Griogair Labhruidh

Griogair Labhruidh is a traditional Gaelic singer who sings mainly in the style of the Southern Hebrides. He is also piper and composer of both bagpipe music and Gaelic song/poetry and belongs to a West Highland piping tradition that has been in his family for many generations. His technical ability and sensitive arrangements of traditional music on the guitar are also a huge factor in his work.

His father's family - Clann Iain Sheumais Uilleam Thomais Sheumais Uilleam (Labhruidh) are a branch of the famous Lowry/Lawrie piping family of North Argyll and his mother's people (also pipers) originate from both Skye and Argyll. He draws much of his material from Argyllshire's incredibly rich Gaelic tradition but also has a huge interest in the bardic tradition of South Uist where he has spent most of his adult life so far. As well as having a wealth of traditional material, he also writes original music and his original Gaelic songs have gained much praise from some of the leading experts in the field.

Griogair has performed at many music festivals including Celtic Connections and the Festival of World Cultures. He regularly works with the top Gaelic acts in Scotland including: Margaret Stewart, Iain MacDonald, Allan MacDonald, Cathy Anne MacPhee and Kathleen MacInnes. He has given numerous radio and television performances in both Scotland and Ireland, including this years Celtic Connections programme. Performing often in both Ireland and Scotland and having collaborated with Irish Gaelic musicians, he considers the connections between Scottish and Irish Gaelic culture to be very important and this connection features in his music.

Griogair has done much study into the aural tradition of Argyll and has recorded some of this music on his new album; Dail-riata. This critically acclaimed album which was produced by Iain MacDonald (Glenuig) also includes some of his own material and gives a taste of the unique side of the Gaelic tradition that he belongs to.