Last updated: 16 hours ago
From their homeland roots of Argyll in the highlands of Scotland, Capercaillie have been credited with being the major force in bringing traditional Celtic music to the world stage and inspiring the great resurgence so evident today.
Even four ground-breaking decades after Capercaillie first performed as teenagers in their native Scottish Highlands; even as they continue the worldwide musical journey that’s taken them from the Brazilian rainforest to the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, not to mention into the pop charts – it is the ancient Gaelic culture that still inspires them the most.
Their debut album Cascade (1984) earned them a local reputation, followed by Crosswinds (1986) and The Blood Is Strong (1988), a soundtrack for a Channel 4 series on Scottish Gaels. Their sound blended traditional elements with pop and dance rhythms. In 1989, the band’s evolution continued with Sidewaulk, marking a defining interplay between Karen Matheson’s vocals, Shaw’s atmospheric keyboard, and assertive rhythms.
Capercaillie’s 1991 major-label debut album Delirium featured their first original English songs and hit “Coisich a Ruin", the first Gaelic song to reach the UK Top 40. They continued with albums like Secret People (1993) and Beautiful Wasteland (1998), exploring various musical styles while remaining grounded in Gaelic traditions.
In their 40th year, Capercaillie releases ReLoved (2024), a full symphonic arrangement of their music, marking a monumental moment in their career.
Even four ground-breaking decades after Capercaillie first performed as teenagers in their native Scottish Highlands; even as they continue the worldwide musical journey that’s taken them from the Brazilian rainforest to the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, not to mention into the pop charts – it is the ancient Gaelic culture that still inspires them the most.
Their debut album Cascade (1984) earned them a local reputation, followed by Crosswinds (1986) and The Blood Is Strong (1988), a soundtrack for a Channel 4 series on Scottish Gaels. Their sound blended traditional elements with pop and dance rhythms. In 1989, the band’s evolution continued with Sidewaulk, marking a defining interplay between Karen Matheson’s vocals, Shaw’s atmospheric keyboard, and assertive rhythms.
Capercaillie’s 1991 major-label debut album Delirium featured their first original English songs and hit “Coisich a Ruin", the first Gaelic song to reach the UK Top 40. They continued with albums like Secret People (1993) and Beautiful Wasteland (1998), exploring various musical styles while remaining grounded in Gaelic traditions.
In their 40th year, Capercaillie releases ReLoved (2024), a full symphonic arrangement of their music, marking a monumental moment in their career.
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