Skalder
Glasgow-based Orcadian group Skalder are multi-award winners; two of their number won the Orkney Folk Festival Open Stage in 2008 as a duo, whilst the whole group were Celtic Connections Danny Kyle Award winners in 2009.
Skalder formed in 2006, originally consisting of Orcadians, Jennifer Austin on piano, Louise Bichan on fiddle, Kevin Gray on drums and percussion and Finlay Bichan on accordion. They played for various ceilidhs, weddings and events around Orkney and further a field, including the Orkney Folk Festival Island Hop, which involved touring some of Orkney's smaller isles during the festival’s 25th Anniversary, Woodwick House's third Feast of Orkney Music and Song, on the Nation Geographic cruise liner while it was anchored in Orkney, at the 2007 Carnegie Book Awards.
In January 2009 Skalder, joined by new member James Lindsay on double bass, won the prestigious Danny Kyle Open Stage Award at Celtic Connections. Following last year’s Orkney Folk Festival they embarked upon their first Scottish tour and, towards the end of the year, released their debut CD, Cora, to a great reception.
more @ www.myspace.com/skaldermusic