gaelic punk

Gaelic Punk is a subgenre of the punk rock movement consisting of groups and bands promoting and singing in Scots Gaelic. The term has been gaining more widespread useage recently due to coverage in the Scottish media , both Gaelic and English, of bands such as Oi Polloi and Mill a h-Uile Rud, who have started writing and recording in the language. The term has also been used retrospectively to describe The Pogues and latterly to describe 'Celtic' influenced punk bands such as Flogging Molly, The Real Mackenzies and Dropkick Murphys. These bands whilst singing in English have used traditionally Gaelic musical instuments such as bagpipes (a' phiob mhòr) and fiddle.

Gaelic is the indigenous yet endangered language of the Scots. It has a long and internationally reknowned literary heritage, the bulk of which is in poetry, song and ancient stories which until the past few decades were passed on orally. The language first raised it's head in punk circles with 'Gaelic for Punks' classes at the Edinburgh European City of Punk festival in 1997, attended by punks from throughout Europe. This event was covered by Gaelic television news, Telefios, and helped spark an interest 'alternative' Gaelic music. All the bands are fiercley political in attitudes and actions to promote the Gaelic language and other lesser-used languages internationally. They see a strength in 'biocultural diversity' which they believe is threatened by globalisation.

Four of these 'alternative' bands to date have started recording in the medium of Gaelic. These being Oi Polloi from Edinburgh/ Dùn Eideann, Mill a h-Uile Rud from Seattle and Atomgevitter from Glasgow/ Glaschu. Another band, Nad Aislingean, influenced by this interest in 'alternative' Gaelic music has also started recording though their musical style is best described as pop/techno. All these bands have been featured recently both on Scottish television and radio, in both Gaelic and English programming.

Mill a h-Uile Rud were the feature of a documentary made by BBC Alba's arts series 'Ealtainn' which followed them on a tour of Europe as well as filming them at gigs in the 'Gaelic-speaking heartland' of the Isle of Lewis. Both national and local radio has featured the bands as has national and international printed media. Recently both the widely read Maximum Rocknroll and Punk Planet carried features on this new sub-genre of punk.

Outside Links:

• Oi Polloi website http://www.myspace.com/oipolloialba
• Mill a h-Uile Rud website http://www.millahuileurud.com
• Nad Aislingean website www.nadaislingean.co.uk Gaelic language pop/techno.
• Article on Mill a h-Uile Rud in Hi-Arts magazine of the Scottish Highlands and Islands: http://www.hi-arts.co.uk/mar05_band_profile_Mill_a_hUile_Rud.htm
• Article and wmv clips from Grampian TV's program North Tonight broadcast on Mill a h-Uile Rud: http://northtonight.grampiantv.co.uk/content/defaulttext.asp?page=s1_1_1&newsid=6210&newsType=
• Atomgevitter website http://www.atomgevitter.com/

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