Albannach (band)

Albannach
Albannach live at the Edinburgh Festival 2006
Background information
Origin	Glasgow, Scotland
Genres	Celtic battle music
Years active	2005–present
Labels	Albannach Music (independent)
Associated acts	Clann An Drumma
Website	www.albannachmusic.com
Members	Donnie MacNeil Colin Walker Jacquie Holland Jamesie Johnston DidgeriDrew Reid

Albannach, Gaelic for "Scottish" or "Scotsman", is a Scottish band. Their traditional music is heavily percussive, driven by bass drums, bodhráns and a single bagpipe. From the first, eponymous album in 2006, Albannach has promoted a sentiment of Scottish patriotism in songs such as "Uprising," a tribute to famed patriot William Wallace; they have covered songs like "1320" by Scottish folk artist Gordon Menzies of the band Gaberlunzie. Several songs on early albums referred to the Island of Barra, the Outer Hebrides home of Albannach's bagpiper, Donnie MacNeil. Vocal songs that survive in the touring repertoire are sung either a cappella or with minimal accompaniment, emphasizing the lyrics; however, the audience is invited to participate by clapping along to songs such as "The Burning of Auchindoun." With a few exceptions, the bulk of the touring repertoire, and of the band's discography, is instrumental.

Several founding members of Albannach met doing historical reenactment work; also, some met as members of Clann An Drumma. Jamesie Johnston says that the split of Albannach from the previous band was entirely amicable; it literally had to do with the "artistic differences" often cited by music groups. One set of musicians wanted to add a more modern sound, while the other group was adamant that they wanted a traditional sound. Another difference was the simple one of willingness to use North America as a primary touring focus; not all members of the older band favored this change. In the end, the bands went their separate ways with continued mutual respect, and members of the other band continue to tour Scotland under a new name.

The band frequently performs at Highland games and Scottish/Celtic cultural events throughout the UK and North America. Albannach are based in Glasgow, Scotland.

Jamesie Johnston, born in Glasgow in 1973, is the bass drummer and also a vocalist. He played the bass drum with Clann An Drumma. After working with them for five years, he left and became part of Albannach. A signature musical addition of Johnston's during the song "Tweedle Dee, Tweedle Dum," which was originally a vehicle for Donnie MacNeil's piping but is more theatrical onstage, involves strapping his bass drum, normally worn at the player's waist, around his upper body in order to play it as if it were a bodhrán frame drum. This technique allows for an extremely fast style of bass play and a complex polyrhythm. Johnston has in many ways become the face of the band; as well, he maintains a parallel career as a hiking guide—he is notably vocal about environmental conservation.