Celtic Music: Julie Fowlis

Julie Fowlis began singing with the Scottish traditional group Dòchas in 2000. She won the Traditional Singer of the Year award at the Pan Celtic Nations Festival in 2003. The group was nominated for the Best Up and Coming Artists award at the Scots Trad Music Awards in 2003 and won it in 2004. At the 2005 awards, Julie won as Gaelic Singer of the Year. The following year, she won the BBC Radio 2 Horizon Award, while Dòchas was nominated for Best Folk Band at the Scots Trad Music Award. In 2007, Julie was nominated BBC Radio 2 Folk Singer of the Year, and in 2008 she won that award. 2008 also saw her win two awards at the Scots Trad Music Awards for Album of the Year (Cuilidh) and her second Gaelic Singer of the Year award.

On October 10, 2008, Julie received the Gaelic Ambassador of the Year Award, a new award by the Scottish government.

She released her first solo album, Mar A Tha Mo Chridhe (As My Heart Is), in 2005 and a second, Cuilidh, in 2007. As well as singing, Julie also plays Highland bagpipes, smallpipes, whistles, oboe, cor anglais (English horn) and is learning the melodeon.

Learn more about Julie in her own words and music in this video:

Eamon (Julie's husband) and Muireann are both members of the Irish group Danú.

Dual CD from Amazon.com
Dual CD from Amazon.co.uk

Track list:

1. Da Bhfaigheann Mo Rogha De Thriur Acu/Dhannsamaid Le Ailean/Cairistion' Nigh'n Eoghainn
2. Beauty Deas An Oilealin
3. Tha 'm Buntata Mor/An Bairille/Boc Liath Nan Gobhar
4. An Eala Bhan
5. Uist-Kerry Set: Bu Chaomh Leam Bhith Fuireach/Port Dealai/Neili
6. Alasdair Mhic Cholla Ghasda
7. Gol Na mBan San Ar/The Walls Of Liscarroll/Alistrum's March
8. Duan Na Muiligheartaich & Laoi Na Mna Mora
9. An Coisir/Chuirinn Mo Ghiollan A Dh' Iomain Nan Caorach
10. Cailini Deasa Mhuigheo/Eader Alba Is Eirinn/Mrs Ramsay Of Barton/Tie The Bonnet Tight
11. Pe In Eirinn I
12. A Riogain Uasail

The title, pronounced "cool-ee" is a Scots Gaelic word meaning treasury, sanctuary, retreat or secret hiding place for precious things.

This set includes:

Disc 1 - original album "cuilidh" (which was voted "Album of the Year 2007")
Disc 2 - acclaimed single "Lon-dubh/Blackbird" plus 5 live tracks from the sell out ABC Celtic Connections show with the big band
Disc 3 - Promo film about Julie plus a bonus video track from the ABC concert.

Also included is a forward by Scottish author Ian Rankin and a Q & A session with Julie by Sue Wilson.

Cuilidh 3-Disc Special Edition from Amazon.com
Cuilidh 3-Disc Special Edition from Amazon.co.uk

Track list (Disc 1):

1. Hùg Air a' Bhonaid Mhòir
2. Mo Ghruagach Dhonn
3. An T-Aparan Goirid 's an T-Aparan Ùr: Òran Do Sheasaidh Bhaile Raghnaill
4. 'Ille Dhuinn, 'S Toigh Leam Thu - Julie Fowlis, Macdonald, Margaret
5. Puirt-A-Beul Set: 'S Toigh Leam Fhin Buntàta 'S Ìm/Tha Fionnlagh Ag Inn
6. Set of Jigs
7. Mo Dhòmhnallan Fhèin - Julie Fowlis, MacLeod, Neil
8. Turas San Lochmor - Julie Fowlis, Morrison, Peter
9. Oran Nan Raiders - Julie Fowlis, Morrison, Finlay
10. Bodaich Odhar Hoghaigearraidh
11. Mo Bheannachd Dhan Bhàillidh Ùr
12. Aoidh, Na Dèan Cadal Idir

On this collection of traditional tunes from her Hebridean homeland, Julie is backed by many notable Celtic musicians including Eamon Doorley (Danu), John Mccusker (Kate Rusby), Chris Thile (Nickel Creek), Mark Kelly (Altan), John Doyle (Solas) and Donald Shaw (Capercaillie).

