Why this Scottish musician is excited about upcoming concert in eastern Idaho
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IDAHO FALLS — After performing a concert in Rexburg several years ago that he’ll never forget, Daniel Gillespie is thrilled to be making a return visit to eastern Idaho in a few weeks.
The 41-year-old accordionist from Irvine, Scotland, is several weeks into his U.S. tour as one of the original members of the 8-person band Skerryvore, known for its unique blend of folk, traditional, rock, Celtic and pop music.
The group will perform at the Colonial Theater in downtown Idaho Falls later this month.
From his hotel room in the Tampa Bay area, Gillespie started his Zoom conversation with EastIdahoNews.com on Thursday afternoon by expressing gratitude not only to be in the states again, but also for the break in the stormy weather.
“We started a U.S. tour in the midwest and encountered some tornadoes, rain, lightning storms, hail storms, snow — so we’re happy to be in Florida for (this weekend),” Gillespie says.
The group will begin a tour of the western U.S. on Monday, and with the National Weather Service forecasting a rise in temperatures for eastern Idaho in the days ahead, Gillespie and the rest of the band might get to experience sunny skies for their Idaho Falls show — though it still won’t be anything like Florida!
RELATED | Sunday and Monday temperatures predicted to be in the 50s and 60s
But even if they don’t, it wouldn’t spoil anything for Gillespie. He grew up in Tiree, a small island off Scotland’s west coast. Tiree experiences all types of weather and Gillespie has fond memories of living there. In fact, the band’s name comes from Skerryvore lighthouse, Scotland’s tallest lighthouse, about 11 miles southwest of Tiree.
A mix of fiddle, accordions, bagpipes and whistles, guitar and vocals gives Skerryvore a unique sound that reflects each band member’s personality in the music. The group’s wide range of musical styles, combined with its high-energy stage shows, has captivated audiences around the world for the last 18 years.
’A chance meeting’ begins a musical career
Skerryvore was formed in 2005 in Tiree when he and his brother, Martin, had “a chance meeting” with Fraser West and his friend, Alec Dalglish, during a musical performance at a local bar. West and Dalglish were regular visitors to Tiree and were “on holiday” when they met the Gillespie brothers for the first time.
“I was playing the accordion at a local bar during the summer. Because it’s such a small island, you get to know a lot of people that come up. We just got to know their family,” Daniel recalls.
Eventually, he and Martin met with West and Dalglish in their hometown of Livingston near Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital city. They started playing together and things “snowballed from there.”
“There wasn’t a plan to be a band or anything. It just became a summer hobby for one year and it did very well. We got asked to do more and more gigs,” says Daniel.
The band’s first album, West Coast Life, was predominantly a collection of traditional tunes, such as “Home to Donegal” and “Blackbird” by the Beatles.
Their self-titled third album catapulted the band into musical stardom, according to the Musical Instrument Museum, and their fourth album, World of Chance, which was released in 2012, entered the top 10 in iTunes’ singer/songwriter chart. And in the last decade, they’ve twice been selected as Scottish Traditional Music’s Live Act of the Year.
The band has grown to include four additional members over the years, including fiddler Craig Espie, keyboardist Alan Scobie, Bassist Jodie Bremaneson and Scott Wood, who plays bagpipes, border pipes, whistles and the wooden flute.
A concert he’ll never forget
Skerryvore performed at Brigham Young University-Idaho in Rexburg several years ago, a concert Daniel describes as one he’ll “never forget.”
“The night before we played in Salt Lake City. There were only 50 people there, so we were feeling a bit down. This gig in Rexburg our agent booked for us that we knew nothing about had 800 students come out and see us. It was absolutely incredible, and it’s a (performance) we’ll always remember for that reason,” he says.
The band has been producing music for an independent label for over a decade, and in 2021, two of their songs made it on BBC Radio 2’s national playlist, an unprecedented achievement for independent artists.
The group’s latest album, Tempus, will be released on April 28. Daniel and his band are excited about its release, along with their new music video, “Everything You Need.” They’re excited to share their music with people in eastern Idaho on April 22.
For those who attend, Daniel is promising a high-energy, loud and interactive show.
“We like the crowd to join in. We generally try and teach them songs or some parts (to sing along with us). We always find U.S. audiences are great with that. They love to interact and be a part of the show,” Daniel says. “Hopefully, it’s interesting for people who come along and … experience what Skerryvore concerts are like.”
To purchase tickets, click here.
WATCH OUR ENTIRE INTERVIEW WITH GILLESPIE IN THE VIDEO ABOVE.