The McCalmans

For over 35 years the McCalmans have remained leaders in Scottish folk music, delivering Kingston Trio-inspired interpretations of traditional material alongside buoyant three-part vocal harmonies. Beyond issuing more than 22 albums, the group has appeared in six major television series and on countless BBC network radio programs.

Multi-instrumentalist Ian McCalman launched the trio on his opening day at Edinburgh School of Art. Its sole lineup shift occurred when Hamish Bayne departed and guitar, mandolin, mouth organ, and flageolet player Nick Keir stepped in; the remaining member is still Dundee-born, Fife-raised guitarist, mandolinist, and bodhran player Derek Moffat. Although McCalman primarily handles guitar and bodhran, audiences especially anticipate his performances on the “weirdolin,” an instrument he describes as a hybrid of a 12-string guitar and a Mexican gitarra.