Cuilidh CD from Amazon.com
Cuilidh CD from Amazon.co.uk

Track list:

1. Hùg Air a' Bhonaid Mhòir
2. Mo Ghruagach Dhonn
3. An T-Aparan Goirid 's an T-Aparan Ùr: Òran Do Sheasaidh Bhaile Raghnaill
4. 'Ille Dhuinn, 'S Toigh Leam Thu - Julie Fowlis, Macdonald, Margaret
5. Puirt-A-Beul Set: 'S Toigh Leam Fhin Buntàta 'S Ìm/Tha Fionnlagh Ag Inn
6. Set of Jigs
7. Mo Dhòmhnallan Fhèin - Julie Fowlis, MacLeod, Neil
8. Turas San Lochmor - Julie Fowlis, Morrison, Peter
9. Oran Nan Raiders - Julie Fowlis, Morrison, Finlay
10. Bodaich Odhar Hoghaigearraidh
11. Mo Bheannachd Dhan Bhàillidh Ùr
12. Aoidh, Na Dèan Cadal Idir

Mar a tha Mo Chridhe CD from Amazon.com
Mar A Tha Mo Chridhe CD from Amazon.co.uk

Track list:

1. Oganaich Uir a Rinn M' Fhagail
2. Tha Mo Ghaol Air Aird A' Chuain
3. Biodh an Deoch Seo 'N Laimh Mo Ruin
4. Jigs & Reels: The Thornton Jig/Chloe's Passion/Are You Ready Yet?/Rogha
5. Tha Caolas Eader Mi 's Iain
6. Ged a Sheol Mi Air M' Aineol
7. Reels: John O' Groats House/Traditional Irish Reel/The Ladies Pantalett
8. Mo Bhean Chomain
9. Puirt
10. A Mhaighdeannan 's a Mhnathan Og
11. Strathspey & Reels: Seonaidh's Tune/Glenlyon/'s Daor an Tabac/Lumsden's
12. Moladh Uibhist

The Scottish sextet Dochas consists of Julie Fowlis, Kathleen Boyle, Carol-Anne Mackay, Eilidh Macleod, Martin O'Neill and Jenna Reid. Dochas started in 1997 as a trio and Julie joined the lineup in 2000. In 2003 they were nominated as "Best Up and Coming Artists" at the Scottish Traditional Music Awards and won that award in 2004.

An Darna Umhail CD from Amazon.com
An Darna Umhail CD from Amazon.co.uk

Track list:

1. Pipe Jigs - Sandy Broon's/Arlitrach/Port Sean Seosamh
2. Cha d' Fhuair Mi' n Cadal
3. Dinny's Set - Tribute to Eamonn Coyne/Kilty Town/Charlie Lennon's
4. Slow Air and March- Douglas and Fiona Shearer/Sean Nugeant's March
5. A' Mhairi Bhoidheach
6. Da Sheltie Set - Fort Charlotte/Hjerdafeld/Laxo Burn
7. Roddy C's - The Stirlingshire Militia/The Barn Dance/Roddy C's/Ceilidh Trail Capers
8. Tiarna Mhaigh Eo
9. Puirt-a-Beul - Bhon Chuir mo Leannan Chulthaobh Rium/Sheatadh Cailleach, Ruidhleadh Cailleach/A-null thar nan Eileanan
10. Sileas
11. Nelson and Donella- Donella Beaton/Nelson Mandela's Welcome to the City of Glasgow
12. I Ho Ro 's Na Hug Oro Eile/ Ae Fond Kiss

"They play a wonderful range of instruments - among others small, border and highland pipes (Carol-Anne Mackay), accordion, guitar and piano (Kathleen Boyle), whistles and oboe (Julie M Fowlis), clàrsach (Eilidh MacLeod) and fiddle (Jenna Reid). They have in Julie also an excellent singer - it is rather unbelievable that she was coaxed into singing only a couple of years ago! The songs on this album are all traditional Gaelic, featuring ballads, mouth music and waulking songs, often with chorus singing from Eilidh and Kathleen." - from a review by Michael Moll

Dochas CD from Amazon.com
Dochas CD from Amazon.co.uk

Track list:

1. Chuir Iad Mise dh' Eilean Leam Fhin
2. Irish Jigs -Tobin's Favourite/Danny Anthony's/ James Byrne's
3. The Pashmina - The Pashmina and the Cromag/Back of the Changehouse/The Famous Ballymote/Quinie fae Rhynie
4. Waulking Song - Gura Mise Tha Fo Mhulad/The Braes of Melinish
5. Neilidh O'Boyle's - Neilidh O'Boyle's Highland/Duloman na Buinnt Bui/Sean 'sa Cheo
6. Puirt-a-Beul - Tha Biodag aig MacThomais/Siod a rud a Thogadh Fonn/Faca Sibh Mairi Nighean Alasdair
7. Miss Elizabeth Garland
8. Jeenie's Set - Robbie Patterson's/The Marquis of Huntly/ Jenna Reid of Quarff
9. Eilean Uibhist Mo Run
10. Fingal's - Fingal's Weeping/Inspector Donald Campbell of Ness/Nighean aig a Chota Bhuidhe
11. Girls can Polka! - Ray's Classic/Ballydesmond 1/Ballydesmond2/Terry Teehan's
12. Tar the House - The Long Night/Tar the House/Na Goisidich
12. Am Bronn Binn

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