Na Gathan

Na Gathan
pictured: Tim Armstrong, Kathryn NicAoidh, Greg MacThòmais, Tomaidh MacAilpein
Background information
Origin	Island of Skye, Scotland, United Kingdom
Genres	Indie rock, Scottish Gaelic punk, garage punk
Years active	2007-present
Labels	Ùr-sgeul
Associated acts	Mill a h-Uile Rud Atomgevitter Nad Aislingean Là Luain
Members
Tim Armstrong Kathryn NicAoidh Sìleas Landgraf Greg MacThòmais Roddy Neithercut
Past members
Tomaidh MacAilpein

Na Gathan is a Scottish Gaelic Indie rock band from the Island of Skye.^[1]

History

Na Gathan were formed in 2007 and first came to national attention in Scotland when they appeared in a piece on the Rapal music program on BBC2 that documented their involvement in organizing the Celtic Connections unofficial fringe held in Glasgow early in 2008.^[2][3] In the spring of 2008, the band won the Best New Gaelic Song contest held by BBC Radio nan Gàidheal, with their song Ruigidh Sinn Màrs,^[4] and in the Autumn of 2008, the band again appeared on Rapal, this time as the featured band, performing four songs in front of a studio audience. In 2009, the band's second single, Claigeann Damien Hirst, was shortlisted in the Nòs-ùr competition for a new song in a Celtic language or Scots.^[5][6] The song was inspired by the short story, An Claigeann aig Damien Hirst, by Maoilios Caimbeul, which was in turn a response to the work of art by Damien Hirst, For the Love of God.

Membership

The band was formed by Kathryn NicAoidh (drums), Tomaidh MacAilpein (bass), Greg MacThòmais (guitar) and Tim Armstrong (voice and keyboard).^[7] This Tim Armstrong is a different person from the Tim Armstrong from the punk band, Rancid.^[8] This Tim Armstrong founded the Gaelic punk band, Mill a h-Uile Rud. In 2008, Roddy Neithercut joined the band on keyboards. Roddy is also the lead singer in the Scottish thrash band, Atomgevitter. In 2009, Tomaidh left the band, and Greg took over on bass while Sìleas Landgraf joined the band on guitar. All the members are fluent Gaelic speakers. Kathryn is from Skye, Greg from Glasgow, Roddy from Fife, Sìleas from Köln, Germany and Tim from Seattle.

Discography

• 2008 Ruigidh Sinn Màrs agus Trì Sgeulachdan (Ùr-sgeul)
• 2009 Claigeann Damien Hirst (Ùr-sgeul)
• 2009 Ga Bruidhinn Làn-Ùine (Problem? Records)
• 2010 Fali Ro Fali Re (Problem? Records)

External links

• Na Gathan's Myspace page
• Na Gathan on Rapal, BBC Alba

Notes

1. ^ Music students ready to rock. John O'Groat Journal (19-11-08)
2. ^ Gaelic Punk. Peace News no. 2494 (02-08)
3. ^ Am Peursa. The Inverness Courier (18-1-08)
4. ^ Farpais òrain ùr Ghàidhlig
5. ^ Full points not Nil point for Sunrise Not Secular. Stornoway Gazette (16-4-09)
6. ^ Minority voices to be heard again at Celtic Eurovision. The Inverness Courier (19-6-09)
7. ^ Seattle Student Wins Top Award at Gaelic Language College. Highlands and Islands Press and Journal (12-8-08)
8. ^ Gaelic punk by way of Seattle; Skye band Na Gathan set for boundary-breaking gig. The Higland News (13-12-08)