Capercaillie star on drinking beer in Fort William caravan with Liam Neeson
Drinking beer in an old caravan in Fort William with film star Liam Neeson remains a treasured memory for Capercaillie accordionist Donald Shaw
It was also a pivotal moment in the Celtic music trailblazer's career trajectory that propelled the band from the Highlands to a world-wide force.
Not only did Capercaillie provide the music for Rob Roy, they also performed in the 1995 smash hit Hollywood movie alongside leading star Neeson.
In between scenes they passed the time swigging beer – until the producer put a stop to the fun for fear the Hollywood star would get too drunk.
Donald explained: 'Liam Neeson and Jessica Lange were both lovely to work with.
'We hung out with Liam up the Glen in an old caravan in Fort William when they were shooting those scenes.
'He used to come in and have a couple of beers with us until the producer came in and told us off and to stop trying to get the lead actor drunk in case he forgot his lines. So he wasn't allowed into our caravan after that.'
Rob Roy also starred John Hurt, Tim Roth and Brian Cox as the villainous factor Killearn.
Music for the soundtrack to the movie was provided by Capercaillie.
Donald said: 'At that time it was a really big deal Hollywood coming to Scotland.
'There was probably next to no obvious blockbuster movie that had Scottish traditional music in it.
'It was a breakthrough for us and opened up a bigger audience in America.
'It meant that we could think differently how we could produce music because Gaelic music is quite cinematic in itself.'
Capercaillie are set to celebrate their 40th anniversary with their first major Scottish shows for more than a decade.
From their roots in the Highlands of Scotland the band have toured more than 30 countries.
Donald said: 'For the last decade we have been doing what you might call hit and run festivals around Europe.
'We have also played in the United States and Australia but this is the first major venues we have done as a tour in Scotland for a while.
'Over the years we did a huge amount of touring around the world.
'Life catches up with you as we were bringing up kids and doing other projects so we reduced the touring.
'During that time over the last few years we have always remained great friends so it's always a joy to come back together.'
The band originally formed in the early eighties by high school friends Donald and Marc Duff (bodhran & whistles), both from Taynuilt.
They soon added further musicians and Gaelic singer Karen Matheson to the line-up and released debut Cascade in 1984.
Four decades on from that debut the band released ReLoved last year, featuring the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.
Donald said: 'ReLoved was taken from a lot of old material and then reorchestrated.
'It was a great feeling to be on stage such a talented orchestra (Scottish Symphony Orchestra).
'It makes the songs big, bold and almost cinematic.
'It's just a shame we can't stick all those guys in a van and take them on tour.
'The musical landscape is changing quite a bit.
'It would have probably have been quite unusual even 20 or 30 years ago for traditional musicians to be working alongside other styles such as orchestral music, jazz or electronica.
'But that is very common now.
'It is a very mixed palette of colours that everyone is using for producing music.
'I'm delighted traditional music is part of that palette.'
Since his formative years rich musical palette is something Donald has embraced, having worked with musicians across multiple genres.
He has collaborated with country great Bonnie Raitt, alt rock trailblazer James Grant, Peter Gabriel and Nanci Griffith.
Donald has also shared a stage with legendary avant-garde free jazz saxophonist Ornette Coleman.
He said: 'When I was growing up in Taynuilt my dad, who taught me accordion, had a reel-to-reel tape player.
'He only had about half-a-dozen tapes.
'One was Sibelius, one was Bobby MacLeod the accordion player from Mull.
'Another was Ornette Coleman.
'It was a strange feeling to meet Ornette all those years later and share a stage with him.
'And trying to figure out how to mix up traditional music with free-form avant-garde jazz.
'He was a lovely man full of enthusiasm.
'Ornette had a great approach towards making music.
'His feeling was if we are experimenting over the period of the concert as long as we got one minute of beauty – that is worth the concert alone.
'I think we got more than that.'
The band's major-label debut, 1991's Delirium featured 'Coisich a Ruin', an update version of 400-year-old waulking song which went on to become the UK's first ever Gaelic Top 40 hit.
