Dàimh

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"This is a great Gaelic band and definitely worthy of the title Gaelic Super Group." - Bright Young Folk

Forging the sound of the New Tradition, Dàimh are West Highland Music’s proudest exponents. Dàimh, the Gaelic word for Connection, perfectly describes the electrifying musical interplay between the individual band members and portrays the interaction with audiences attending their breath-taking live shows around the world. It also translates as the connection to the deep musical well from which they draw their inspiration.

On the Scottish music scene the name Dàimh has come to represent a sound of a time and place a musical integrity that many strive to emulate. Formed over 20 years ago the band have embodied the current wave of resurgence in Gaelic culture; the current line up includes younger musicians that have progressed through the thriving Fèisean movement and Gaelic medium education system and joined the 3 remaining founding members to continue the cycle of the tradition. Recent achievements include receiving the MG ALBA Folk Band of the Year Award in 2015 and 2018 and passing the halfway mark on their career ambition of performing on every populated Scottish Island.

"Dàimh have carved a reputation from the bedrock of Gaelic culture... authentic Gaelic music with a modern edge and a magnificent range of expression." - Folkworld

Angus MacKenzie: Highland Pipes/Border Pipes/Whistles
A Gaelic-speaking piper from Mabou, Cape Breton Island on Canada’s East Coast residing for the past 19 years on the Isle of Skye. His piping style draws on his strong South Uist roots along with the dance-influenced rhythms of Cape Breton music. 2012 saw Angus, along with his brother Kenneth nominated for Roots Traditional Recording of the Year at the East Coast Music Awards for their album, Pìob is Fidheall.

Gabe McVarish: Fiddle
Hailing from Northern California, where his family settled after emigrating from Morar, Lochaber via Prince Edward Island. At the age of 17 Gabe travelled to his ancestral homeland of the Scottish Highlands where he spent a year studying music under the tutelage of fiddler and tradition bearer Angus Grant Sr. After completing a degree in Scottish music Gabe released solo album Eclection, a culmination of fiddle styles and repertoire from both sides of th Atlantic.

Murdo Cameron: Mandola/Mandolin/Accordion
Murdo comes from a long line of traditional Gaelic singers and was immersed in music growing up Glenelg, a wee village a stones throw across from the Isle of Skye, famous for being twinned with Mars. A member of the Mountain Rescue, Murdo started out as an accordion player and piper, who in the last few years has been a busy guitar accompanist and stringed things enthusiast.

Ellen MacDonald: Vocals
Widely tipped as the most exciting thing to happen to Gaelic song since the invention of the Ceilidh, Ellen MacDonald is fast finding a flock of fans and followers with her natural, smoky voice and individual interpretation of songs covering the full emotional spectrum of the Gael. Born and raised in Inverness with strong maternal ties to the language and songs of North Uist and Scalpay, Ellen studied at Scotland’s only dedicated Gaelic language college, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig on the the Isle of Skye. Ellen’s acting skills have seen her nominated for ‘Best Performance’ at the FilmG awards for her role in a Gaelic short film ‘Briste’ and landing a key role in the BBC’s new Gaelic drama “Bannan”.

Ross Martin: Guitar
From Arisaig though now lives in neighbouring Morar. A fisherman from early teens until his twenties and now an active member of the Coastguard, Ross has gone on to tour Europe and the U.S. with Irish singer Karan Casey. Ross’ unique style of guitar accompaniment has him in demand for numerous projects including Dual, a collaborative exploration of traditional Gaelic music of Scotland and Ireland by Danù singer Muireann Nic Amhlaoimh and Hebridean singing sensation, Julie Fowlis.

"Love, life, loss and Lochaber; Tuneship displays the growing maturity of a group whose work screams of place but which i rooted firmly in the present." - Sunday Herald