The Picts
Biography: 2005
Formed in February 1997, The Picts have quickly become one of the most
popular live bands on the folk rock and concert scene. They have reached
out with their unique brand of Celtic Rock and captivated hundreds of
audiences both at home and abroad. There is a considerable influence
of original material combined with the traditional. The sets are upbeat
and irresistible for dancing. The songs (both original and traditional)
are powerful and rocky, yet retain their original sentiment, feeling
and intimacy.
The story so far...
These days the band are never far from the limelight. In 1997/98 they
headlined the Hogmanay bash at George Square, Glasgow in front of 40,000
people. In July 2004 they played at Scotland's biggest music festival
T in the Park for the eighth consecutive year. They have
appeared twice at the famous Interceltique Festival in Lorient, Brittany
to great acclaim from the French press and enthusiastic appreciation
from the audiences. This led to a considerable amount of interest in
the band throughout Europe. Amongst countless Festivals, concerts and
ceilidhs they played at the James Bond Ball in Aberdeen (Britains
biggest ever student event) for two years running, headlined the Celtic
Stage of the Stirling Millenium Hogmanay celebrations, took part in
the Gael 2000 concert in Coventry with comedian Roy Walker and returned
to France to headline Celtifolies the first ever Celtic
Festival in Lyon. More recently the band have had a number of sell out
concerts in Glasgows Cottier Theatre and played at the wedding
of Dougie Payne (Travis) and Kelly MacDonald (Trainspotting). Among
their many radio interviews and appearances The Picts were on
BBC Radio Scotlands program The Lemontree bringing
their music to a wider audience and they took part in BBC Radio nan
Gaidheals live broadcast Tiompan for BBC music live.
The Picts have also played live on breakfast TV and appeared on a live
Millenium Hogmanay show for LTV. In October 2000 they were filmed for
a Gaelic music program @ Ire for the BBC which was televised
in May 2001.
Discography....
At present the band have two CDs available. The first is their highly
acclaimed album The Island and the second is their latest
and equally acclaimed album Moving Sands released in July
2002. Both albums are available from most major outlets and are enjoying
extensive radio air play, brilliant reviews and helping to increase
the bands ever growing following at home and abroad. Both albums have
been used by BBC Scotland for Gaelic television programmes and 45,600
copies of The Islands opening track The Peak
was put on a new French compilation CD. Recently the band have
been the subject of great interest in Argentina and as a result all
the songs from the albums have been translated into Spanish!
Plans for a third album are indeed in the pipeline .
In the end we always have a lot of fun and this comes through
in our playing. The more we enjoy ourselves the more our audiences will.