SUMMER SCHOOL OF EARLY IRISH HARP
GRIOGAIR LABHRUIDH
Griogair Labhruidh belongs to the well known Labhruidh family of North Argyll who are renowned in Scotland for Highland music, and although he was brought up on Loch Lomondside he was immersed in his family’s traditions from a young age. The natives of North Argyll are heir to a unique culture and dialect with a multitude of songs, tunes and stories. There have been numerous Gaelic singers, pipers and storytellers among his forebears on both sides of his family (also having ties to Argyll and Skye on his mother’s side) and Griogair’s father passed on the piping tradition to him, making Highland music an intrinsic part of his upbringing. Griogair released his critically acclaimed debut album Dail-rìata in 2007 and since then he has been involved in many musical collaborations with some of the most notable performers in Scottish and Irish music. He has resurrected numerous songs and tunes which have been forgotten in contemporary Gaelic Scotland through his research into his tradition and is very proud to be keeping the dialect, singing and piping tradition of his people alive.
Griogair’s main influences as a performer have been Allan MacDonald, Charlie MacColl, Calum Beaton (Calum Eardsaidh Choinnich) and the numerous singers who were recorded by the School of Scottish Studies (particularly Donald MacColl, Angus Campbell Ð both from Ardnamurchan in North Argyll, Donald Joseph MacKinnon from Barra/South Uist and Annie Arnott from Trotternish in Skye). He has recently released a new album called Guaillaibh a Chéile, along with the Donegal singer Doimnic Mac Giolla Bhríde which shows the strong connection between the Scottish and Irish Gaelic song traditions.