Maggie MacInnes sings and plays the clarsach. She was born in Glasgow and now lives in Ayrshire.She comes from a long line of Gaelic singers from the small island of Barra in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland and learns most of her songs from her mother the highly acclaimed traditional singer, Flora MacNeil M.B.E.
Maggie has been involved in various groups over the years such as Ossian, Fuaim and Eclipse First and has travelled widely with her music touring in many parts of Europe, U.S.A. and Canada. She also appears frequently on Radio and Television and has made various recordings over the years.
Autumn 1998 saw the release of Maggie's first solo C.D. "Eilean Mara" on Dunkeld Records(DUNCD022) which was co-produced by Dougie MacLean and received great critical acclaim. On1st May 2001,Maggie released her second solo C.D. which is called "Spiorad Beatha"("The Spirit of Life") on her own new label "Marram", which features some of Scotland's finest musicians such as Charlie McKerron (of Capercaillie) , Brian McAlpine (formerly of Iron Horse), Sean O'Rourke( formerly of JSD Band) , Marie Fielding, Paul Jennings, and Keith Easdale along with her mother, Flora, on backing vocals.
In 2001 Maggie performed regularly at various festivals at home, in Ireland and in Italy as well as being invited to Russia for the 1st International Festival of Celtic Music and Dance of Moscow where she was accompanied by the flute and saxophone player, Sean O'Rourke and the percussion player, Frank MacGuire.
In 2002 Maggie performed at the Celtic Connections Festival in Glasgow, The Edinburgh International Harp Festival , and she was one of those chosen to take part in a two week tour of Scotland with " Scottish Women" which involved Scots and Gaelic singers coming together to showcase some of the finest songs from the two traditions with a backing band of some of the finest Scottish musicians under the musical direction of Brian McNeill, Head of Scottish Music in the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. Maggie also produced and directed a new show/concert called "Burns and the Gaels" which looked at the links between the works of Robert Burns and Gaelic music and poetry. This event combined music, poetry and song and featured Maggie along Sheena Wellington, Rod Paterson, Ishbel MacAskill, Finlay MacDonald amongst others. "Burns and the Gaels" and "Scottish Women" were both performed at Glasgow's Celtic Connections Festival in January 2003.
Other festival appearances in 2003 included the Lorient Interceltlic Festival,Brittany,France;Common Ground Scotland and the National Folk Festival of Scotland,Auchincruive,By Ayr and the Heart of Scotland Festival,Aberfeldy.
Maggie has just released her Third solo CD called "Peaceful Ground"MARCD02.The CD was released during the Celtic Connections Festival in January,2004.At the festival Maggie performed with her Band and also presented a new piece of music and song which was specially commissioned by the festival and called"A Woman's Song".
Quotes/reviews;-
"Maggie MacInnes is at the forefront of the new wave of singers taking Scotland's Gaelic song tradition to its rightful place in the musical world. Her commitment to both tradition and innovation is an example I hope to see widely followed." (Brian McNeill, Head of Scottish Music, RSAMD)
"…her singing was such that no translations were necessary…" "…her voice was haunting and angelic;and her chilling unaccompanied vocal on a Scottish lament earned the show's longest ovation from the sell-out crowd…" (Boston Globe, U.S.A.)
"…one of the brightest singers of traditional Gaelic music in Scotland." (A.F.I.M.---Association of Independent Music )June1999
"…a display of singing confidence,background authority and unshowy musicality that bodes well indeed." (Rob Adams, Glasgow Herald)25Jan2000
"....the finest live performer in Gaelic music today" (Folk Roots Magazine,July,2001)
"…it also takes a performer of unusual talent to unlock the soul and to place therein this music and these poems. And Maggie MacInnes is certainly one such performer (Living Tradition Magazine, Summer 2001)
