Aidan O'Rourke & Brighde Chaimbeul

A duo of subtlety, close listening and deep musicianship bringing together two of Scotland’s most sensitive and exploratory traditional artists. Lau’s award-winning fiddler/composer Aidan O’Rourke teams up with pioneering piper Brìghde Chaimbeul to explore ancient tune repertoire. Their sound is raw, real and rugged: they ditch excess, don’t bother with anything gratuitously flash, and tap into the most stripped-back, visceral and lyrical voices of their instruments. Drawing on Gaelic heritage and piping traditions across Europe, their arrangements are hypnotic and richly textured.O’Rourke’s fiddle playing is recognised globally for its depth, tone and innovation; for propulsive rhythmic drive and a rare soulfulness. 

With a new album out and her star truly in the ascendant, a past winner of BBC Radio 2’s Horizon Award, Brìghde Chaimbeul has already carved out a distinct legacy in contemporary folk, devising a new way of arranging pipe music that emphasises the rich textural drones of the Scottish smallpipes and a trance-like intensity in the tunes. Her acclaimed debut album ‘The Reeling’ was produced by O’Rourke and brought the pair together for the first time, and her new solo album 'Carry Them With Us’ released April 2023 is fast gathering a slew of superlative reviews. 

"Simultaneously ancient and modern, profound and direct." The Guardian

“Exciting, unusual and gorgeous.” Songlines

"Pure, vital energy... exceptional playing." Folk Radio