Author Archive

An informal interview on BBC Radio Scotland’s ‘Traveling Folk’ with Bruce Macgregor.

Talking about the new Manran album release ‘The Test’ and other general craic in life.

9th May 2013 8-10pm BBC Radio Scotland

I had the privilege of presenting alongside Skye legendary gaelic singer, Arthur Cormack, ’Best Music Video Award’ at this year’s Film G Award’s on Friday night.

Congratulations to nominee’s and finalists in the category, and a special congratulations to Dòmhnall Eòghainn Macfhionghain for his award winning video ‘Manadh’

You can watch the full line up of awards and winners from http://www.filmg.co.uk/en/winners

A one hour special programme made on legendary accordion player Gordon Connel from the isle of Tiree. An insight into the life of this tutor, the players he has

taught and inspired, and a blether with other accordion players around the country.

Also featuring the likes of  Phil Cunningham, Donald Shaw, Sandy Brechin, Martin Green, John Sommerville, Mairearad Green, Daniel & Martin Gillespie, and many many more…

Monday 11th March 2013 9pm BBC ALBA and repeated the following day at 10pm.

Just home after another fantastic two week tour of Kazakhstan. The ‘Kazakh Ceilidh Commando’s’ venture out East each year to help raise money for local charities and orphanages through special events, concerts, and Burn’s Suppers.

This was my 9th year and was no different to previous mad adventures, with lots of amazing experiences, and catching up with friends we have made over the years.

We spent a week in the city of Atyrau and then over to Aktau, with huge thanks going to Graham, Dave, Colin, Stuart, Kev, Ray and many many more for giving us such a laugh.

Looking forward to next year already, and you will be glad to know my mankini is already washed, dried, and ready for it’s next Kazakh adventure.

Manran will be Robbie Shepherd’s house band for his Celtic Connections ‘Take the Floor’ broadcast this Saturday, 2nd February.

It will be recorded live from Glasgow’s Pierce Institute in Govan from 19.05.

Hope you manage to tune in, and if not, ‘aw the best till then’

BBC Radio Scotland 93-97fm, 810MV

A huge thank you to everyone at Brit Chambers of Commerce, Shanghai, and to the Shanghai Scot’s who looked after us and gave us a terrific trip to this incredible city. The gigs were great fun and such a pleasure to bump into two old primary school pals that I hadn’t seen in nearly

18 years! Amazing!

Ewen (Herring) Henderson did his best to confuse me before delivering Robbie Burns’ famous “Selkirk Grace” by filling my head full of nonsense lines and changing words before I had to deliver. Thankfully the four short lines didn’t leave me at the crucial moment, and to the sponsor “Famous Grouse”  I give thanks.

I didn’t thank you the next day however…

Hopefully see you all again next year for more of the same.

Happy New Year to you all.

I hope 2013 is a fantastic year for you, your loved ones, and for all the new adventures and people you/we have yet to meet.

It was fantastic to once more bring in the bells live on BBC ALBA’s hogmanay show live from Achnagairn House, Kiltarlity, and once the camera’s stopped rolling, and the words “that’s a wrap!” rang out, let me tell you, what a party we had. Although the stories cannot be printed,  I’m sure in time over a wee dram they may start to leak out.

A huge personal thank you to Donna Murchison, and all at the BBC who trusted me once more to be this year’s Musical Director. A huge honour and a delight to work with such a great crew and pool of musicians.

Thank you all for your continued support, and I look forward to sharing a dram, tune, and plenty of craic with you throughout 2013.

Bliadhna Mhath Ùr

Manran are this years house-band once more to bring the bells in live on BBC ALBA for the 2013 party.

You can catch the show live from 11.30-1.15 on BBC ALBA Sky channel 168, or BBC Radio nan Gaidheal.

We, (Manran) were over the moon to pick up the first ever Creative Scotland, and Daily Record Award for Traditional Arts, Scots and Gaelic.

It was an incredible night in Glasgow’s famous, Kelvin Grove Art Museum, where over 400 invited guests were given a meal to feed a horse, and distinguished guests presented with awards ranging from Films-Music-Acting.

It was a real honour to be amongst so many inspirational and inspiring people.

Thank you very much to everyone once more who voted for us through to the final, and to the panel of judges that picked us as the winners.

We are delighted to announce that we have been selected as finalists in this year’s Creative Scotland Awards for the “Traditional Arts, Scots and Gaelic” Award. The awards, in association with Creative Scotland and the Daily Record, are a great chance to celebrate and the reflect on the Year of Creative Scotland as it draws to a close and we are honoured to have been nominated for an award. We’re also looking forward to an opportunity to get the glad-rags on for another great night like we had at the Trad Music Awards in Perth last year where we picked up “Album of the Year” and Norrie won “Gaelic Singer of the Year”.