Griogair Labhruidh
Griogair Labhruidh is a singer who performs in the Scottish Gaelic language, plays the pipes and composes both bagpipe music and Gaelic song/poetry. Griogair belongs to a West Highland piping and song tradition that has been in his family for many generations.
Griogair was brought up in Gartocharn (Loch Lomond) but on his father's side he belongs to the Labhraidh/Laouridh family of North Argyll; a family of pipers, Gaelic singers and tradition bearers. His mother's family have been pipers for several generations and also belong to North Argyll reinforcing his unbreakable link to his native tradition.
Because of the many negative factors influencing the decline of the language, his native area no longer has a predominantly Gaelic speaking population, but Griogair is determined to keep his particular part in its astoundingly rich Gaelic tradition alive through his music
Griogair has toured Europe, performed at many music festivals and regularly works with some of the most notable performers of both traditional Scottish and Irish music. He has given numerous radio and television performances in both Scotland and Ireland. Having collaborated with Irish musicians, he considers the connections between Scottish and Irish Gaelic culture to be very important and this connection features in his music.
His critically acclaimed debut album 'Dail-riata' includes some of his own material and gives a taste of the tradition that he belongs to.
Reviews for Dail-riata
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'The young musician to look out for in Gaelic and Highland music..plays guitar and pipes with considerable skill...sings with a strong expressive voice...a real air of authority...Dail-riata is a powerful contemporary statement that's enriched by history.'..
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THE HERALD..
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'The rising star of new Gaelic music... a powerful, confident and sensitive singer... plays guitar, Highland and smallpipes all to an exceptional level... Compulsory listening for anyone interested in Gaelic and Highland music'..
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SCOTLAND ON SUNDAY..
'Griogair Labhruidh is an exceptionally talented musician. He is telling us alot about the heritage of the Gaelic people and I really enjoyed the c.d'
THE SCOTSMAN
Songs full of feeling and sentiment for the Gaelic tradition, and he has the voice and delivery exactly right for putting them across…an altogether enjoyable and rewarding album and one to treasure.’
IRISH MUSIC MAGAZINE
“Griogair Labhruidh’s musicality is astonishing…Dail-riata is an exemplar among traditional albums; Griogair is clearly so at ease with the tradition into which he was born and able to explore it and express himself with superb confidence and immense maturity – and with a strong sense of pride.. Don’t miss this one – it’s an absolute gem”.’
THE LIVING TRADITION
