Over to Glasgow tonight for a session by the Celtic Alt/new Folk phenomenon Elephant Sessions – recorded at BBC Scotlands studios for the Quay Sessions on January 22nd of this year.
Elephant Sessions formed in 2012. They are comprised of Euan Smillie (fiddle), Alasdair Taylor (mandolin), Calum MacQuarrie (bass) and Greg Barry (drums, samples).
Creating a progressive blend of intricate tunes, engulfing guitars, with a bass and drum heavy backline, their music combines the very best of trad, funk and electronica resulting in a new and exciting sound. Gigging extensively around the UK, they swiftly built a fan base and went on to release their debut album The Elusive Highland Beauty in 2014 to critical acclaim. This album and it’s subsequent tours and festival appearances saw the band winning the Best Up and Coming Act category at the BBC Alba Trad Music awards in 2014. Already renowned for their breath-taking live shows the band began to gain success not just within the U.K but also found themselves beginning to perform at some of the most prestigious European Festivals. Since then, the band have made live appearances at some of the most notable venues and festivals across the U.K, Europe and Australia, including Glastonbury, Byron Bay Bluesfest, Colours of Ostrava and multiple headline sell-outs at Celtic Connections.
The band scooped the coveted BBC MG Alba Album of the Year for ‘All We Have is Now’ in 2017 and their latest album, ‘For The Night’, at the end of last year. They were also shortlisted for the Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award.
In 2018, the band also claimed the Live Act of the Year award at the BBC Scots Trad Music Awards, received a nomination for ‘Best Group’ in the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.
You get the picture. Celebrate Monday being over by pressing Play and cranking this one up.
