Celtic World Music group EILEAN MOR perform a mixture of songs and tunes based on the rich Scots Gaelic tradition. The band’s style is fresh and contemporary, incorporating elements from world music, trance, jazz, and roots, all carefully blended with a secure knowledge of the music traditions of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. The band is Scottish born singer/songwriter Ruth Lee Martin, guitarist Bill Grose, Ed Rodrigues on drums/percussion, Bill Williams on double bass and Catherine Fraser on fiddle.
EILEAN MOR’s musical focus is on traditional songs and tunes with a smattering of original songs written by Ruth Lee Martin. Vocal gymnastics can be heard in the many pieces of mouth music, strong hypnotic rhythms in the waulking songs and rowing songs, along with exquisite, poignant laments that will melt the hardest heart.
Also in the repertoire are rare songs written in the Gaelic language in Australia during the 19th century by exiles forced to leave their homes during the highland clearances. Sizzling fiddle tunes played by Catherine Fraser take the groove to a whole new level.
While grounded in the Scottish Gaelic tradition, Eilean Mor does have its own unique Aussie flavour — the band banter alone is worth coming to hear; the stage is often a place for band confessions.