Additional acts confirmed for the 2018 line-up:
- “Sons of Argyll” (All-star line-up paying tribute to Argyll lives lost)
- Sharon Shannon ft Michael McGoldrick and Susan O’Neill
- Hudson Taylor
- Chunks (20th anniversary)
- PLUS MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED
An impressive all-star line-up of 24 top names in the Scottish traditional music industry will come together at Oban Live 2018 in an exclusive collaboration named ‘Sons of Argyll’. Performing on Friday June 8 at the two-day festival, the project will pay homage to late inspirational figures from the region that played a key role in the lives and music of the performers involved.
Musicians from Tide Lines, Skipinnish, Skerryvore, Blazin’ Fiddles, Trail West and Gunna Sound, as well as this year’s Mòd Gold Medallists, Rachel Walker and Alasdair Currie, members of Oban Gaelic Choir and world class pipers, Angus MacColl, Angus J MacColl and Stuart Liddell, are included in the project line-up. Also involved are Marie Fielding, Phil Cunningham, Craig & Hector MacFadyen, Sileas Sinclair, Mary Catherine MacNeil and Archie & Alex McAllister.
Sons of Argyll, which is founded and co-ordinated by Trail West’s Ian Smith, pays particular tribute to the recently passed Norman MacLean (Tiree/Uist), Ian’s father Bernie Smith (Tiree), Murdo MacLeod (Lochgilphead), Angus MacColl (Mull), Nonny MacInnes (Oban), Colin Campbell (Oban), Calum MacLean (Tobermory) and many more.
Announcing the project on social media, Oban Live said of the highly regarded men: “Throughout the generations, Argyll and the Isles have produced many men of wit, talent, and character. As each year goes by, familiar faces and much loved personalities are lost and, with their passing, Argyll loses another son. Join us in paying homage and remembering some of the “Sons of Argyll” who we have lost in recent years and who have helped shape the Argyll we know today. ”
Women of Argyll will be honoured too in a performance of Andy M Stewart’s song Queen of Argyll, performed by former member of Silly Wizard, Phil Cunningham and Tide Lines’ Robert Robertson.
The project will also remember ex-service men and women, as 2018 marks 100 years since the end of WW1, and those lost at sea.
Ian Smith said: I’ve been a travelling musician since the age of 16 and without a doubt my favourite part of the job is the opportunity I’ve had to meet so many different people throughout Argyll and the rest of Scotland.”
He added: “In the last few years Argyll has lost many well-known characters, many of whom I counted as good friends, including my own father, Bernie Smith. I’m delighted and honoured to have the opportunity to organise this performance, which I hope will be a fitting tribute to those we’ve lost in recent years.”
Daniel Gillespie, Artistic and Managing Director for Oban Live said: “2017 saw some very special people taken too soon. These were not only great friends but also people that were hugely passionate about Argyll and the Isles, our culture and, in particular, our music. Although they are no longer with us, their legacy lives on and this was the foundation of the Sons of Argyll concept that is set to be an unforgettable tribute to all these inspirational characters.”
Along with Sons of Argyll, more acts have been announced for Oban Live 2018’s overall line-up. Widely respected and deeply talented Irish musician Sharon Shannon, featuring multi-instrumentalist and composer Michael McGoldrick and Irish singer/songwriter Susan O’Neill, Irish duo Hudson Taylor and local Oban band Chunks join the exciting list of artists confirmed for Oban Live 2018. More acts will be announced at a later date.
Oban Live is Argyll’s biggest outdoor live music festival and takes place this year on Friday June 8 and Saturday June 9 at Oban’s Mossfield Stadium. It won best Outdoor Event/Festival Excellence at EventIt’s E Awards in Glasgow last week. This will be the event’s third year running, historically entertaining around 7,800 attendees over the weekend and bringing in £1.39million to the local rural economy. The latest line-up additions will join Skerryvore, Skipinnish, Hermitage Green, Heron Valley, Blazin’ Fiddles and Oban High School Pipe Band with even more acts still to be announced. Oban Live 2018 is supported by BID4Oban and EventScotland, part of VisitScotland’s Events Directorate. Tickets are on sale now at www.obanlive.com.
