Biography
Jim McCulloch, long identified with Scotland's indie rock circles of the 1980s and 1990s through his work in the Soup Dragons and the BMX Bandits, later explored a separate avenue with the project Snowgoose. Joined by vocalist Anna Sheard, the duo created music rooted in the folk-rock traditions of the 1960s and 1970s, drawing equally from the British folk emphasis heard in early Fairport Convention and the brighter, psychedelic-leaning textures associated with the American West Coast. Their understated yet imaginative arrangements, rich harmonies, and Sheard's luminous lead vocals brought critical praise to the 2012 debut album Harmony Springs; after stepping away to attend to personal circumstances, the pair returned with the 2020 follow-up The Making of You.
Snowgoose originated during McCulloch's collaborations with Belle & Sebastian singer Isobel Campbell and Screaming Trees frontman Mark Lanegan on the acoustic-focused albums Ballad of the Broken Seas in 2006 and Sunday at Devil Dirt in 2008. Those experiences prompted him to form the folk-psych outfit Green Peppers, where he sought additional singers. Teenage Fanclub's Dave McGowan recommended his friend and flatmate Anna Sheard, whose vocal ability stood out despite her limited stage experience.
Once Green Peppers concluded, McCulloch started a new folk-leaning band and invited Sheard to serve as lead vocalist. They called the project Snowgoose and, for the first album, enlisted McGowan along with Teenage Fanclub colleagues Norman Blake and Raymond McGinley, plus Stuart Kidd of BMX Bandits and Peter Dombernowsky of Giant Sand. The resulting 2012 release Harmony Springs received strong reviews, with several critics likening Sheard to Fairport Convention's Sandy Denny. McCulloch soon enrolled at the University of the West of Scotland, completing a master's degree in music and songwriting, while Sheard focused on a relationship and raising a family.
Although McCulloch had written all the material for Harmony Springs, Sheard began composing by the time the two discussed a second album. Their 2020 release The Making of You therefore became a shared endeavor, again featuring many of the same guest musicians from the debut.
Snowgoose originated during McCulloch's collaborations with Belle & Sebastian singer Isobel Campbell and Screaming Trees frontman Mark Lanegan on the acoustic-focused albums Ballad of the Broken Seas in 2006 and Sunday at Devil Dirt in 2008. Those experiences prompted him to form the folk-psych outfit Green Peppers, where he sought additional singers. Teenage Fanclub's Dave McGowan recommended his friend and flatmate Anna Sheard, whose vocal ability stood out despite her limited stage experience.
Once Green Peppers concluded, McCulloch started a new folk-leaning band and invited Sheard to serve as lead vocalist. They called the project Snowgoose and, for the first album, enlisted McGowan along with Teenage Fanclub colleagues Norman Blake and Raymond McGinley, plus Stuart Kidd of BMX Bandits and Peter Dombernowsky of Giant Sand. The resulting 2012 release Harmony Springs received strong reviews, with several critics likening Sheard to Fairport Convention's Sandy Denny. McCulloch soon enrolled at the University of the West of Scotland, completing a master's degree in music and songwriting, while Sheard focused on a relationship and raising a family.
Although McCulloch had written all the material for Harmony Springs, Sheard began composing by the time the two discussed a second album. Their 2020 release The Making of You therefore became a shared endeavor, again featuring many of the same guest musicians from the debut.
Albums
Singles