Capercaillie last released an album of new studio material in 2013 with At The Heart of It.
Fans will be delighted to hear there will be new material this year.
Donald said: 'We're going into the studio when we are all together doing the shows.
'We'll put down some new tracks that we have.
'With the way the world is going with music releases you don't actually have to spend a long time creating a whole album.
'You can just release a couple of tracks digitally and that is what we will do.
'We will get some new stuff out which might see the light of day later in the year.
'There's no going back from the digital world now, that is just the way it is.
'The benefits of that are that as soon as you have a finished track you don't have to wait for the physical process of it being ready on a format.
'You can just drop it on people the next day. I enjoy that side of it.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Edinburgh Reporter
2 hours ago
- Edinburgh Reporter
Edinburgh Deaf Festival has a vibrant new line up for this year
The Edinburgh Deaf Festival is back for 2025, with a vibrant programme of shows and events embracing everything from new drama to comedy, music and magic. After a long, tough but ultimately successful campaign, this unique annual celebration of deaf culture, is laying the foundations for future expansion after securing three-year funding from Creative Scotland. Last night saw the launch of a programme featuring more than 70 scheduled events and activities from 8-17 August. Among those taking part in the fourth annual festival are comedians John Smith and Gavin Lilley and Gaelic and Scots singer and musician Evie Waddell, who are all well-known to hearing audiences. There will be a specially commissioned production written and directed by Nadia Nadarajah, who recently earned huge acclaim as Cleopatra in Antony and Cleopatra at The Globe. Nadia, who is also the festival's Creative Programmer, said: 'This year, we've got a lot that's new, so we can deliver even more of what we know the deaf community wants. 'And we are doing much more to engage with hearing audiences, to give them the opportunity to discover something new by experiencing deaf culture and the work of enormously talented deaf performers. 'Last year was very difficult because of funding challenges and the future looked very uncertain. We had a real struggle but we were persistent, and didn't want to give up. 'So, I am really excited, because finally we've got the three-year funding from Creative Scotland, which is amazing and gives us the stability to grow in coming years.' As part of the drive to expand the festival's reach among hearing audiences Evie will perform at Summerhall as well as the Deaf Action HQ and venue in Albany Street. Among the highlights in this year's programme are: Echoes Across Time: Three women, three timelines. In 2000 and 2012 deaf women vanished without explanation. In 2025 small traces of their lives begin to reappear. A specially commissioned new production by Nadia Nadarajah. Performed in BSL with English voiceover for hearing audiences. Three women, three timelines. In 2000 and 2012 deaf women vanished without explanation. In 2025 small traces of their lives begin to reappear. A specially commissioned new production by Nadia Nadarajah. Performed in BSL with English voiceover for hearing audiences. John Smith Show's 20 Years of Laughter: Celebrate two decades of sharp wit and non-stop laughter with one of the UK's best-known deaf comedians. Celebrate two decades of sharp wit and non-stop laughter with one of the UK's best-known deaf comedians. Deaffy Drag Queeny: Glitter, Gags and GSV: Deaffy drag queens Mary and Danielle bring cheeky charm, outrageous wit and deaf gay Pride to the stage. Deaffy drag queens Mary and Danielle bring cheeky charm, outrageous wit and deaf gay Pride to the stage. Ivory Cutlery by Evie Wadell: Let your imagination run wild with Evie Waddell as she presents a visual and musical storytelling experience inspired by the magnificently eccentric Scottish poet and singer Ivor Cutler. Let your imagination run wild with Evie Waddell as she presents a visual and musical storytelling experience inspired by the magnificently eccentric Scottish poet and singer Ivor Cutler. Gavin Lilley: Signs of the Times: A hugely popular deaf comedian who bridges the gap with hearing audiences with his fresh take on everything from parenthood to travel misadventures. A hugely popular deaf comedian who