www.footstompin.com

LEAVING HOME
The Baltic Tae Byzantium by Brian McNeill: This long-awaited album on the theme of emigration from Scotland to Europe is a sequel to Brian’s highly acclaimed 1991 album, The Back O’ The North Wind, which dealt with emigration from Scotland to North America. The release of The Baltic Tae Byzantium was ‘work in progress’ for a considerable time but the end result is well worth the wait. It has a great line-up including Dick Gaughan and Sylvia Barnes. The CD is available on www.footstomping.com.

HIGH OCTANE FIDDLE
Spreefix - Fullsceilidh Spelemannslag: This Shetland fiddle-driven line-up, backed by a multi-punch packing rhythm section has been wowing the audiences throughout their home islands. The10-piece band has a repertoire drawn from their own Shetland tradition as well as Nordic and Celtic influences. The band is building a reputation for releasing their high-octane maelstrom of feverish melodies on audiences, to great appeal. “The Shetland spree album of the year.” (Shetland Times)

GAELIC GIRL POWER
Fionnar - Sgoil Roc: A new EP containing three original songs by the young singing group from the Highlands. Sgoil Roc teamed the teenage Gaelic vocal harmony group, Fionnar, with professional Gaelic writers and musicians. The Sgoil Roc project aims to boost confidence amongst Gaelic speaking teenagers and to demonstrate to them that they can produce a quality product in Gaelic which has a wide appeal amongst their peer group.