K*ntrast, Ch*rsty Al*ne, Cathaidh Ghall, Tigh Nan Guts, S*ndy M*thes*n, Mac an t-Shronaich, Rev Ang*s Sm*th, 4 Cr*wn, Al Cr**, Hen Suppers, Ph*lomena B*gley (Ir*land's Q***n of C**ntry and regular sell-out at the C*ber), The Doctrine of Predestination, Cailean B*w, Coinneach G*bha, B*gie, Geord** G*lidy, Eyeb*lls/D*n H*nl*y & R*bert Plant/W*llie B*rns.
Accept No Imitations! The Guireans are the leading exponents of the indigenous and unknown Outer Hebridean musical form known as Avante Gaelic Obscurist Folk Rock. (AGOFR) From their isolated island base in Sandwick the Guireans have attacked every genre of music from danns a'rathaid to death metal since 1979, with a lack of success that surprises no-one who hears them.
The Guireans' formula is simple.Take a well known popular song, change the lyrics to address the primary concerns of life on the Island of Lewis - sheep, peats, sgadan 's buntata, the curam, tractors, white settlers, funerals, sheep again, how only our Gaelic is the right Gaelic, whether to join the Free Continuing Associated Presbyterians or stay with the Associated Free Continuity Presbyterians, poaching, the Gut Factory (RIP) and sheep.
Play very badly using whatever instruments or domestic items are handy, and record on a poor quality cassette player. Stick the cassette at the back of a drawer for at least 15 years without listening to it before you take it out again.
The result is a music that has been variously described as "challenging", "difficult"
and "sh*te".
See http://www.guireans.com/Guireans_msn/tapeography/tapeography.htm for the full story...
Last Sunday, as you may know, various members of the Dun Ringles courted perdition by smuggling laptops into their various venues of the day and surreptitiously joining in the mid-afternoon 'Horslips Chat' on the Official Horslips website chatroom 'LipsLine.'
A Web 2.0 venture truly fraught with peril. Had they been caught by the 'Elders' it would have certainly given new meaning to the term 'wi-fi HOTSPOT' -- as that is exactly what they would have been in.
But they were there and there were OTHERS who were not. And bassist B*rry D*vl*n himself making the effort to be on hand, specifically to meet a member of this band The Guireans of which he's heard so much about.
Ah well. Perhaps next month? We'll move the chat to Saturday maybe. Or Monday...another three-day holiday in America coming along and that always bodes well for the chatroom.
Aw crap, I was chust looking at your page & noticed there seems to be a message from me 2 days ago. I didn't send it, got hacked on the 4th and still don't know the extent of it. I think it's fixed now, but sorry if you got any rubbeesh!
I take it the "friend" that wrote something bad was that bleigeard Mac a Noo Noo (see below)? Imagine suggesting for one minute that the exclusive leafy paradise that is Sandwick could ever be part of that unspeakable Rubhach-infested (soon-to-be)island hell across the Braighe?
He's obviously chust spreading these rumours in a vain attempt to drive down house prices on North Street so he can buy one himself.
Plan B is probably to run around the graveyard in Lower Sandwick at night kidding on to be a ghost, thus scaring the householders into selling up.
I'm running behind with replying to all this MySpace stuff - I think it's got something to do with real life getting in the way. The whole sgadan thing is getting out of control - it could well be the thing that defines 2008 - already there have been clarion calls from Girvan to Dunbeath, from Tarbert to Achiltibuie and beyond. Mind you nothing seems to be stirring out West as yet. No doubt soon!
Can't really give any advice on the current state of the charts since the disaffected teenagers fled the nest a couple of months back. The odd thing I hear is almost beyond parody. What about thon Gwen Seffani thing with the bit about the goats from the Sound of Music in it?
If a copy of "that" CD were to wend its way in this direction it could well feature on a couple of "specials" on Argyll FM over the holiday period
What's happening up your way? More importantly, why are The Guireans not on this new compilation album? Is it too mainstream? Are you too mainstream? You're public needs to know!
We note with interest Lee's comments about the Viking burial of a high status blone in a longship. This reminds us of another famous burial situation involving another possibly regal female being buried, as a mark of respect to her status, in a Spanish trawler, or possibly it was a Bulgarian klondyker. Can't quite remember her name now, but I'm sure it will come to me. This vessel was interred underneath the Clachan, I do beleive.
For some reason, whenever the word "Viking" appears in a Yahoo headline, I think of my friends in Stornoway. Today's story is very groovy -- possibly even more suited to Memphis Louie than your good selves, but since the Dun Ringles got the "Viking Ship sails to Dublin" story, you get:
A servant might have been the victim of a ritual killing, perhaps her throat slit to accompany her queen to an afterlife in Valhalla. In one Danish Viking grave, for instance, an old man lying by a younger man had been decapitated.
And new chemical analysis of bones can also tell what people ate. In Viking times meat, such as elk, was prized while poorer people ate fish.
"If they were mother and daughter they would probably have had the same food. If one woman was a maid they would have had different diets," Mikkelsen said.
The Mystery Companion of the Viking Queen! You know, I think this really was more of a Dun Ringles post after all.
Se ur beatha a' chairdean - bha ur bhersion de astronomaidh domanaidh gam fhagail nam luban, neo rudeigin mar sin. Cait an deach e co-dhiubh? thoir dhan drochaid e.
Ahhhh...bit of an identity theft there. Apologies. There was a suspicious 'French' band that I viewed shortly before this happened. I wondered at the time.
At any rate, please delete the Macy's comment.
Unless you think we can use this to the advantage of Plook Records?
What would Plook Records spam look like, I wonder?
hey, how are you doing? i was just stopping by to see how you're doing. i had a great time last night, partied it up like crazy lol. plus you know i meant to tell you, i got this cash card for Macy's, so i had some new gear to party in.
i'll hook you up though, if you want one for yourself just go to www.freeshoppingcard.info ask for one. they're free so it'll only take a few minutes. take care
Sorry to hear the Stornoway Gazette CD giveaway ran into logistical difficulties. And you are right! Some little artist from Minnesota seems to have appropriated your idea. Only goes to show how forward-thinking the Home Office is.
Meanwhile, you might be happy to know that Todhar (What is it Good For?) was on my mind this weekend as I brewed up a little batch of biomass of my own (equine, admittedly) for my field of New World turnips, as chronicled in my blog under the title of:
Haoidh coves. I can't help but note that there will be a large number of Guireans present in Stornoway around the 16th and 17th of August. Could this be the opportunity to have a Guireans gig? Or at the very least some recording?
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