The McCalmans
Encyclopedia
The McCalmans were a folk song trio from Scotland
. Formed in 1964, they recorded and toured without interruption up until they disbanded in December 2010.
Their performance was based on searing three part harmony
, humour and a respect for the tradition of song in Scotland
.
They have performed all over Europe
, and in the United States
, Canada
, Australia
, New Zealand
, Bermuda
, Kenya
, Belize
and even the Falkland Islands
.
In their native Scotland
, they had six major TV series and countless BBC
Network Radio series and appearances.
They produced some 22 LPs and CDs, not counting re-issues and compilations.
The McCalmans had five members in their history. Ian McCalman (born 1.9.1946, in Edinburgh
), Hamish Bayne (born in Nairobi
) and Derek Moffat (born near Dundee
) were the original members. Hamish left the band in 1982 and was replaced by Nick Keir
. Derek died as a result of cancer in 2001, and was replaced by long-term friend of the band Stephen Quigg.
All three members have separate projects. Ian runs a very successful recording studio, and Stephen and Nick work's as a soloists. Nick is also involved in acting
and film-making.
The band toured extensively in the UK and in Denmark, Germany and Holland.
In 2010 the group disbanded because Ian decided to retire. Their final gig was at 'Queens Hall' an Edinburgh on December 10.
The other two 'Macs', Nick and Stephen, will continue as a duo additionally to their solo projects.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. Formed in 1964, they recorded and toured without interruption up until they disbanded in December 2010.
Their performance was based on searing three part harmony
Harmony
In music, harmony is the use of simultaneous pitches , or chords. The study of harmony involves chords and their construction and chord progressions and the principles of connection that govern them. Harmony is often said to refer to the "vertical" aspect of music, as distinguished from melodic...
, humour and a respect for the tradition of song in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
They have performed all over Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, and in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, Bermuda
Bermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
, Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, Belize
Belize
Belize is a constitutional monarchy and the northernmost country in Central America. Belize has a diverse society, comprising many cultures and languages. Even though Kriol and Spanish are spoken among the population, Belize is the only country in Central America where English is the official...
and even the Falkland Islands
Falkland Islands
The Falkland Islands are an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean, located about from the coast of mainland South America. The archipelago consists of East Falkland, West Falkland and 776 lesser islands. The capital, Stanley, is on East Falkland...
.
In their native Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, they had six major TV series and countless BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
Network Radio series and appearances.
They produced some 22 LPs and CDs, not counting re-issues and compilations.
The McCalmans had five members in their history. Ian McCalman (born 1.9.1946, in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
), Hamish Bayne (born in Nairobi
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
) and Derek Moffat (born near Dundee
Dundee
Dundee is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and the 39th most populous settlement in the United Kingdom. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea...
) were the original members. Hamish left the band in 1982 and was replaced by Nick Keir
Nick Keir
Nick Keir is a musician from Edinburgh, Scotland, who is best known for his work with The McCalmans. More recently he has emerged as a singer/songwriter, producing three solo albums and performing as a soloist with The Tolkien Ensemble...
. Derek died as a result of cancer in 2001, and was replaced by long-term friend of the band Stephen Quigg.
All three members have separate projects. Ian runs a very successful recording studio, and Stephen and Nick work's as a soloists. Nick is also involved in acting
Acting
Acting is the work of an actor or actress, which is a person in theatre, television, film, or any other storytelling medium who tells the story by portraying a character and, usually, speaking or singing the written text or play....
and film-making.
The band toured extensively in the UK and in Denmark, Germany and Holland.
In 2010 the group disbanded because Ian decided to retire. Their final gig was at 'Queens Hall' an Edinburgh on December 10.
The other two 'Macs', Nick and Stephen, will continue as a duo additionally to their solo projects.
Discography
- All In One Mind (1968)
- McCalmans' Folk (1968)
- Singers Three (1969)
- Turn Again (1970)
- No Strings Attached (1971)
- An Audience With The McCalmans (1973)
- Smuggler (1975)
- Full House (1976)
- Side By Side By Side (1977)
- Burn The Witch (1978)
- The Best of (1979)
- The Ettrick Shepherd (1980)
- McCalmans Live (1980)
- At Your Service (1980)
- Bonnie Bands Again (1982)
- Ancestral Maneuvers (1984)
- Macs Records (1986)
- Peace and Plenty (1986)
- Listen To The Heat (1988)
- Flames on The Water (1990)
- Songs From Scotland (1991)
- Honest Poverty (1993)
- In Harmony (1994)
- Festival Lights (1995)
- High Ground (1997)
- Keepers (1999)
- Where The Sky Meets The Sea (2002)
- Tangled Web (2004)
- Scots Abroad (2006)
- Coming Home (2009)
- The Greentrax Years (2010)