Daimh

Established in 2000, Dàimh unites folk instrumentalists drawn from Eire, Scotland, the USA, and Canada’s Cape Breton Island. The multinational ensemble, whose name is pronounced da-eve, interprets traditional repertoire originating in those regions and beyond while also introducing its own compositions. Personnel stability has marked the group’s history, with membership encompassing Colm O’Rua (b. Eire; banjo, whistle, mandola), Angus MacKenzie (b. Cape Breton Island, Canada; bagpipes), Gabe McVarish (b. California, USA; fiddle), Ross Martin (b. Scotland; guitar), James Bremner (b. Scotland; bodhrán), and Calum Alex MacMillan (b. Isle of Lewis, Scotland; vocals). Additional contributors have appeared on stage and in the studio, among them cellist John Pursor, flute and whistle player Iain MacDonald, vocalist Anne Martin, Galician gaitas and recorder player Anxo Lorenzo, pianist Ingrid Henderson, bouzouki and lute player Xose Liz de Cea, and the Clachnabrochan Gaelic Choir.

The band delivers an exhilarating musical experience through brisk renditions of jigs, reels, and slides, executed with flair, vibrant enthusiasm, and frequently urgent enthusiasm. Steady personnel have fostered cohesive ensemble work that in turn supports bold individual performances.