Niteworks

Niteworks (also known by the Scottish Gaelic Obair Oidhche) is an Electronic Celtic fusion band from the Isle of Skye. The band are known for writing new songs in Gaelic and melding the bagpipes and Gaelic song forms such as puirt a beul with techno and house beats.[1]

Niteworks
Background information
Also known asObair Oidhche
OriginIsle of Skye, Scotland
Genres
Years active2007–present
MembersInnes Strachan
Allan MacDonald
Christopher Nicolson
Ruairidh Graham
Websiteniteworksband.com

History

Niteworks came together in early 2008. Shortly after forming, the band won several awards including the Rapal song contest with "Nam Aonar san Fonn". Niteworks' name comes from a sample of an old Gaelic speaker referring to "obair oidhche" or "night work.[2]

Niteworks have covered Runrig's "Chi mi 'n Geamhradh", and write songs in both Gaelic and English.

The band has toured across the Scottish music festival circuit, playing at Rockness, Knockengorroch as well as frequent returns to Tartan Heart Festival. They've headlined Hebridean Celtic Festival's Islands Stage in 2011 (described as the "band of the night"),[3] 2012 and 2015 and sold out Glasgow's Oran Mor in 2012 and 2015, as part of the city's popular Celtic Connections Festival. They also DJ frequently, independently of their live act.

Their debut EP, Niteworks: Obair Oidhche, was released on 15 October 2011. This was acclaimed and attracted a larger fanbase to the group.

Niteworks launched their debut album, NW, in October 2015 with a sold-out gig at Glasgow's SWG3 Warehouse. The album draws further on the band's Skye roots and Gaelic upbringing and drew comparisons to the legendary Martyn Bennett.[4]

The band capped off 2015 by opening the show at the Scottish Trad Music Awards at Dundee's Caird Hall.[5]

In August 2018, Niteworks released their second album Air Fàir an Là which was co-produced with Alex Smoke and included collaborations with other traditional musicians including SIAN, Iain Morrison, Ellen MacDonald (of Sian and Dàimh), Julie Fowlis and Kinnaris Quintet.[6][7]

In January 2022, Niteworks released their third album A'Ghrian[8] which was shortlisted for the Scottish Album of the Year Award.[9]

Band members

Names also given in Scottish Gaelic:

  • Innes Strachan, Aonghas Strachan (vocals/keyboards)
  • Allan MacDonald, Ailean Domhnallach (guitar/bagpipes/keyboards)
  • Christopher Nicolson, Crisdean MacNeacail (bass guitar)
  • Ruairidh Graham, Ruairidh Greumach (drums)

Discography

Albums
  • NW (2015)
  • Air Fàir an Là (2018)
  • A' Ghrian (2022)

EPs
  • Niteworks : Obair Oidhche (2011)

References
  1. "School Pupils set to take stage with Niteworks". Hebridean Celtic Festival Trust. 8 July 2011. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
  2. "Knockengorroch". Retrieved 12 August 2011.
  3. "HebCelt Thursday evening". Folk and Roots – Festivals 2011. 15 July 2011. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
  4. "Niteworks, NW (Comann Music)". The Herald. Glasgow.
  5. "Gig review: MG Alba Scots Trad Music Awards 2015".
  6. "StackPath". folkradio.co.uk. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  7. "Niteworks: Air Fàir An Là – balance set in a different place". Financial Times. 3 August 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  8. "Skye's Niteworks reflect on pandemic as band makes big return". The National. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  9. Crae, Ross (6 October 2022). "Shortlist for 2022 Scottish Album of the Year Award announced". The Sunday Post. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
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