Capercaillie was formed in 1984 while many of the members were students in high school. This was the same year that Donald Shaw was All Britain Accordion Champion. They have since developed a reputation as Scotland's foremost Celtic Band, having sold over a million albums and toured in 25 countries. Their music, both modern and fused with Celtic traditions, has been described as being given the "'Capercaillie Treatment' consisting of taking a traditional Gaelic song, adding modern and original arrangements while still using traditional instruments, then adding loops and samples. The treatment is then completed with Matheson's breathtaking voice. The end result is a very modern-sounding song with its heart and soul bathed in Celtic tradition."
Fronted by Karen Matheson ("Karen Matheson has a throat that is surely touched by God...... Sean Connery"), traditional songs have been the backbone of their material over the years. Karen learned many of these songs from her grandmother, a singer from the island of Barra in the Outer Hebrides. Karen has been called "the finest Gaelic singer alive today," and this reputation has been earned in a career which began with her performing in local ceilidhs when she was a child and progressed to her winning the silver pendant for best singer at the MOD, a gathering of Gaelic culture from all over the world.
Capercaillie released their first album in 1984 whilst still at school, and over the following albums, established themselves as "the most exciting and vibrant band in the field of Celtic music today" (Billboard). Courtesy Calabash Music