bridges the gap with hearing audiences with his fresh take on everything from parenthood to travel misadventures. Magic Morgan and Liliana: A family-friendly show packed with illusions, comedy and mime. A family-friendly show packed with illusions, comedy and mime. Scratch Night: An evening of bold new ideas from comedy to experimental acts – raw creativity which may be the next big thing. Deaf Action Organised by Deaf Action (the world's oldest deaf charity and deaf-led organisation which dates back 190 years to 1835) the festival continues the pioneering work that made Edinburgh a world-leader in championing the interests of deaf people. Philip Gerrard, CEO of organisers Deaf Action, said: 'We have been at the heart of efforts to promote the interests of the deaf community for 190 years, and the Edinburgh Deaf Festival continues that pioneering work. 'We fought hard to keep it alive, and now it is back and stronger than ever. 'The deaf community has a lively, vibrant and distinctive culture – along with a multitude of highly talented performers and other creatives. 'This 10-day festival is a unique chance for deaf people to come together to enjoy and celebrate that culture and to provide a platform for deaf performers to reach hearing audiences and have more of a presence in the performing arts mainstream.' Other festival events include a networking session with Scottish-based theatre company Solar Bear, allowing deaf and hearing creatives to connect, a pub quiz, karaoke, discussions, parties and film screenings. There will be comedy and drama workshops, guided tours of The Georgian House, the Royal Botanic Garden and National Galleries Scotland. A festival Youth Club for deaf young people aged 10-18 will run from 8-10 August and there will be a parent and toddler group. The festival, which runs in collaboration with the Fringe, is also working with Summerhall, the Edinburgh International Festival and the Edinburgh International Book Festival to provide a range of accessible events. An interpreter and captioning request service will allow deaf people to arrange an interpreter or captioner for Fringe shows that are not accessible. Deaf Action is working with local businesses to create The Edinburgh Signing Quarter, a network of deaf-friendly cafés and bars in the Broughton Street and Canonmills area. Like this: Like Related
The Herald Scotland
3 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
10 arts exhibitions happening in Scotland this summer
Discover a selection of 19th-21st century British paintings, drawings and sculpture including works by modern British and Scottish Masters, Scottish Colourists and many others. It will also change throughout the summer as new works come in through June, July and August. Resistance 21 June-4 January. Entry from £4. Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, 75 Belford Road, Edinburgh, EH4 3DR. Pam Isherwood, Stop Clause 28 March, Whitehall, London, 9 January 1988 (Image: Bishopsgate Institute) Conceived by acclaimed artist and filmmaker Steven McQueen, Resistance explores how acts of resistance have shaped life in the UK, and the powerful role of photography in documenting and driving change. The exhibition brings together works from renowned photographers as well as lesser-known photographers who have also documented these powerful stories. Clay AD: everything is borrowed 21-28 June. Entry free. Centre for Contemporary Arts, 350 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, G2 3JD. Artist Clay AD has put together a solo exhibition featuring a new sculpture installation as well as a five channel sound piece in collaboration with artist Hang Linton. According to the artist, the work is a prayer on grief, faith and the magic of rot and rather than rejecting spiritual systems outright, it asks what can be reimagined or salvaged from their remains. Switch Track 26 June-9 August. Entry free. Reid Gallery, Glasgow School of Art, 164 Renfrew Street, Glasgow, G3 6RQ. Switch Track is a survey show of selected works from 1995-2025 representing 30 years since artist Victoria Morton graduated from the Glasgow School of Art in 1995. The exhibition carefully draws upon sketchbook materials, paintings and mixed media works from different points in time and brings together paintings, sculptural assemblages, photography and sound. Assembly 27 June-19 October. Entry free. The Hunterian, University of Glasgow, Gilbert Scott Building, Glasgow, G12 8QQ. Acclaimed artist