Tide Lines

Scottish neo-folk pop/rock outfit Tide Lines fuse the pipes and whistles, acoustic guitars, and accordions central to Scottish tradition with drums, electric guitars, and keyboards, preserving every trace of atmosphere and mystery. The quartet first presented this blend of heritage and modernity on their 2017 debut album Dreams We Never Lost, then pursued more ambitious studio techniques with the follow-up Eye of the Storm in 2020.

The four musicians came together in 2016, drawing members from across Scotland. Robert Robertson, who sings, plays guitar and accordion, and previously belonged to Skipinnish, originates from Lochaber. Ross Wilson, handling keys, bass, and accordion, grew up on the Island of Mull. Fergus Munro, responsible for percussion and guitars, hails from Glasgow, while Alasdair Turner, who contributes guitars, percussion, pipes, and whistles, comes from Alness. United by their affection for the traditional music of the Gàidhealtachd—the Gaelic-speaking Highlands and Islands—they launched the project to merge those roots with contemporary arrangements.

Their initial single, “Far Side of the World,” raced up the U.K. download charts within twenty-four hours of its early-summer 2016 release. In May 2017 the band issued Dreams We Never Lost independently; the album featured Anthony Thistlethwaite of the Saw Doctors on mandolin and saxophone, after which they mounted a nationwide tour. Their anthemic material, soaring melodies, and Robertson’s heartfelt vocals quickly established them as a compelling live act, packing venues and appearing at festivals throughout the United Kingdom, Europe, and Scandinavia.

As the global COVID-19 lockdown halted live music, Tide Lines released their second album, the more refined and production-focused Eye of the Storm, in May 2020. It entered the U.K. album charts at number 12. Later that year the group offered fans the home-recorded four-song EP Lockdown Mixtape, containing renditions of songs by the Weeknd, Joni Mitchell, and Deacon Blue alongside the original seasonal track “This Christmas Time.” Tide Lines resumed touring across the United Kingdom in August 2021 while preparing their third album.