Rachel gigs with many of the most talented traditional musicians in Scotland. She is just back from her successful summer tour where she was delighted to have Carol-Anne MacKay, Kathleen Boyle, Eilidh Shaw, Archie McAllister, Andrew Stevenson, Ewan Robertson and Ross Martin providing the backing.
Her Debut Album "Braighe Loch Iall" was produced by Malcolm Jones of Runrig and also featured Allan Henderson, Iain MacFarlane, Andrew Stevenson, Donald Black, Julie Fowlis, Abigail Walker and Angus MacPhail among others. Her newly released second album "Fon Reul-Sholus" was produced by Allan Henderson and also boasts an impressive line up including Malcolm Jones, James MacIntosh, Ross Martin and Kathleen Boyle.
Influences
I have been influenced by many great singers and musicians over the years, the first main ones were my school teacher Margaret MacLean and a young Arthur Cormack and Blair Douglas when they first started performing together. There have been many more since, but major influences have been Kenna Campbell, Christine Primrose, Capercaillie, Cathy Ann MacPhee, Margaret Stewart, Silly Wizard and Eva Cassidy. Also my Mum and Dad who constantly sang round the house and encouraged the whole family to be involved in music.
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Rachel has been singing Gaelic song since the age of ten, since then becoming one of the most in demand Gaelic singers for both performance and tutoring throughout Scotland.
In 1996, Rachel was accepted as one of the first students on the brand new Scottish Music course at the RSAMD where she studied Gaelic song under the tutelage of renowned Gaelic singer Kenna Campbell. During this time Rachel was asked to perform at the Dingwall Highland Festival and formed Dochas for the occasion. With them Rachel played throughout Scotland as well as festivals in France, Spain and Ireland, latterly helping to win a prestigious Danny Kyle award at Celtic Connections.
Now a solo performer, Rachel has released two albums to critical acclaim. She also guests with the popular band Skipinnish and has appeared on all of their recordings.
Rachel has appeared on numerous television & radio programmes, including the BBCs award winning series on Gaelic song, Aig Cridhe ar Ciuil.
Most recently Rachel was proud to produce Lochinver Gaelic singer James Graham's second album "Greisean Greine", which received excellent reviews. She also works as a Musical Director for various concerts and events.
Every time that we listen & write music... play an instrument... dance... act in a play... or work in some audio/image/video engineering process... something is healing inside...
When we share it with friends... something is healing all over...
cada vez que escuchamos o escribimos musica... tocamos un instrumento... bailamos... o trabajamos en procesos de ingenieria de audio/imagen/video.... algo se sana por dentro...
Cuando lo compartimos con amigos... algo se sana en todas partes...
El Amor puede conducir... de manera simple... todo...
Also I run The Great Edinburgh Run to help send Finola Forman to college as the government in Scotland unlike the rest of the UK wont help disabled people with complex needs when they want to go into further education, check out her site at
I've been sprucing my page up a bit, my passion for photography has really got a hold of me now. :) I had a brilliant weekend down south in Fareham, loads of gorgeous music (loved the balance of English, Scottish and Irish gigs), and even took in a gig down in Salisbury (saw Spiers & Boden). You were originally from there weren't you? I was impressed by the huge cathedral spire and wanted to go back in daylight with my camera!! It's a lovely part of England. Hope you had a great Easter - it's been an anticlimax for me to have to work 3 days this week after such brilliant music and craic, but at least I'm off Fri/Mon. xx
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Hi Rach... it was a lovely surprise to see you too!! It was a six-hour journey home with delays! I've been getting lots of smiles and kisses from Holly... I'll still miss popping out to fest club tonight though!
I have a new official photographer - my daughter and her mobile phone! She can take my photo more often. :) I'm fine thanks, very relaxed this evening doing nothing much. Really tired after a walk this afternoon - there was a real chill in the wind (that was before the rain and sleet).
Heya, it's at RSAMD on Sat 17th Jan (not sure of the time yet). It's to celebrate 10 years of the course. I think the alumni department are organising it, i don't know them but i'm going to pop up and see them tomorrow i think, see who else they might have missed.
Our rowdy-ness must preceed us, that'll be it!!
Will get back with an update after my mission tomoz!!
I didn't get invited yet either - James told me about it so i will be a gatecrasher too! I think there must be a lot of folk they have missed? Do you know if CA got an invite yet (maybe they missed our year!!)?
