Shooglenifty

With a line-up of fiddle, mandolin, banjo, guitar, bass and percussion, they play a heady, fast and furious “hypnofolkedelic” mix of traditional and original material. The band have won a rapidly-growing following around Scotland and increasingly, throughout Europe, since they formed out of a series of pub jam sessions in early 1993.

The freshness and spontaneity of those beginnings continues today in their intricate, strikingly inventive arrangements. Cunningly layered and dovetailed rhythms underpin wild, sweet and irresistibly catchy melodies. Playfully improvised variations are swapped about and intercut with distortion pedalEs and an untrammelled sense of musical arrangement. This is a band who transcend categories and genres, who sample the musical best from past and present and stir it together in a loud, proud mix that’s taking them into a very bright future.

After successful tours of Spain and Holland earlier this year, plus enthusiastically received support slots on Capercaille’s tour of Scotland, Shooglenifty is currently working on new material.

Forget the Aran sweater, finger-in-the-ear stereotypes: this is mad, bad and dangerous music, music for late nights and dark, sweaty dancefloors.