Gaelic musicians target mainstream breakthrough

Gaelic music continues its breakthrough into mainstream music with stirring harmonies from one of Gaeldom's newest bands, thanks to Scottish Music Futures, a development fund to help cultivate the music industry in Scotland.

Broadcaster-musician Mary Ann Kennedy, who is herself at the heart of Scotland's traditional music scene, has unleashed her latest venture - a 'gathering of Gaeldom's young lions' - with the launch of her new seven man supergroup, Mary Ann Kennedy & Na Seòid.

Na Seòid translates as 'the heroes', and the seven young band members have each won their fair share of traditional music's highest accolades. Mary Ann is one of just a handful of singers to win both Gold Medals at the Royal National Mod, along with a prestigious Saltire award at the Scots Traditional Music Awards.

Mary Ann Kennedy said: "What's special about this group is that Gaelic is part of every day life, for every single one of them, and not just a language for the stage. I think that's a powerful element, which in turn has a fundamental impact on the way they perform the music".

Ian Hamilton, HIE creative industries senior development manager said: "This is a great example of the Scottish Music Futures fund helping small Highland businesses collaborate to create something new and different. It is also shows what can be achieved from helping young musicians and those with technical skills, to achieve their full potential without leaving the country."

Mary Ann and husband Nick Turner recently benefited from the fund, when they received help to market their new top of the range recording and multi-media studio in the tiny loch side village of Ardgour, near Fort William.

Mary Ann Kennedy and Na Seòid recorded their debut album, under the Lochaber-based record label 'Watercolour Music', and launched it at the final night of Glasgow's Celtic Connections festival in the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.

Another business link in the band's success story is their agent, Davy Gardner, from Shetland. He said: "2007 was the year that Gaelic music finally and deservedly reached a wider audience, largely due to the success of a new wave of young Gaelic musicians such as Julie Fowlis. Mary Ann Kennedy and Na Seòid look set to blow another fresh breeze through Scotland and further afield."

The creative industries employs the equivalent of 100,000 full-time jobs in Scotland and the Scottish Music Futures fund is designed to help those working in the music business to achieve their full economic potential.

The Scottish Music Futures fund is administered by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) for the whole of Scotland, in partnership with Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish Arts Council.