Shetland-Music.com

Shoormal are a rare commodity in Shetland indeed - a group specialising in vocals, most notably harmonised singing, tinged with gospel overtones.

Shoormal

The group comprises:

• Freda Leask - Vocals
• Joyce McDill - Vocals
• Donna Smith - Vocals
• Jonathan Ritch - double bass
• Trevor Smith - guitar
• Gregg Arthur - keyboards, accordion, vocals
• Archer Kemp - percussion
• Gordon Tulloch - guitar

The group have released three albums to date, the most recent of these being launched in 2006 to much acclaim. (Read our news story here).

Their debut album 'Indigo Skies' was critically acclaimed and reviews resulted in the following observations:

• 'Richly melodic, polished folk-pop... A mightily impressive calling card' - Sunday Herald
• 'An absolute stunner' - Future Music
• 'attractively atmospheric in a gently lilting, pop-folk manner' - Traditional Music Maker
• 'Unmistakable and delicately crafted' - The Shetland Times
• 'Weaves a rich aural tapestry that draws the listener in each time' - Chaos Realm

The album was also nominated for the 2001 'Best Newcomer' at the BBC Radio2 Folk awards.

Following this success they were invited to play at major festivals and concerts throughout the UK and Europe. In early 2002 Shoormal appeared as part of the Edinburgh Queen's Hall's 'Shetland Sessions' series. After leaving stage, Ian Green of Scotland's premier folk and roots label Greentrax Recordings immediately signed them up to his famous label.

Their second album, and their first for Greentrax, 'Migrant', was released in October 2003, again resulting in rave reviews.

• 'One of the best albums out of Scotland this year' - Ian Anderson, BBC Radio Scotland
• 'Shoormal are certainly no typical Shetland band - except, that is, in the quality of their musicianship. Their headline attraction is a triple-whammy of superb female singers, equally potent whether solo or in harmony.' - Sue Wilson, Sunday Herald.
• 'This stunning album is hallmarked by dreamy three-part harmonies, complimented by dazzling musicianship'. - Roots Review
• 'A beautifully crafted piece of work, a genuinely uplifting experience' - Living Tradition
• 'A magical experience...this kind of eloquence doesn't come cheap' - Folking.net
• 'where great music meets the wider world' - Rambles.net
• 'Probably the best ever produced album to come out of Shetland' - The Shetland Times

This album received many international reviews and airplay in a number of countries including Canada, Italy, Czech Republic, Holland, France, Australia and America.

The band have just released their third album, 'Turning Tide', their second on Scotland's legendary Greentrax label, following hot on the heals of their first visit to the States to appear at the Folk Alliance music convention in Austin Texas.

Links

• www.shoormal.com