Music On The Isle Of Skye

Dancing at a Ceilidh

Skye has a strong musical tradition reaching back through the centuries, and for an island of less than ten thousand people it has given the world a long list of renowned artists in a surprising variety of genres.

The island has had a particularly strong tradition of piping dating back to the mid sixteenth century. Duirinish was home to the MacCrimmon family, hereditary pipers to the MacLeods. The long laments (known as Pibrochs) such as the the ‘Lament for the Children’ by Padraig Mor MacCrimmon and the ‘Lament for Mary Macleod’ by his son Padraig Og MacCrimmon and are thought by many to be among the greatest glories of Scottish, let alone Gaelic, culture.

Song have also been prominent through the centuries, with the late nineteenth century Mairi Mor nan Oran (Great Mary of the Songs), being particularly well remembered today – her radical songs celebrated the islanders struggle against oppression.

Far from declining, the island’s musicians have if anything become even more prominent in more recent times. Most famous of the modern Skye bands are Runrig, the Celtic rock band, many of whose songs have Gaelic lyrics. Runrig gained a huge following through the eighties and nineties and although lead singer Donnie Munro left the group and began a solo career (as well as a spell as a politician), the group do still perform occasionally at concerts today. Other popular Skye bands on the Folk Festival circuit include the well-known Peat Bog Faeries, whose music combines traditional instruments with driving up-tempo beats, and Cliar, the ‘Gaelic supergroup’ who feature close vocal harmonies, pipes and harp. The latest superstar from the island is dance music maker and DJ Mylo (aka Myles MacInnes); his debut album ‘Destroy Rock and Roll’ stormed the charts and wowed critics in 2003. CD’s from all these artists are available to buy online from our Skye books and music shop.

Skye has also been associated with many musicians who have arrived from elsewhere. Back in the sixties, Donovan founded a idealistic commune in Waternish which, during its short life, was home to a number of musicians. For a couple of decades, the Strathaird peninsula was owned by and home to Iain Anderson, frontman of Jethro Tull, whilst Rebel’s Wood in Duirinish was named after Joe Strummer of The Clash: he instigated its planting by Future Forests as an early example of carbon offsetting. KT Tunstall has also been inspired by the island, and recorded her most recent album here as well as playing several gigs at the Skye Music Festival.

The Skye Music festival (held at Ashaig Airstrip near Broadford) is only one of a string of annual festivals on the island today. These include the Skye Festival and Feisean, celebrating traditional music and gaelic; the Pipe Band Festival, the Edinbane Festival and the Portree-based Accordian and Fiddle Festival, whilst Drams in the Field is held at Glenelg just across the Kylerhea ferry. The Aros Centre has concerts featuring many top artists, whilst there are also regular ceilidhs and dances held all around the island – to find one whilst you are here, it’s best to have a look in the local newspaper, the West Highland Free Press.