Music

HIGHLANDERS LAUNCH TRADITIONAL BAND IN LOCKDOWN

Young musicians from the Battalion have launched a brand new band with the aim of promoting the traditional folk music of Scotland, using the current lockdown to launch the Battalion’s new Traditional Music Band and publish their first music video online

HIGHLANDERS LAUNCH TRADITIONAL BAND IN LOCKDOWN

1 November 2020

  • 1st Battalion The Highlanders ACF

The Traditional Music Band, which is the first band of its kind in the Army Cadet Force, will see the musicians from the Battalion perform the traditional folk music of the Highlands & Islands. For the past few months the cadets of the band have been practicing virtually, and with the Band being spread geographically from the Western Isles to the Shetland Isles even without current restrictions normal face to face rehearsals would be difficult. But these barriers have not prevented them to record their first Music Video “Wild Mountain Thyme” which was published on the Battalion’s YouTube Channel a fortnight ago.

The cadets have received full support from the Battalion with the creation of the band and lots assistance from the ACF Music Advisor at 51st Infantry Brigade and HQ Scotland, AUO Callum Mellis.

Band member Cadet Lance Corporal Alannah Logue (16), from Stornaway Detachment, said "Traditional music, in general, is a massive part of culture in Stornaway.”

There are currently eight members of the Band: Lt Catherine Browne (36), Bdr Stephanie McDowall (18), LBdr Freya Laing (15), Cdt Anna McDowall (16), from Orkney & Shetland Battery, and LCpl Alannah Logue, Cdt Elizabeth Greenstock (13), Cdt Karen Logue (13) and Cdt Lucy Spinks (13), from Western Isles Company. The band are looking to expand their numbers, but due to the current virtual nature of the training they currently can only take musicians who have currently musical experience.

"Traditional music, in general, is a massive part of culture in Stornaway”

LCpl Alannah Logue, Stornoway Detachment

Watch their video below