Malinky

Formed in 1998 by participants in Edinburgh’s folk community, Malinky have consistently blended traditional Scottish repertoire with original compositions, gaining early momentum from the contributions of singer, songwriter, and guitarist Karine Polwart. Within months the group captured the new talent prize at the Celtic Connections festival, prompting a swift move to the Scottish imprint Greentrax for the 1999 release Last Leaves. Two personnel shifts followed in 2000, after which the band issued its second album, Three Ravens, in 2002; the record featured the traditional song “Billy Taylor” alongside Polwart’s composition “Thaney,” a piece concerning St. Enoch that earned an award nomination. Roughly two years later Polwart left to pursue a solo career, and accordionist and whistle player Leo McCann departed as well. The remaining members recruited vocalist and cellist Fiona Hunter together with multi-instrumentalist Ewan MacPherson, and both the outgoing and incoming lineups appeared onstage together in early 2005. Once the new configuration stabilized, The Unseen Hours emerged at the close of that year and received widespread critical acclaim. Three further years elapsed before MacPherson exited and was succeeded by David Wood and Mike Vass; the revised ensemble then marked its tenth anniversary with the 2008 album Flower and Iron.