said: “I don’t even know why we have been nominated for anything. It’s crazy what is going on, we are just three amateurs that play the songs Boydie writes for a bit of craic.
“We don’t have the ability or the perfection all the other bands on the Scottish music scene have, but if we can supply some craic to even one person we’re happy.
“The band started about 18 months ago as a way to pass time on a Saturday night, but for some reason it has spiralled out of control.
“Most people wonder how it’s happened, but me and Uilly both know it’s because of the magic that Boydie creates in his comedy songs – there’s nobody on this earth like him.”