Càirdeas - Brian Ó hEadhra & Fionnag NicChoinnich

​Meaning "kinship/friendship" in Scottish and Irish Gaelic, Càirdeas is a celebration of family, friends, languages and cultures spanning Scotland, Ireland and Canada.

All of the songs on the album are accompanied by musical friends and family members and was recorded remotely in various locations during the Covid lockdown in the winter of 2020/21. “We wanted to reach out to family and friends during these challenging times through recording songs which we grew up with or that mean something special to us. There is a mix of traditional and contemporary songs which are sung in English, Irish and Scottish Gaelic; many of which are well loved by fans of folk music.”

Each track on the album has beautiful landscape photography supplied by Mairead NicIllinnean from North Uist and, as with their previous albums, Càirdeas has specially commissioned artwork to reflect each song, this time by the talented Nairn-based artist Rachael Forbes, who also created the stunning Hare illustration on the album cover.

Co-produced by their acclaimed musician nephew, Innes White, Càirdeas is released on the duo’s Anam Communications label and available as CD, download and streaming. The project was made possible by funding from Creative Scotland, Heritage Lottery Funds and also a successful Kickstarter Campaign.

​Credits:

Brian Ó hEadhra: Vocals, 6 & 12-string acoustic guitar, ukulele
Fionnag NicChoinnich: Vocals

Órla Ní Eadhra: Lead vocals (track 12) co-lead vocals (track 2), backing vocals (tracks 2,7,9)
Ró Ó hEadhra: Backing vocals (tracks 1,2,7,8,9,12), co-lead vocals (track 2)

Innes White: Acoustic guitar, mandolin; Ewen White: Accordion, synthesiser; Euan Burton: Double bass; Alistair Iain Paterson: Harmonium; John Lowrie: Piano (tracks 3, 4, 9, 11, 12); Anna-Wendy Stevenson: Fiddle (track 3); Rosie Munro: Fiddle (tracks 4, 6); Alex Tearse: Piano (track 6); Anna Murray: Co-lead and backing vocals (track 10), smallpipes; Eilidh Mackenzie: Backing vocals (tracks 2, 6, 10); Donald Barker: Backing vocals (tracks 2, 6, 10), co-lead vocals (track 6); Peigi Barker: Backing vocals (tracks 2, 6, 10), co-lead vocals (track 6); Gillie Mackenzie: Backing vocals (track 6); Aidan and Joyce O’Hara: Backing vocals (track 1)

Produced by: Brian Ó hEadhra, Fionnag NicChoinnich, Innes White - inneswhite.com
Recorded by: Innes White, engineered remotely during lockdown in various locations throughout Scotland and Ireland
Mixed by: Iain Hutchison, GloWorm Recording, Glasgow
Mastered by: Alan Douches, West West Side Music
All songs arranged by: Brian Ó hEadhra, Fionnag NicChoinnich, Innes White
Illustrations: Rachael Forbes - rachaelforbes.co.uk
Landscape Photography: Mairead NicIllinnein - instagram.com/nicillinnein
Design: Steve McKenzie - canan.co.uk

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