history

The Origins of The Picts really date back to 1995 and the chance encounter of Jeremy Stirling
and Douglas McQueen Hunter. Jeremy was looking for other musicians to start up a Keltic folk
rock band and Dougie was similarly looking for musicians to back his songs. It was a fortuitous
meeting and for the next few months they planned out their ideas and met various musicians.
The band was to be called Badenoch, after one of Dougies songs. It was around this time that
they met Tracy Carmichael a graphic artist who was not only instrumental in putting their first
band together, but one of the hardest workers and driving forces in the years to come.

It was the spring of 1996 that seen the guys put their first gigging band together with Drummer
Craig Hunter (Calanish) and fiddler Camilla Brickley (later of Silencers). The band “The Laughing
Phrogs“ became one of the busiest and most popular bands on the Scottish Pub Scene, gigging
several times a week up and down the length and breadth of Scotland. A few hundred gigs in a
very short time and frequent fights over the front seat of Tracy’s Metro, the “ Phrogs “ came to
an end after a trip to Germany. Dougie and Jeremy went on to form The Picts.

February 1997 seen the formation of The Picts, with Tony Higgins on Drums and several players
on fiddle and box (including Patrick and Heather Barco who moved to Somerset). Finally, friend
Dougie Caird (Originally box player of Tapsalteerie) became available and was the natural choice
for the 4th Pict. Occasionally the band was joined by fiddle player Tracey Muir. It was with this
original 4 peice line up that The Picts recorded their first debut EP and Tracy designed her first
CD cover. Over the next few months they spent a very memorable time out in the western Isles,
where the seeds were planted for the first picts album “The Island“ . In July they played at
Scotland’s biggest music festival, T in The Park, for the first time and ended the year by playing
at the 1997 Hogmanay bash at George Square in Glasgow. 40,000 people danced and sang Wild
Mountain Thyme with the band as the fireworks lit the sky and thundered around the City.

Despite the early success of The Picts, the plans for “ Badenoch “ were still smouldering away in
the background with drummer James Gorgon and Roddy Gourley, a friend and guitarist from one
of Jeremy’s previous bands. In early 1998 Dougie Caird had to leave the band due to work
commitments and box player Stuart Law replaced him. Fiddler, Douglas Ballantyne also came on
board. That August the band were invited over to Brittany to play at the worlds biggest Celtic
music festival, The Interceltique Festival of Lorient. They had immediate success. Packed
out concerts and great coverage in the press.
The heavy gigging schedule lead into 1999 with festivals, concerts and ceilidhs. The Band made
their first live performances and interviews on radio at this time. Playing Live on the BBC’s
program “The Lemontree“ and for BBC Music Live.
“The Island“, The Picts first album was recorded and released that year and had great success.
Tracy designed the artwork for the cover , featuring the picts logo, originally penned by Dougie‘s
father, artist Colin Hunter McQueen. “The Peak” the opening track of the album was put on to a
French music magazine compilation of which 46,000 copies were made. “The Reelfexologist“ and
“The Federals“ were both used for adverts for BBC Music Live.

After their second and more successful trip back to Lorient, it was apparent that a new line up
was on the horizon. Stuart Law and Douglas Ballantyne both left the band to follow more traditional
roads. For a time Dougie Caird came back on board with fiddler Sharon Hassan and in November
1999 the band Headlined “Celtifolies“ the first ever Celtic festival in Lyon, France. That Hogmanay
they headlined the Celtic stage of the Millennium celebrations in Stirling.

Burns Day, 25th January 2000 seen the founding of Pict Records Ltd. Badenoch recorded their
first EP and it immediately was voted CD of the month in Celtic FM in Brittany. The Heavy gigging
Schedule for The Picts continued and amongst countless performances they Played at the Gael
2000 concert in Coventry with comedian Roy Walker and made several TV performances including
a breakfast TV show and a Hogmanay show for LTV.
Now the band was again searching for new box and fiddle players. Eventually after several players
they found the talented young champion box player Richard Smith who has been with the band to
this day. That same year they recorded a music Video for a new BBC program called @ire. The
video was televised in may 2001.

Much of 2001 was taken up with the recording of the Picts second album “ Moving Sands ”, the
gigging continued and their were a number of sell out concerts at Cottier‘s Theatre in the west
end of Glasgow. The new album, had been a long time coming, and a long time making. Dougie
wrote most of the material on the album. It was a far more moody and contemporary sound than
“ The Island “. It seen the first collaboration with other musicians: Stevie Lawerence (Iron Horse)
on low whistle , Classical Cellist Sarah Nelson and Virtuoso Saxophonist Stuart Forbes. The idea
for “ Moving Sands “ was a concept loosely based on time and seasons, a time and place caught
in the moment. The album was released in the summer of 2002. It again proved to be highly
successful and got great reviews. It led to a huge amount of interest from Europe and invites to
appear on TV shows and Radio programs. The band were joined at this time by their first full time
bass player. The naturally gifted and very tall Steve Whitlock. Steve quickly carvedhis place,
bringing a new slick dimension to the band. A new sound was forming…

It was decided in early 2003 that “ Badenoch “ was to be scraped and Dougie would record his
songs under his own name as a solo artist. Recording began late in 2003 and features great Tracks
and great players. But that is a surprise for when the album “ Ghosts “ is released. At the same
time they worked on a collaboration CD with engineer Stuart Glasgow to produce “Keltic Trancefusion“
“Vol. 1“. Both these albums will be released in 2005. Tracy as always making a stunning job of the
covers. The Picts heavy gigging schedule continued through 2003 and into 2004. In 2003 they were
asked to play at the wedding of Dougie Payne ( Travis ) and Kelly MacDonald ( Trainspotting ) and
played at T in the Park for the seventh consecutive year.

In April 2004 Tony Higgins left the band and was replaced by another top class drummer - Jim Anderson.
Jim was orginally with Glasgow band “Hot Toddy” and the hugely sucessful “Downtown Flyers” .He
had also done recordings with various artists including the ledgendary U.F.O frontman, “Pete Way”.
Jim had worked with the band for the last few years at various concerts and was the Obvious choice.
He immediatly brought a new, fresh, dynamic lift and drive to the music.
In August 2004 The picts were asked back for the 3rd time to do the closing night of the Tennent’s
West Highland Week Yatching Festival in Oban and at Hogmanay 2004 they played the last gig at
Cottier’s Theatre in Glasgow as it shut down for a 3 year refurbishment. Work began early in 2005
on new material and recordings, so keep an eye out for new downloads.
In some ways The Picts had become victoms of their own success. The work load grew and the
increasing volume of advanced bookings grew. This made it harder for the band to get abroad
and do so many Festivals and high profile concerts. Aware of this, it was decided to readdress
this ballance and get back to doing the things that drove the band’s hunger and ambition in the
begining. The seeds are now being planted for a new exciting chapter to come.
And so, the story goes on …