The Cottars
Encyclopedia
The Cottars are a Canadian Celtic
musical group originating from Cape Breton Island
, Nova Scotia
and Fiona MacGillivray
of Albert Bridge, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia and The MacKenzies of Cape Breton. In 2006, big changes took place and the current band was formed. Along with the MacGillivary's, came Bruce Timmins (guitar) of Big Bras Dor, Rachel Davis (fiddle & feet) of Baddeck, Nova Scotia. Their style of music is very much Celtic based with many traditional arrangements playing an important role; but, the Cape Breton style of performing these tunes and songs take wonderful presence in all.
In 2002, they released their first album entitled Made In Cape Breton
, which was well received by the critics and public and led to them winning the Best New Artist award at the 2003 East Coast Music Awards. In 2004 The Cottars released their follow-up to Made In Cape Breton entitled On Fire; for this, The Cottars won the Best Roots/Traditional Album at the 2005 East Coast Music Awards. In 2006, the group's latest recording, Forerunner
, was released on Rounder Records
, which was their first American release.
The group was nominated for a Gemini Award
in 2003 for their performance at the 2003 East Coast Music Awards in the category of Best Performance or Host in a Variety Program or Series.
In March 2006, The Cottars shared a 25-city tour with Irish group The Chieftains
, ending in Carnegie Hall
in New York City
on St. Patrick's Day, sharing the stage with Elvis Costello
. "The Cottars have the same kind of drive and energy The Chieftains had when we were first starting out", says Paddy Maloney, founder of The Chieftains. "With their combination of incredible musicianship, amazing voices and wonderful dancing, what a future they have ahead of them!" (See The Cottars quotes)
Now in 2011 they are still very much alive and are just coming back off a grand 5 week tour of Australia where acceptance and audulation were very much the go wherever they went. Topping out on CD sales and capacity audiences in most venue seemed to be the main. Actually setting a couple of capacity records seemed the logical thing to happen.
, and will feature the new members in addition to the MacGillivray siblings. Though it has not yet reached its release date, pre-release reviews have been positive.
Celtic music in Canada
Celtic music is primarily associated with the folk traditions of Ireland, Scotland, Brittany and Wales, as well as the popular styles derived from folk culture...
musical group originating from Cape Breton Island
Cape Breton Island
Cape Breton Island is an island on the Atlantic coast of North America. It likely corresponds to the word Breton, the French demonym for Brittany....
, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
Conception to Feast
From 2000 to March 2006 The Cottars were composed of: CiaránCiarán MacGillivray
Ciarán MacGillivray is the pianist of the critically acclaimed Celtic group, The Cottars. He shares the bill with his sister Fiona MacGillivray, Claire Pettit, and Bruce Timmins.-Early bio:...
and Fiona MacGillivray
Fiona MacGillivray
Fiona MacGillivray is the lead singer of the Celtic group The Cottars. She has toured with the band extensively through North America, Europe and Japan...
of Albert Bridge, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia and The MacKenzies of Cape Breton. In 2006, big changes took place and the current band was formed. Along with the MacGillivary's, came Bruce Timmins (guitar) of Big Bras Dor, Rachel Davis (fiddle & feet) of Baddeck, Nova Scotia. Their style of music is very much Celtic based with many traditional arrangements playing an important role; but, the Cape Breton style of performing these tunes and songs take wonderful presence in all.
In 2002, they released their first album entitled Made In Cape Breton
Made in Cape Breton
The first of three cds by the Celtic band The Cottars. Recorded at Lakewind Sound Studios in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, and released in 2002 by Warner Music.-Track listing:# Sùilean Dubh – 2:45# The Captain Campbell Medley – 4:07...
, which was well received by the critics and public and led to them winning the Best New Artist award at the 2003 East Coast Music Awards. In 2004 The Cottars released their follow-up to Made In Cape Breton entitled On Fire; for this, The Cottars won the Best Roots/Traditional Album at the 2005 East Coast Music Awards. In 2006, the group's latest recording, Forerunner
Forerunner (album)
-Track listing:# Waterlily – 4:29# Miss Casey Medley – 1:59#* Miss Casey's Jig ...
, was released on Rounder Records
Rounder Records
Rounder Records, originally of Cambridge, Massachusetts, but now based in Burlington, Massachusetts, is a record label founded in 1970 by Ken Irwin, Bill Nowlin and Marian Leighton-Levy, while all three were still university students...
, which was their first American release.
The group was nominated for a Gemini Award
Gemini Award
The Gemini Awards are annual television broadcasting industry awards in Canada.First awarded in 1986, the Geminis celebrate the achievements of TV members of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. Essentially, it presents awards for the best television productions in Canada. Awards are...
in 2003 for their performance at the 2003 East Coast Music Awards in the category of Best Performance or Host in a Variety Program or Series.
In March 2006, The Cottars shared a 25-city tour with Irish group The Chieftains
The Chieftains
The Chieftains are a Grammy-winning Irish musical group founded in 1962, best known for being one of the first bands to make Irish traditional music popular around the world.-Name:...
, ending in Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
on St. Patrick's Day, sharing the stage with Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello , born Declan Patrick MacManus, is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and later became associated with the punk/New Wave genre. Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader...
. "The Cottars have the same kind of drive and energy The Chieftains had when we were first starting out", says Paddy Maloney, founder of The Chieftains. "With their combination of incredible musicianship, amazing voices and wonderful dancing, what a future they have ahead of them!" (See The Cottars quotes)
Now in 2011 they are still very much alive and are just coming back off a grand 5 week tour of Australia where acceptance and audulation were very much the go wherever they went. Topping out on CD sales and capacity audiences in most venue seemed to be the main. Actually setting a couple of capacity records seemed the logical thing to happen.
Feast to present
In 2009, it was announced that the band's fourth studio recording, Feast, will be released in early 2010 under Rounder RecordsRounder Records
Rounder Records, originally of Cambridge, Massachusetts, but now based in Burlington, Massachusetts, is a record label founded in 1970 by Ken Irwin, Bill Nowlin and Marian Leighton-Levy, while all three were still university students...
, and will feature the new members in addition to the MacGillivray siblings. Though it has not yet reached its release date, pre-release reviews have been positive.
Endorsements
- Elixir StringsElixir StringsElixir Strings, manufactured by W. L. Gore & Associates, are strings for electric, acoustic, and bass guitars as well as banjo and mandolin. Elixir strings are noted for their patented coating that extends the strings' life and tone by blocking damage from elements like skin oil; however, they are...
- PIRASTRO violinViolinThe violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
strings - Michael Burke whistleWhistleA whistle or call is a simple aerophone, an instrument which produces sound from a stream of forced air. It may be mouth-operated, or powered by air pressure, steam, or other means...
s - Del Eckles bodhránBodhránThe bodhrán is an Irish frame drum ranging from 25 to 65 cm in diameter, with most drums measuring 35 to 45 cm . The sides of the drum are 9 to 20 cm deep. A goatskin head is tacked to one side...
s
Discography
- 2002 - Made In Cape BretonMade in Cape BretonThe first of three cds by the Celtic band The Cottars. Recorded at Lakewind Sound Studios in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, and released in 2002 by Warner Music.-Track listing:# Sùilean Dubh – 2:45# The Captain Campbell Medley – 4:07...
- 2004 - On Fire
- 2006 - ForerunnerForerunner (album)-Track listing:# Waterlily – 4:29# Miss Casey Medley – 1:59#* Miss Casey's Jig ...
- 2010 - Feast