Skerryvore has established themselves as the best representation of contemporary Scottish traditional music with their epic melodies, intimate feelings and Scottish roots. Known for their unique fusion of folk, trad, pop and rock through a mix of bagpipes, fiddles, accordions, whistles, vocals, bass and keys, Skerryore is like no one other group.
The show’s wide range of influence and talent produces a musically expansive, immersive yet intimate set that excites and captivates audiences. You can experience their show at Walton Arts Center on Tuesday, Sept. 23 at 7pm.
Skerryvore are presented as part of the 10x10 Art Series, an intriguing and innovative showcase of art forms, meticulously curated to satisfy the artistic curiosity of the Northwest Arkansas community.
To prepare for their performance, we asked the group to answer a few questions that will gice us more insight into this talented group.
What can audiences expect when they come see this performance?
“What are Skerryvore? They’re like no one else. Epic of melody, intimate of feeling and plugged into the roots of Scotland but blasting out to the world. “ Expect to want to dance, expect to want to sing. We like to get everyone involved with the show and create a party atmosphere. The music is a unique fusion of our Scottish traditional roots, with elements of rock, pop and Americana, which will take you on a journey from energetic bagpipe melodies to intimate ballads and back again.
What makes a Skerryvore performance special or unique?
Our blend of traditional Scottish music with contemporary rhythms and melodies creates a unique fusion which has played a large part in reigniting a traditional Scottish scene for a modern, multicultural audience.
What is significant about 2025 for Skerryvore - are you celebrating anything special this year?
This year we are celebrating our 20th anniversary as a band. In May we welcomed over 7,000 fans from across the world to celebrate with us at a concert in front of the stunning Floors Castle in the Scottish borders. We are now taking the show on the road in the UK, Europe and North America with the 20th anniversary tour.
How did Skerryvore start as a group?
Skerryvore started on the Isle of Tiree in the Inner Hebrides in 2005, when Alec Dalgish and Fraser West went on holiday and met locals Daniel and Martin Gillespie. The four founding members began playing some tunes together for fun (and some beer money), with no real plans to become anything more than a small Ceilidh band. From those humble beginnings, Skerryvore have evolved to become one of the most successful live acts in Scotland, picking up the Scottish Trad Music Awards live act of the year award 3 times, and having No.1 albums in both the Scottish album chart, and UK Folk Charts.
What are some memorable experiences you’ve had while sharing this performance with others?
We always love seeing the reaction of crowds to our music, and when people know our songs and sing along with us it can be quite magical. It is always so nice to speak to people and discover how much the music means to them. Our song “Take My Hand” has been used as the first dance for hundreds of weddings and has been the catalyst for a good few on-stage proposals.
Do you have any pre-show rituals or warm-ups? If so, what are they?
We don’t really have any rituals as such. Occasionally we will have a small whisky before we start the show!
Pick 5 words that best describe your work.
Energetic, Scottish, Foot-stomping, Intimate, Fusion
What is the best advice that you have been given?
Be confident in yourself and your own abilities. It can be easy to develop imposter syndrome or to look at the music that other artists are playing and wish that you could be as ‘good’ as them. It’s easy to forget that even though someone might be able to do something that you can’t nobody will be able to do what you do as well as you can.
What do you want people to know about your culture?
We like to think of ourselves as ambassadors for Scotland whenever we travel the world. We’d like people to leave a show with an appreciation for the musical culture and heritage that we are so proud of, and hope that they get the same sense of joy from listening as we do from playing. Scottish people are extremely proud as a nation, and we feel very blessed to be in a position that we can help to promote our culture.
What songs, artists or genres of music are you currently listening to?
Our musical tastes are very wide ranging. When we’re on the road, generally the driver for each leg of the journey will control the playlist. This could be anything from Scottish/Irish trad music, to pop, rock, country, bluegrass, dance… Recent artists over the past week of journeys have been Dire Straits, Ocean Colour Scene, Kasey Musgraves, The Strike, Fleetwood Mac and Trail West.