Sons of Argyll House Band:
- Ian Smith of Trail West
- Marie Fielding
- Ross Wilson of Tide Lines
- Seonaidh MacIntyre of Trail West
- Anna Massie of Blazin’ Fiddles
Sons of Argyll Guest Artists:
- Angus MacColl
- Angus J MacColl
- Stuart Liddell
- Archie McAllister
- Alex McAllister
- Robert Robertson
- Sileas Sinclair
- Oban Gaelic Choir
- Mary Catherine MacNeil
- Alasdair Currie
- Johnny Scoular
- Campbell Brown
- Craig McFadyen
- Hector McFadyen
- Martin Gillespie
- Daniel Gillespie
- Angus MacPhail
- Rachel Walker
- Phil Cunningham
Sons of Argyll set list (*may change as project develops):
- Robert Robertson with Phil Cunningham – Queen of Argyll (song for the women of Argyll)
- Pipe Set (tribute to Norman MacLean) – My Land, Scarce o’ Tatties…
- Archie and Alex McAllister – Set of Tunes
- Robert Robertson – Caman Man (tribute to Nonny MacInnes)
- Mary Catherine MacNeil with Oban Gaelic Choir –Nam Aonar le Mo Smuaintean (tribute to ex-servicemen and women from Argyll as we reach 100 years since the end of WW1)
- Martin Gillespie, Daniel Gillespie & Angus MacPhail – Set of Tunes (tribute to Bernie Smith)
- Alasdair Currie – Sìne Bhàin
- Johnny Scoular and Campbell Brown – Crofter’s Son (tribute to Angus MacColl, Mull)
- Rachel Walker and Angus MacPhail – Maraiche nan Cuantan (tribute to those lost at sea)
- Hector and Craig MacFadyen – Set of Tunes (tribute to Colin Campbell and Calum MacLean)
- Alasdair & Robert – Tir a’ Mhurain (tribute to Murdo MacLeod)
- Everyone – Always Argyll led into a tune set finishing with Pipes
Sharon Shannon ft. Michael McGoldrick and Susan O’Neill
“Widely respected and deeply talented” Irish musician, Sharon Shannon is an accordion and fiddle player who is not shy of fusing her Irish music roots with all sorts of different styles, from reggae to country. While she is known for her arrangements of traditional Irish tunes and Irish-influenced compositions, she has always been eager to explore new styles from around the world, and to meet and work with other musicians. Sharon will be joined on-stage by talented instrumentalist, flautist, whistle player, uilleann piper and composer Michael McGoldrick and Irish singer/songwriter Susan O’Neill.
Hudson Taylor
Irish duo, Hudson Taylor released their long-awaited debut album “Singing for strangers” in 2015. The multi-instrumentalists honed their craft busking on the streets of their hometown of Dublin as well as all over Europe and in fact gained the albums name from their love of entertaining anyone who would stop and listen. Having spent the majority of 2017 recording their next album and touring – they have just released their brand their EP “Feel it again” and are just back from touring the US having already completed a sold out European and UK tour earlier in the year. Summer of 2018 will be spent doing festivals all over Europe and the UK and Ireland.
Chunks
Celebrating their 20th year in 2018, Chunks are a three-piece band from Oban, hugely popular in the local area as well as playing all over Scotland and beyond. The three members are lifelong pals and have been playing in bands together since high school. They perform regularly at festivals on the west coast and the islands and Oban Live will be a highlight of their anniversary year.
Oban Live 2018 is supported by EventScotland
EventScotland is working to make Scotland the perfect stage for events. By developing an exciting portfolio of sporting and cultural events EventScotland is helping to raise Scotland’s international profile and boost the economy by attracting more visitors. For further information about EventScotland, its funding programmes and latest event news visit www.EventScotland.org. Follow EventScotland on Twitter @EventScotNews.
EventScotland is a team within VisitScotland’s Events Directorate, the national tourism organisation which markets Scotland as a tourism destination across the world, gives support to the tourism industry and brings sustainable tourism growth to Scotland. For more information about VisitScotland see www.visitscotland.org or for consumer information on Scotland as a visitor destination see www.visitscotland.com.