Maggie MacInnes

Bio:

Singer and clarsach player, Maggie MacInnes was born in Glasgow and now lives in Ayrshire.She comes from a long line of Gaelic singers from the small island of Barra in the Outer Hebrides and learns most of her Gaelic songs from her mother the highly acclaimed traditional singer, Flora MacNeil M.B.E.In 2004 Maggie was voted "Best Gaelic Singer of the Year" in the BBC Scots Trad Music Awards. Maggie has been involved in various groups over the years such as Ossian, Fuaim, Eclipse First and The Maggie MacInnes Band and has travelled widely with her music touring in many parts of Europe, U.S.A., and Canada as well as appearing in the first International Festival of Celtic Music and Dance of Moscow in 2001. She has released Five solo CDs on the Marram Music Record Label ;- "Eilean Mara" which was co-produced by Dougie MacLean; "Spiorad Beatha"("The Spirit of Life"); "Peaceful Ground"; "Oran na Mna"(A Woman's Song) which is original music and song inspired by Gaelic tradition both past and present.The piece was commissioned by the prestigious Celtic Connections Festival of Glasgow and first performed in 2004; and Maggie's fifth CD called A Fagail Mhuighalaigh(Leaving Mingulay) which tells the story of the island of Mingulay through music and song,both traditional and original. Over the years Maggie has made many radio and Television appearances.In particular she has worked extensively with the independent Television company MNE Media who have commisioned her to write and perform music for two BBC television documentaries,"An Traigh Mhor"(The Big Beach) and "A Fagail Mhuighlaidh"(Leaving Mingulay) and to devise,perform in and musically produce a series of Eight Television programmes for BBC Alba inspired by her CD "Oran na Mna"(A Woman's Song). Maggie's television performances have not just been restricted to Britain.In 2006 Maggie appeared on a Celtic Music Christmas television special filmed in Halifax,Nova Scotia,Canada, called "Celtic Angels at Christmas."In September,2007 she was invited to Halifax once again this time to be a special guest of the famous Cape Breton band,The Barra MacNeils,in a filmed live concert called "Christmas Together with the Barra MacNeils". Both programmes were produced by New Scotland Pictures Inc. (www.newscotlandpictures.ca). A highlight of 2008 was when Maggie performed to 1600 people in the Opera House of Turin(Theatre Regio) in Italy along with her mother,Flora MacNeil, at a concert to celebrate 20years of the Turin Folk Club where they have performed many times over the years. BUY MAGGIE'S CDs AT www.maggiemacinnes.com----------------------------------------------- REVIEW OF LATEST CD "A FAGAIL MHIUGHALAIGH";- REVIEW BY D.KIDMAN PROPERGANDA MAGAZINE AUGUST,2009 Singer and clarsach player Maggie(from the Outer Hebridean island of Barra) won Best Gaelic Singer title at 2004’s BBC Scottish Traditional Music Awards; in 2007 Maggie was asked to provide music for a documentary film telling the story of the island of Mingulay (a few miles south of Barra), with which she has strong family connections. The music on this elegant and lovingly-produced CD includes much of that used in the documentary plus rearrangements and extra material. It presents a programme of Gaelic songs known to have been sung on the island(including an ancient lament,songs to accompany daily tasks,a hymn and a tender,charming Fairy Song),along with three evocative tunes composed by Maggie herself. Maggie’s accompanied by several guest musicians(e.g.Michael McGoldrick, Brian McAlpine, Anna Massie, Finlay MacDonald, Marie Fielding, Frank McGuire and Christine Hanson), making this a quite magical disc.

Member Since:

May 29, 2007

Members:

Maggie has the privilege of playing with some of Scotlands finest musicians.She performs regularly with various combinations of the following musicians;- Brian McAlpine(Keyboards and Accordian);Charlie McKerron(Fiddle);Anna Massie(Guitar and Fiddle);Marie Fielding(Fiddle);Finlay MacDonald(Pipes and Whistles);Marc Duff(Whistles,Bodhran and Bazouki);Frank MacGuire(Percussion);Kevin MacKenzie(Guitar) and Fraser Fifield(Whistles and pipes)

Influences:

Maggie's main influence is her mother the great traditional Gaelic Singer,Flora MacNeil MBE from Barra.It is from Flora that Maggie learns most of her Gaelic songs and from her she gains most of her inspiration.On summer holidays in Barra Maggie would also get a chance to listen to her Granny and Great Aunt Mary sing and they both,like Flora, had an amazing amount of fabulous Gaelic songs and stories. Having been introduced at a very young age to the "Folk Scene" in Glasgow, Maggie quickly became aware of great Bands such Ossian,Silly Wizard,Bothy Band and Planxty and they all helped to show Maggie the wider possibilities of the music she loved.Her main influence at that time was her great friend,George Jackson who played in Ossian and with whom she recorded her first album,"Cairistiona"(Iona Records). Maggie's main influences in terms of Clarsach have been Alan Stivell from Brittany (especially his "Renaissance of the Celtic Harp album);Alison Kinnaird(who was the first person Maggie ever heard live playing the clarsach);Rhona MacKay(who was Maggie's teacher);Billy Jackson of Ossian;Patsy Seddon and Mary MacMasters.

Record Label:

Marram Music