and filmmaker Margaret Salmon has put together an exhibition of new work at The Hunterian that has resulted from a process of community outreach, story counselling and cinematic experimentation. Discover film, photographs and sculptures in an installation that expands over time, inviting local audiences to return to the Hunterian's galleries as materials shift and evolve. Flow 21 June-25 July. Entry free. Lamb Gallery, Tower Building, Dundee, DD1 4HN. At a time when questions about climate change are both critical and contested, this exhibition explores the environmental and social significance of water. Questions such as why are we having more extreme floods; Are our rivers polluted; Is our drinking water supply safe are all addressed in this exhibition by Jean Duncan. Mirror Matter 28 June-13 September. Entry free. Ingleby Gallery, 33 Barony Street, Edinburgh, EH3 6NX. Aubrey Levinthal - Mirror Matter (Image: Aubrey Levinthal) Discover the first major UK exhibition from Philadelphia-based painter Aubrey Levinthal. Her works capture passing moments in the lives of a cast of characters in downtown Philadelphia and combine intimacy and openness that owes something to the likes of Bonnard, Vuillard, Matisse and Milton Avery. Her first exhibition in the UK, it's also accompanied by a 232 page monograph that considers her work over the past decade. Monsters of the Deep: Science Fact or Fiction 21 June-26 October. Entry from £10. Aberdeen Art Gallery, Schoolhill, AB10 1FQ. Take a journey through the mysteries of the ocean and explore the deep sea with ancient and modern stories of strange creatures, sort of the fact from the fiction and learn about what really lurks beneath the waves and understand why tales of monsters persist. From a terrifying Feegee mermaid to the spindly legs of a giant Japanese spider crabs, there are lots of strange and wonderful things to see in this exhibition. Lens on Legacy: Glasgow Architectural Heritage 25 June-29 August. Entry free. Glasgow City Heritage Trust, 54 Bell Street, Glasgow, G1 1LQ. Discover the beauty of Glasgow's at-risk historic buildings through the lens of Queens Park Camera Club. Through contemporary photography, the club aims to highlight the vulnerability of these historic buildings while also encouraging solutions and practical steps towards their repair and maintenance. Mugdock - Form and Texture 21 June-27 August. Entry free. Mugdock Country Park, Milngavie, G62 8EL. The first exhibition at Mugdock's Campsie Gallery is a photographic exploration by Alan McBridge of the popular destination's natural and built structures. The exhibition marks the opening of the Campsie Gallery in Mugdock which aims to enrich the cultural experiences available at the park.
Scotsman
4 hours ago
- Scotsman
Pride Edinburgh March 2025 brings colour to the city centre
Although the weather was slightly damper and darker than many had predicted on Saturday, the Edinburgh Pride march brought fun and colour to the city centre and old town, as thousands of people took part, including Scottish crime writer Val McDermid. Edinburgh was a sea of colour on Saturday as the city celebrated its 29th Pride parade, with the city painted with all the colours of the rainbow to promote inclusivity and diversity. The event has its origins in 'Lark in the Park' - an event organised by the Scottish Homosexual Rights Group in Princes Street Gardens in 1988. Six years later the first Pride Scotland March took place, with over 3,000 people taking part and enjoying a festival in the Meadows. There had since been 28 Prides in Edinburgh, due to a two year gap caused by the global pandemic, and pride and colour were yet again on show in the city centre on Saturday for the 29th hosting of the event in Scotland's Capital. 1 . Bringing the colour The annual Edinburgh Pride march took place in the city centre on Saturday, June 21, 2025. | Getty Images Photo: Jeff J Mitchell Photo Sales 2 . Crime writer Scottish crime writer Val McDermid (centre, right) joined Scotland's LGBTQ+ community at the annual Pride March in Edinburgh. | Getty Images Photo: Jeff J Mitchell Photo Sales 3 . Huge crowd Thousands flocked to the 30th Edinburgh Pride parade on Saturday in the city centre. | Getty Images Photo: Jeff J Mitchell Photo Sales 4 . Beard power This man attended Edinburgh Pride 2025 with a rainbow multi-coloured beard on Saturday. | Getty Images Photo: Jeff J Mitchell Photo Sales Related topics: PrideEdinburghDiversityPeopleScotland
